Camping Out in Line for the iPad

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 07:35:27 PM EST
Tags: ipad (all tags)

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The line has already started at the Apple store in Manhattan for tomorrow's launch of the iPad. Who camps out for an iPad?

The news is filling up with stories about the latest applications -- There were announcements today from Amazon, Google, the Wall St. Journal and more.

I really, really want an iPad. I watched all 11 guided tour videos today. [More...]

I'd love to try out the Pages word processing and Keynote presentation programs (both optional, but you can get them along with Apple's version of Excel for $79 in iWork). I think it will be great for watching TV and video (Hulu and Netflix are on board) and for reading magazines and cookbooks in color.

But I wouldn't camp out or even go to the Apple store tomorrow since the versions with 3G and wireless aren't ready yet and can only be pre-ordered. Unless you're not going to take it out of the house, you'll need the 3G for when wifi isn't available.

I don't think you can ever have too many tech gadgets, and this one seems like something I'd really enjoy playing with.

So who's ordering one or braving the Apple store tomorrow? I'm looking forward to seeing some reports by buyers.

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Camping Out in Line for the iPad | 34 comments (34 topical)

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I have to agree about the (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by ruffian on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 08:13:02 PM EST

line campers. As much as I am looking forward to getting it, they would have to give it to me free to get me to wait in line for it.

Some very well trained (5.00 / 2) (#5)
by SOS on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 08:54:35 PM EST

consumers units there.

I'm going to get (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by Natal on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 11:13:39 PM EST

a netbook. It'll do everything an iPAD can and more. You can buy a 3g stick for it if needed and you can download Kindle for the PC to e-read. IPADs have quite a few disadvantages -- no Flash, no USB, can't download your G-Mail attachments, a regular keyboard is a $69 extra. And no ethernet port. Some motels/hotels don't have WiFi only ethernet. So you'd be stuck with no connection capability unless you had the 3G version. Roaming data charges would be around $3/megabyte. True it's light - 1.7 lbs but you couldn't put it your pocket and would still have to carry in your briefcase as you would with a slightly heavier netbook. Basically the iPad is a big iTouch IMHO. I think in a couple of months the enthusiasm will fade when it's limited practical use is more familiar to people.

Per Huff Post, some upscale (none / 0) (#24)
by oculus on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 11:21:52 PM EST

car will come w/iPad. Can't remember which car though.


: hyundai (none / 0) (#25)
by Jeralyn on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 11:23:44 PM EST

not sure it's upscale, but I've seen the articles.

It's really an entertainment device (5.00 / 1) (#32)
by Jeralyn on Sat Apr 03, 2010 at 03:29:59 AM EST

I already have streaming Netflix at home, so that will work for me. Same with books on Kindle which can be viewed on the prettier screen. It will take my music and photos. It handles pdf files, and you can create documents in a pinch if you need to.

You can email attachments, surf the web, read magazines in color, get the newspaper in newspaper format. it has Twitterific and lots of iPhone apps.

I have a netbook and a laptop I'm happy with. I have an iphone which takes pictures and can be put on the iPad. If your blog is on wordpress (TalkLeft is not), you can blog from the iPad.

The whole point is I don't want to load it up with all the stuff on my computer. But you can transfer stuff like movies and tv shows and photos from your computer to your iTunes and then on to the iPad.

It's not meant to be a business tool, but a recreation too. If you want to be creative, use your netbook or laptop.

I'm not understanding the complaints. If it was a duplicate of my netbook or laptop, I'd have even less reason to buy it. I think it will be good for those unexpected downtimes that happen more than we'd like -- at the doctor's office, in a taxi, waiting at the gate for a flight, late at night in your hotel room, and while you are watching tv.

I'm still looking forward to getting it.

: Exactly J (none / 0) (#35)
by ruffian on Sat Apr 03, 2010 at 06:38:08 AM EST

I will use it for work in a pinch, but that's not what it is for in my case either. Most of us who need full scale computers for work or home already have them. If I wanted a mini-laptop, aka netbook, I would have gotten one a long time ago.
This isn't the same thing.

I pre-ordered (none / 0) (#1)
by ruffian on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 08:02:16 PM EST

and my new favorite UPS guy should bring it tomorrow. Can't wait!

The more I read about it the more excited I get. I know I'll love using it. Didn't eel like I needed the 3G enough to pay the extra money. I think I'll mostly be using it at home. Who knows though, I may regret that decision.

