Lots of press coverage across the internet and papers about the launch of the iPad. Today as people get to use the iPad (rather than just queue for it) we get to hear much more about how they like using the device and whether it is the game-changer that has been hyped for months or whether it’s just a nice gadget that will be gathering dust on a shelf in a couple of months time.
The more I see and hear about the iPad, the more I wonder if it will be the game changing device that the iPhone has been, or whether it will be another Newton or iPod HiFi (remember that). The key I believe will be how the device sells not initially to the geek audience, but down the line to non-geeks in places like John Lewis and Apple Stores on the High Street or in local shopping centres.Of course the launch is US only and it’s looking like the earliest we will get the iPad in the UK is the 24th April, but so far no confirmation whatsoever from any official source.
What I am hoping that when the iPad is launched in the UK, the 3G version is released at the same time as the WiFi version, so I don’t have to make that difficult choice that many in America are making right now, that of buy now or wait until the 3G version is available.
Part of me is sad that I didn’t go out to the states and buy an iPad, and part of me knows how sad that would be!
Having said that if the geeks don’t like it, this can rub off on the general public, look at how there was a negative reaction to the Blackberry Storm following Stephen Fry’s adverse reaction. Now according to Time, Stephen Fry quite likes the iPad (though that’s a bit of an understatement) and I respect his opinion and if he likes it, I am sure that many others will like it too.
Looking forward to getting mine.