jQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, {"basePath":"\/","CTools":{"pageId":"page-3ffabacb4d8c18009f26269ffbefd850"},"googleanalytics":{"trackOutgoing":1,"trackMailto":1,"trackDownload":1,"trackDownloadExtensions":"7z|aac|avi|csv|doc|exe|flv|gif|gz|jpe?g|js|mp(3|4|e?g)|mov|pdf|phps|png|ppt|rar|sit|tar|torrent|txt|wma|wmv|xls|xml|zip"},"lightbox2":{"rtl":0,"file_path":"\/(\\w\\w\/)sites\/default\/files","default_image":"\/sites\/all\/modules\/lightbox2\/images\/brokenimage.jpg","border_size":"2","font_color":"000","box_color":"fff","top_position":"","overlay_opacity":"0.6","overlay_color":"000","disable_close_click":1,"resize_sequence":"0","resize_speed":100,"fade_in_speed":100,"slide_down_speed":100,"use_alt_layout":0,"disable_resize":0,"disable_zoom":0,"force_show_nav":0,"loop_items":1,"node_link_text":"","node_link_target":0,"image_count":"Image !current of !total","video_count":"Video !current of !total","page_count":"Page !current of !total","lite_press_x_close":"press \x3ca href=\"#\" onclick=\"hideLightbox(); return FALSE;\"\x3e\x3ckbd\x3ex\x3c\/kbd\x3e\x3c\/a\x3e to close","download_link_text":"","enable_login":false,"enable_contact":false,"keys_close":"c x 27","keys_previous":"p 37","keys_next":"n 39","keys_zoom":"z","keys_play_pause":"32","display_image_size":"","image_node_sizes":"()","trigger_lightbox_classes":"","trigger_lightbox_group_classes":"","trigger_slideshow_classes":"","trigger_lightframe_classes":"","trigger_lightframe_group_classes":"","custom_class_handler":0,"custom_trigger_classes":"","disable_for_gallery_lists":true,"disable_for_acidfree_gallery_lists":true,"enable_acidfree_videos":true,"slideshow_interval":5000,"slideshow_automatic_start":true,"slideshow_automatic_exit":true,"show_play_pause":true,"pause_on_next_click":false,"pause_on_previous_click":true,"loop_slides":false,"iframe_width":"600","iframe_height":"400","iframe_border":0,"enable_video":0},"thickbox":{"close":"Close","next":"Next \x3e","prev":"\x3c Prev","esc_key":"or Esc Key","next_close":"Next \/ Close on last","image_count":"Image !current of !total"}});
<div class="content_inn"><!--[if !IE]>Start left content<![endif]-->
<div class="left_panal">
<div class="left_content_box">
<div class="left_inner_box_heading"><h1>My first thoughts on the iPad...</h1></div>
<div class="left_inner_box_inn">
<p>
First off, it has a 9.7-inch screen, close enough to the 10-incher I was hoping for. It will certainly have all the functionality of my iPod touch with enough notebook features to make me wonder if it can replace my 13-inch MacBook Pro. As I've mentioned before, I mainly use my laptop when I'm on the road (visiting Mom, going to Macworld, etc.)</p>
<p>I'm not sure whether I could live with a 10-inch screen for several days, but I'll be glad to get my hands on an iPad to see how it feels and works as a productivity device. It can obviously handle email, surfing the net, etc. And I'm really excited about the special versions of the iWorks apps that are optimized for the iPad. I do wonder where, for instance, my Pages documents would be saved and how I'd sync everything with my desktop Mac. But I'm sure Apple has the answers. Right, Apple?</p>
<p>The ebook feature sounds very appealing. I'm glad that Apple has revived the iBook moniker though it's for an iPad app, not for the iPad itself (as I had suggested). The iBook integrates with the new iBookstore, which will offer titles from Penguin, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan and the Hachette Book Group. This could indeed turn out to be a "Kindle killer."</p>
<p>I was surprised that Apple didn't play up the e-magazine and e-newspaper features. I feel this has more potential than the e-book market. And evidently Abilene Christian University does, too, as they're already planning to <a href="http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/acu_plans_to_publish_first_student_newspaper_on_the_ipad/"TARGET="_blank">publish an iPad version of their student newspaper</a>.</p>
<p>For example, I want digital subscriptions to publications such as <i>USA Today</i> and <i>MacUser UK</i> and have ‘em magically appear on my iPad when new issues arrive. But I do think this is coming -- and sooner rather than later.<br />