Slight clarification to your post - the iPad Numbers app (Apple's version of a spreadsheet) is $9.99. So if you wanted to try it on the Pad you don't have to buy the $79 excel (or Numbers) program for your computer.

I have the iWork apps on my home computer and I wish I got to use them more. For my job we have to use Office, so I still know Word and Excel a lot better than I know the iWork suite. It is similar, but has a slightly different interface that I'm not used to yet. I'll probably get the iPad apps just to see how they did the interface on the touchscreen. My inner geek wants to know.

Anyway, I wish tomorrow would come!

But some phones are using 4G now. (none / 0) (#17)
by oculus on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 10:17:52 PM EST

yep, tech marches on (none / 0) (#18)
by ruffian on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 10:35:20 PM EST

I tend to be an early adopter, then skip a couple of updates. The first article is usually plenty to keep me happy for years. I have no need for a camera on a tablet. Can't think of any other hardware update that would make me jump. Maybe more memory if I can't manage with what I got. And if wifi is not sufficient for how I use the thing I'll get the 3g or 4g or 5g next time, whatever is the going thing.


My 3G Blackberry is notably (none / 0) (#20)
by oculus on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 10:47:34 PM EST

faster than the original one I had. And doesn't go through so many machinations re websites, including Talk Left.


: Definitely true of the iPhone too (none / 0) (#36)
by ruffian on Sat Apr 03, 2010 at 06:39:49 AM EST

I'm sure 4G will be another big leap, but I'll wait until 5G to switch phones ;-)

What a laugh! (none / 0) (#21)
by shoephone on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 10:48:37 PM EST

Great story, Donald. And so typical of the dumb things we all did as teenagers, thinking we would never get "caught."

In retrospect, I'll bet your mom thought you looked cute on TV.


As a retired techie type (none / 0) (#6)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 08:57:52 PM EST

And who has lived the "He who dies with the most toys wins" life style, I must confess a huge lack of interest...

In fact, I am thinking of dumping by cell phone for a pager.. You know, the device that let people send you their telephone message and you could decide when and where you would call them back...

An uninterrupted life... what a concept!

: Hey I'm with you (none / 0) (#8)
by SOS on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 09:02:30 PM EST

I was in Tech during the 90's boom. Big Name Company. The one thing that always used to make me think oh god you gotta be kidding me was people (consumers) who we're buying PC's because they keep the kids occupied and are better then a babysitter. I knew we finished then.

: We used to call Cell Phones (none / 0) (#10)
by SOS on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 09:11:52 PM EST

the electronic leash . . and the most amazing part was how many people I knew in high powered tech industry positions that didn't even have a computer at home!
LOL

Whats the matter (none / 0) (#7)
by SOS on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 08:58:18 PM EST

being an automaton that takes it marching orders from the Big Corporations doesn't appeal to you?

I can't wait (none / 0) (#9)
by ZtoA on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 09:09:52 PM EST

except that I will have to. But I'm really looking forward to getting one. Hope it works better than the promo videos which didn't work on my Mac. I love my Iphone and have very good close vision so I can actually read the NYT lying in bed in the morning, but an Ipad will be better. Now if there was an app that dispenses IRL coffee I -will- have a life. :)

Hey I would buy it (none / 0) (#11)
by SOS on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 09:13:58 PM EST

if it cooked, did laundry, mowed, and did house repairs. Or automatically generated money with little to next to no effort on my part. LOL


: to add to this noble list (none / 0) (#12)
by ZtoA on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 09:25:23 PM EST

an app that does boring weight bearing exercises for me. Oh, and my taxes - that horrible monster in my office that is now doing a continuous low growl.

: Can I sign up for one of those now (none / 0) (#38)
by MO Blue on Sat Apr 03, 2010 at 08:30:53 AM EST

Please included house cleaning in the list of applications and I will even stand in line for one.

Jeralyln, wait ONE YEAR. (none / 0) (#14)
by Gerald USN Ret on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 10:06:19 PM EST

Jeralyn, the NEXT iPad will be better. It will have the hardware that has been left off this machine.

You will be able to update the software, but you really won't be able to update the hardware very much if at all.

The 2011 version will be a much better machine.

Many that are waiting in line tonight will be selling the machines they get tomorrow on Ebay before the year is out so they can get the next one.

Mostly what will be gained by tomorrow's "early adopters" will be some bragging rights. Of course that is important to a lot of people.

