What will the iPad do for musicians?

[cybertron]

This topic is still going? wtf....

this must be an Apple promotion/marketing tactic......(oh-sh*t, now you can all tell how paranoid I am...)

[spaceman]

There's a huge potential in the iPad for being another gamechanger if you care to look past the raw spec-list and think about the device creatively (like thousands of developers will inevitably).

A lot of spec-obsessed tech-kiddies slamming the iPad on blogs will have to eat their words in a couple of months when the full potential of the device will become clear even to them.

I'm not so sure of this. It's nothing like an iPod or iTouch in size. It sits between a netbook and a smartphone, but is neither one. It will have some applications, but that doesn't make it a gamechanger. It's not exactly convenient to carry unless you have something to carry it in. The jury is way out on this one, particularly at the prices announced for it.

Apparently, the prices in the UK may be much lower than expected, with subsidized plans rumored to be as low as £100 for some models.

[eduardo_b]

There's a huge potential in the iPad for being another gamechanger if you care to look past the raw spec-list and think about the device creatively (like thousands of developers will inevitably).

A lot of spec-obsessed tech-kiddies slamming the iPad on blogs will have to eat their words in a couple of months when the full potential of the device will become clear even to them.

I'm not so sure of this. It's nothing like an iPod or iTouch in size. It sits between a netbook and a smartphone, but is neither one. It will have some applications, but that doesn't make it a gamechanger. It's not exactly convenient to carry unless you have something to carry it in. The jury is way out on this one, particularly at the prices announced for it.

Apparently, the prices in the UK may be much lower than expected, with subsidized plans rumored to be as low as £100 for some models.

Hmm. Apple site says starting at 499 USD, which is 312 GBP as of today. I can't see them subsidizing two-thirds of the price.

[brambos]

There's a huge potential in the iPad for being another gamechanger

Yeah, but that applies to almost any device/gadget, right?

True, but few gadgets have an ecosystem and infrastructure already in place to support and accellerate this. If Apple have a talent for one thing, it's orchestration - they don't stop after delivering the hardware, but make sure it has its uses and applications ready to be discovered by consumers and a well-oiled user experience to fully support it.

Contrary to iPod and iPhones, this is (most likely) not going to be the device for on the road, but for on the media/information/entertainment consumption on the couch. It's not a laptop replacer, nor a productivity tool, so the lack of multitasking is a non-issue really. As long as you can play music while browsing - which you can - that's all the multitasking most consumers will wish for in that context.

[whyterabbyt]

Hmm. Apple site says starting at 499 USD, which is 312 GBP as of today. I can't see them subsidizing two-thirds of the price.

Did you miss the bit where there are models with 3G? 'Subsidised plans' refers to mobile internet contracts. Like mobile phones, the cost of the device gets folded into the monthly contract. You can get 'free' laptops here if you find the right plan.

[eduardo_b]

Hmm. Apple site says starting at 499 USD, which is 312 GBP as of today. I can't see them subsidizing two-thirds of the price.

Did you miss the bit where there are models with 3G? 'Subsidised plans' refers to mobile internet contracts. Like mobile phones, the cost of the device gets folded into the monthly contract. You can get 'free' laptops here if you find the right plan.

Yes, I missed the 3G feature. You're so right about the being 'free' part. I'm amazed when I hear people talk about the free phone they got with their cell service. They haven't a clue as to why it's 'free.' They've obviously never shopped for an unlocked version of the same phone.

[ericj23]

Hmm. Apple site says starting at 499 USD, which is 312 GBP as of today. I can't see them subsidizing two-thirds of the price.

Did you miss the bit where there are models with 3G? 'Subsidised plans' refers to mobile internet contracts. Like mobile phones, the cost of the device gets folded into the monthly contract. You can get 'free' laptops here if you find the right plan.

Yes, I missed the 3G feature. You're so right about the being 'free' part. I'm amazed when I hear people talk about the free phone they got with their cell service. They haven't a clue as to why it's 'free.' They've obviously never shopped for an unlocked version of the same phone.

Seeing as an iphone 3gs 32 gb(which is cheaper unlocked than any of the pads) costs more than £150 over and above a 2 year £35 a month deal it seems very unlikely that this is the pricing plan

And who is realistically going to take out a 2 year phone contract for something that isn't a phone ?

[whyterabbyt]

Seeing as an iphone 3gs 32 gb(which is cheaper unlocked than any of the pads) costs more than £150 over and above a 2 year £35 a month deal it seems very unlikely that this is the pricing plan

I can find companies offering £400 laptops given away with 24-month x £30/month contracts.

Even Currys are doing a £250 netbook on a £25-per-month contract. Add £100 to that, as spaceman's rumour said, and you're around the right price band.
Im not claiming its a fact, just pointing out that its not unfeasible.

And who is realistically going to take out a 2 year phone contract for something that isn't a phone ?

It'd presumably be a mobile broadband contract, not a phone contract.

[eduardo_b]

And who is realistically going to take out a 2 year phone contract for something that isn't a phone ?

It'd presumably be a mobile broadband contract, not a phone contract.

In the US it's an additional 30 USD per month (with AT&T) but no contract is required. That itself is odd, but I suppose with no hardware to sell AT&T can't justify a contract. Still, for someone with an existing phone contract that includes text and data, that's 30 USD on top of something close to 70 USD.

[zerocrossing]

If Apple manages to get a lot of people to develop killer apps, then yeah, despite all its shortcomings, the iPad could be huge ( )

They already did. I believe iPad will run iPhone apps.

[eduardo_b]

If Apple manages to get a lot of people to develop killer apps, then yeah, despite all its shortcomings, the iPad could be huge ( )

They already did. I believe iPad will run iPhone apps.

I'm just sticking with my BB and avoiding all of this.

[zerocrossing]

And who is realistically going to take out a 2 year phone contract for something that isn't a phone ?

It'd presumably be a mobile broadband contract, not a phone contract.

In the US it's an additional 30 USD per month (with AT&T) but no contract is required. That itself is odd, but I suppose with no hardware to sell AT&T can't justify a contract. Still, for someone with an existing phone contract that includes text and data, that's 30 USD on top of something close to 70 USD.

I'm wondering if they might do something for existing customers that makes more sense. There's no way I'll spend an extra $30 a month, but if they told me $5 a month I'd go for it. It's not like I'll be using both devices at the same time.

[dan_s]

I want someone to make the ultimate IPAD drum machine. The iPhone drum apps are pretty good already with the limited screen and processing power.

I will buy ipad the instant this is available.

[Reverse Engineer]

it'll still only recognise two fingers (e.g: two parameters) at a time though, i assume. whoop dee doo.

[jones-y]

Its not about how many fingers (three, by the way) it can recognize, its an evolutionary rethink of the graphical user interface. Yeah we've had tablets for several years, but they all ran operating systems (and apps) designed for keyboard and mouse control.

Its like a do-over for developers. Nail the interface, nail the product. Its not about what it can or can't do, its about how it does it. Its just more natural. My 3yr old knows how to use my iphone.