Then there are digital versions of textbooks -- something else I expect to see Apple promoting. However, this is a double-edged sword. Can't you imagine being an Apple Education sales rep walking around with these to sell? Schools are already buying the MacBook with iPod touch/iPhone combos for their students. I can see these things eating into the education laptop sales pretty significantly. On the other hand, I also see them eating into the market share for Windows laptops pretty hard, too. And as long as Apple is selling Apple products, maybe Jobs & Company doesn't care about a certain level of cannibalization.</p>
<p>Okay, now for some random observations (and thanks to J. Scott Alexander for suggesting some of these):</p>
<p>Did you notice that there was no mention of Google? You can see the Google reference on the screen shots. However, do you remember how Apple trumpeted the Google Maps connection when they released the iPhone? It makes me wonder if they are looking to move to Bing, as rumored.</p>
<p>When it comes to Contacts, there's obviously some use of Spotlight for searching for contacts because there's a search field. Also, they did say that syncing is over USB, but I wonder why not WiFi syncing to MobileMe? The iPhone does its MobileMe syncing over 3G. WiFi seems to be a natural.</p>
<p>Looking at the iPad's bookshelf, it's obvious that Apple worked out some kind of deal with Delicious Monster. To see what I mean, <a href="http://www.delicious-monster.com/"TARGET="_blank">check out Delicious Library</a>.</p>
<p>The display looks more like a 4:3 ratio of the old-style TV. Not that they could have done much with it. The 16:9 ratio seems a bit awkward for a tablet. But maybe I'm wrong.</p>
<p>Finally, I'm very surprised that there's no camera of any sort on the iPad.<br />

That said, I'm dying to get my hands on one. And I'll go ahead and predict that Apple has another winning product on its hands.</p>
<div class="links"><ul class="links inline"><li class="comment_forbidden first last"><span><a href="/user/login?destination=comment%2Freply%2F118353%23comment-form">Login</a> or <a href="/user/register?destination=comment%2Freply%2F118353%23comment-form">register</a> to post comments</span></li>
</ul></div>
</div>
<div class="left_inner_box_bottom"> </div>
</div>
<!--[if !IE]> End left box inner page <![endif]--></div>
<!--[if !IE]>End left content<![endif]--> <!--[if !IE]>Start right content<![endif]-->
<span class="field-content"><a href="http://forums.applecentral.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/537782/Analyst_sees_iPad_killers_less#Post537782" target="_blank"> Analyst sees iPad killers le...</a></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field-title">
<span class="field-content"><a href="http://forums.applecentral.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/537649/Small_business_accounting_soft#Post537649" target="_blank"> Small business accounting so...</a></span>
<span class="field-content">Introducing the App Hall of Fame!</span>
</div>
<div class="views-field-body">
<div class="field-content"><div class="body-row" id="body-row-213485"><div style="background:#F5F5F5;">App discoverability continues to be a real issue. With the fast churn of apps in the App Store, an app has only a few weeks of promotional life in it before it‚Äôs largely forgotten. There are a few things developers can do to fix that, but those... | Read more »</div></div></div>
<span class="field-content">Gobliiins Are Coming</span>
</div>
<div class="views-field-body">
<div class="field-content"><div class="body-row" id="body-row-213486"><div style="background:#F5F5F5;">In the midst of the huge Q4 launch schedule, the cult classic, Gobliiins, as well as the rest of the trilogy, are being ported to the iPhone in all of their original glory. The Goblins trilogy was a quirky Atari/Amiga game series from the early 90‚Äôs... | Read more »</div></div></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd">
<div class="views-field-title">
<span class="field-content">myPhoneDesktop – Chrome to iPhone Extens...</span>
</div>
<div class="views-field-body">
