Thoughts on the Apple iPad announcement
The total cost of a usable version will likely exceed $1,000
The Apple iPad is more sizzle than steak, based upon what I read and see on the Internet.
Do I want one? Yes, to play with for a few hours.
Do I want to own one? Probably not.
Should you buy one? Not yet. Not this year. Wait for the 3rd generation before buying one of these. It will likely have big improvements and hardware additions, like a camera, over the announced first generation models.
The cost of ownership is much higher than it seems. The total cost of a usable version will likely exceed $1,000, and probably $2,000 with the cost of a data plan. The $499 model has only 16GB of memory, which is insufficient in today’s media file and data intensive world. The 64GB model is $699 but you want the Wi-Fi + 3G model, which costs $829. A data plan from AT&T Wireless is extra. AppleCare prices were not announced. I expect the extended warranty to run at least $200. You need to buy a case. You need extra charging cables and perhaps an external battery, which cost $80-$100 for the iPhone. You may want one of the iPad Keyboard Docks (price unknown).
The apps we will want are not yet written and app pricing is unknown.
The bezel, the black area around the screen, is huge and makes the device look clunky to my eye.
The lack of a built-in stand or a camera makes this thing seem half-baked.
Based upon my experience with other battery-powered devices, the touted 10 hour battery life is probably over-stated. The question is, "By how much?" Book readers like the Kindle can go 2 weeks or more on a single charge. The battery life at 10 hours max, means we will be charging iPads all the time. Also, battery life for all devices declines over time. Since the iPad battery is hard to replace, Apple intends these devices to be disposable.
Why do we want this? What does it add to our technological life that is not as well or better served by other devices?
Caution is advised. Let someone else be the beta tester for Apple.