Now we're starting to see how Apple is making headway in markets outside of the normal computer buyers:
http://obamapacman.com/2010/02/epocr...thin-the-year/
Doctors are accustomed to high technology, but they aren't known for being into computers. The iPad is interesting to them probably for the same reasons that techies aren't as interested.

Then again, business types like it too, so it could be as big as the hype!
http://obamapacman.com/2010/02/ibm-p...tablet-iphone/

Not directly related 3D Performance still better on even the Iphone then the Nexus one...

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/20...erformance.ars

I have an ipod classic and an iphone 3gs.. i got the ipad as a toy at first and to test seeing if i can use it as they advertised. So far i have been able to take meeting notes while at work, read the web, make notes as a go, chat with friends, standard web consumption is gorgeous. Reading a book or the paper is awesome. Videos and games are great. Playing with the star charts is just fun.

Wish - Being able to download files, multitasking, Numbers export to xls native on ipad, file sharing enabled to move files without itunes or email .

Get or not - i would recommend it if you are an iphone power user, much easier much faster.

I test drove an iPad recently. If it were cheaper, and able to control everything in my house I would maybe buy one. Otherwise, really not point to be honest.

The only tablet-type device I would even consider would be one that was basically a laptop in tablet form. I need a full OS and the ability to install any software I want, plug in external devices, etc.
Obviously I'm not Apple's target demographic with this giant iPhone thing.

Well, they've sold 1 million of them in 28 days. So someone must like them.

Lots of people want something that they can use to browse the web; do email; type stuff up; read some Pdfs; watch videos and play games.

I can see this being rally useful for scientists doing research, students, etc. Ever seen Star Trek? They all record their data and present their findings on iPads!

As a musician, I'm considering how useful an iPad would be as a library of PDF sheet music. But I'll wait till revision 3.:D

What I'm wanting to do is use the device as a mobile control surface. You can already do this with the iPhone, but space is so limited on that little screen. Now with an iPad...you could really put together a smashing controller with that.

As another thought, I still can't figure out some of the flame wars I'm seeing on the internet regarding the iPad. Some people seem to have this mentality of "Well, I can't see a use for it in my life, therefore no one can. And anyone who thinks they can use this device is a hopeless Apple fanboy." Granted, the iPad is not the only home of this phenomena. It's just strange to me that people feel as if their own life experience is ubiquitous. As if somehow the fact that a 25 year old IT guy can't figure out what to do with the thing means nobody else can...

The farmer says "How am I going to carry my chicken feed in that Smart Car?"

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I couldn’t agree more, Jay.

Or does anyone really believe that the 1,000,000 people who forked over money for an iPad during its first month were misguided? That’s laughable! :D
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I don't know if I'd use quantity sold as a measure of a product's usefulness. Weren't a million pet rocks sold in the first six months after they came out? :D

Well, I wish Apple came up with a "free" 3G connection to their store only.... I just don't like the 3G deal. If I want to use it for the net etc, I'll pay, but to access their store... Nah....

Are you questioning the use-ability of a pet rock? Think of all thing things you can use it for! Paper-weight, theft deterrent, riot enhancer, not to mention its most basic function: the ability to be the only friend you need! You can spend hours telling it about all of your stupid life decisions and it will never second guess you! What more could you ask for?!

Okay, a bit more seriously. Yes, numbers sold doesn't necessarily mean it's usable, look at Windows. But, I think Arctic Stone has it right, saying that people likely bought it because they could imagine a use for it.

My main point is that just because one person can't find a use, doesn't mean somebody else also can't find a use for it. That being said, from a business stand point, if only 5 people can really "find a use" for your product, you're in trouble...

Its refreshing to find a forum that isn't fawning over the iPad.

Visually Apple has once again succeeded. There are just not enough compelling reasons to get one… yet. I do think it will improve. Lets face it. They needed something "wow". All their other products have lust their initial luster, and they take pride in making people perk up and take notice of their latest thing.

I'm willing to wait till the next iteration before I make a final decision. I know for traveling it would be perfect. But still… I want more than it can do right now, and I want to be able to have a 3G direct connect to the Apple store at no charge. Yeah - I want to be a millionaire too, and that ain't happenin' either.

Perhaps in Lire? :cool:
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OK.... So today a co-worker brings in her iPad....

Hmmmmmmm.... Handling one, I can say it really is very slick. Now they got their hooks in me. Like all their innovative products the iPad is no exception in getting you to sit up and take notice.

Until I played with it, I had no real desire to own one. But now... To be continued! Ugh - I feel like such a hypocrite! But I can admit my faults. I'll just have to wait for finances to get better.

I hear ya. I went over to our apple store a week or so ago and played with one. I'm one of those that can imagine it being useful, as more and more e-literature becomes available. It seems so much more useful than what I've seen of the kindle, and forget barnes & noble's nook. Even my professional literature/periodicals are moving away from paper and encouraging online publication. So, I think maybe at v2 or v3, I'll get one of these. Of course by then, maybe some competitor will come up with one I like more. Or maybe amazon will have upgraded their kindle.

I can see a demographic for this that probably hasn't bought them in any great number yet, but in the near future...

Over 60s, non-technical people! I'm seriously gunning for my mother-in-law to get one. She would really like to email with her relatives and browse through photos, but finds even turning on the desktop a fearful affair. She wants to learn but her computer-hand-eye coordination isn't near what you get from using computers all the time. She feels like she will break something all the time. But we've got her to have a play on an iPhone and she was quite comfortable with it, I imagine the iPad would be even easier. As the Apple ad says "You already know how to use it". The 25 year old IT kids mentioned above may be missing the point, sure there's options missing that many of us would like, but for pure usability and intuitive-ness.... We could leave it on all the time - with that standby time of a month - wow, she wouldn't even have to turn it on!

My wife meets the description above for your M-I-L. She's a non-tech person in every way - not stupid by a long shot - by challenged by technology, afraid of it, perhaps. She learns to use electronics by rote (do this and then this, and then that) rather than by experiment. When the iPad II arrives on the scene, I'll buy one for her.