<div class="field-content"><div class="body-row" id="body-row-213469"><div style="background:#F5F5F5;">Anyone who has used myPhoneDesktop knows that it is a fantastic tool for streamlining your onscreen workflow. Instead of having to type line after line into your phone directly, you can use myPhoneDesktop to type from your computer directly into... | Read more »</div></div></div>
<span class="field-content">AutoVerbal Talking Soundboard Pro helps...</span>
</div>
<div class="views-field-body">
<div class="field-content"><div class="body-row" id="body-row-213471"><div style="background:#F5F5F5;">Being able to speak and communicate with others is something that many of us take for granted. It‚Äôs not so easy for many folks though, in particular for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, as well as those who have suffered various brain... | Read more »</div></div></div>
<span class="field-content">Get Your Roast Right With ‘Time To Roast...</span>
</div>
<div class="views-field-body">
<div class="field-content"><div class="body-row" id="body-row-213473"><div style="background:#F5F5F5;">Roasting meat, in the cooking world, is about as simple as it gets. The greatest roast recipe I‚Äôve ever found is from Michael Ruhlman‚Äôs website, with the recipe titled, ‚ÄúThe World‚Äôs Most Difficult Roasted Chicken Recipe.‚Äù | Read more »</div></div></div>
MacTech is a registered trademark of Xplain Corporation. Xplain, "The journal of Apple technology", Apple Expo, Explain It, MacDev, MacDev-1, THINK Reference, NetProfessional, Apple Expo, MacTech Central, MacTech Domains, MacNews, MacForge, and the MacTutorMan are trademarks or service marks of Xplain Corporation. Sprocket is a registered trademark of eSprocket Corporation. Other trademarks and copyrights appearing in this printing or software remain the property of their respective holders. Not responsible for typographical errors.
</div>
</div>
<div class="footer_bottom"></div>
</div>
<div id="bootom_foo_ter">All contents are Copyright 1984-2010 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by <a href="http://www.icreon.com">Icreon</a>.</div>
<div id="newuser-popup" style="font-size:14px">Greetings, and welcome to the new MacTech web site! Our home page is designed to be your <cite>Industry Dashboard</cite> -- so you can have a snapshot of all that's relevant in the industry in one easy location. Many readers tell us that because the information is updated so frequently, they are now checking the site multiple times a day.
Here's a quick run down of the features on the new web site, which can be subtle.
<UL><LI>We're running regular raffles. If you want free stuff make sure to register. <a href="/register">It's easy and only takes a minute!</a>
<LI>Registering for the site allows you greater functionality.
<LI>The first few blocks are original content from MacTech (for geeks) and our sister web site, MacNews (for general users)
<LI>Below that are MacTech's scanners, which scan the web and organizes it into News, Rumors, and Documentation. Updated every 15 minutes.
<LI>Our Whitepapers, Screencasts, and Videos section give you insight into great products
<LI>The Community Search narrows your search to the most relevant of Apple related sites for better results
<LI>The forums give you a place to ask questions, and share your knowledge.
<LI>Our partners at MacUpdate, MacPrices.net and the Jobs Boards keep you up to date
<LI>Want to see all the news in one big list? Check out our new <a href="/firehose">Information Firehose</a>
<LI>And, don't forget the Apple Central area, and ads throughout the site. Advertisers are what make the site possible</UL>
We truly hope you <a href="/register">register</a> so that we can keep you up to date about new features as they are implemented. And, please use the BETA button in the top right to provide us any feedback, suggestions or bugs. We love to hear from you. </div>
<!--[if !IE]>End pop_up<![endif]-->
<!-- Google Analytics now handled by Google Analytics Module in drupal -->
<!--VISISTAT SNIPPET//-->
<script type="text/javascript">
var DID=13280;
var pcheck=(window.location.protocol == "https:") ? "https://sniff.visistat.com/live.js":"http://stats.visistat.com/live.js";