But that's the Apple game plan (none / 0) (#15)
by dainla on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 10:11:26 PM EST

They leave off obvious and common features, then add them the next year and pretend like it's a WONDERFUL new feature.

I use a Mac computer, but would never, ever buy an iPhone or a iPad. I've never seen a company treat it's customers worse, only to have them lap it up.

I'll stick with my Pre. They update the hardware by adding memory but the features they add with software updates. If I owned an iPhone I would have had to buy two more to get what the Pre has given me for free.

Check out the Microsoft Courier. That looks like an awesome tablet.


Are you really telling me (none / 0) (#16)
by ruffian on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 10:17:21 PM EST

how badly I am getting treated by Apple, and then recommending Microsoft?

Ya had me going there for a minute.


: Really? (none / 0) (#26)
by dainla on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 11:57:18 PM EST

You can put whatever software on a Microsoft device you want. The company learned their lesson in their fight with Apple and now look what's happened - Apple has become Microsoft.
Feel free to buy a device that you don't actually own. Because when I own something, I can put whatever I want on it. You can't. Because "daddy" won't let you. And it's something YOU OWN.
If you can't see how that might be a problem in the future, good luck to you. It's a slippery slope and people like you who support it have zero understanding of the reprecussions.

Apple is evil (none / 0) (#19)
by white n az on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 10:39:58 PM EST

There's not a chance that I would buy an iPad. Why?

They completely control what you can or can't install.
They are committed to DRM which restricts what you can do with software that you purchase for your device.
They make high style, low performance, limited features devices and sell for too much money.

The iPad reminds me of Robin Williams' characterization of cocaine being G-d's way of saying you are making too much money. I think it's a wonderful way to not only buy a device that lacks expected features such as a camera, USB, etc. but also to sign up for another $100 a month in subscription based services.

Much like the Google phones give you 4 times the amount of memory, a faster processor, a better screen and freedom of carrier of choice than iPhone, there are tons of 'notepads' coming to market without all the lack of features, restrictions on software, etc. that will run on Linux or Android that will ultimately outsell the iPad. I think Apple screwed the pooch on this one and once the Apple fan base buys an iPad and gets disillusioned with their purchases, it will become clear that this device is a clunker.

: Dead right (none / 0) (#27)
by dainla on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 11:58:41 PM EST

Apple is the Soviet Union of computers and the iPad is a very dangerous step in the wrong direction.

Ipad? (none / 0) (#22)
by squeaky on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 10:50:09 PM EST

On the way..

Jeralyn, I'd love for you to comment on this (none / 0) (#28)
by dainla on Sat Apr 03, 2010 at 12:05:11 AM EST

If you want an iPad so much, please explain how you can support this total lack of freedom.

Go down to the bottom of the article, where it says "problems with the iPad."

http://lifehacker.com/5458690/the-problem-with-the-apple-ipad

: So it's like buying a house (none / 0) (#30)
by Cream City on Sat Apr 03, 2010 at 12:43:50 AM EST

completely furnished, and you must agree that you never, ever will add another table or chair or change the drapes.
Jeesh, I had not realized how much Apple had become the old Microsoft. Fuggedaboudit. I had thought of a Kindle or IPad for long trips, weeks away, where I might not have a bookstore handy so take along lots of books. And then I saw the price of books go up on Kindle, so I thought, well, maybe an IPad -- but this is ridiculous, not being able to make it my own machine.
I'll just keep hitting the half-price bookstore or bargain tables and pick up used books for $1 apiece and just leave them behind when I head home. And I'll just keep enjoying my netbook to which I can add whatever I want, and have three ports for my flash drive and more -- including a mouse, rather than fingerpaint on this IThingie.

Not this version. Maybe next year. (none / 0) (#29)
by andgarden on Sat Apr 03, 2010 at 12:32:02 AM EST

And for all of those people hyperventilating about how evil Apple is for introducing a CLOSED!!!!! product, I sure hope that you can service every appliance you own.

So (none / 0) (#31)
by dainla on Sat Apr 03, 2010 at 12:49:22 AM EST

You're comparing my smartphone to my refrigerator?

Interesting. I mean, ridiculous, but interesting.


: Why shouldn't I? (none / 0) (#37)
by andgarden on Sat Apr 03, 2010 at 07:09:15 AM EST

You have some principled distinction I take it?

: I agree (none / 0) (#39)
by squeaky on Sat Apr 03, 2010 at 10:57:40 AM EST

It is a little like comparing a gold fish to a border collie...