Jason Snell — a lot of criticism of the wide bezel. When you start to use it, you realize that the bezel is necessary in order to hold the iPad with thumbs, and not trigger the touchscreen. Does iPad, because it is more of a computer, exacerbate the issues of the App Store?
Dan Moren — Surprising how natural it feels when you pick it up. Something about size, shape that feels very natural. Don't need to be a tinkerer to use iPhone / iPad. Might allow tinkerer mode at some point, but focusing on main use case for now.
Ted Landau — thinks iPad will be tremendous success. Has talked about, wider range of uses for iPad (like iWork), how much of an obstacle will closed nature of App Store be. Restrictions in license agreement, arbitrary rejections from Apple, and users are restricted from getting unapproved apps on their device. With iWork on iPad, Apple is saying that using the iPad as full productivity solution that you can start to think about. Will expand it's use cases over time. Majority of people who are happy with a laptop today, will be happy with an iPad in 3-4 years.
Ryan Block — everything is the screen, software. well balanced, feels well constructed. a bit heavier than it should be, but not so heavy that you wouldn't want to take it with you. Prefer it 4:3, would have messed with balance if it was wider or thinner. Yet to see really great example of why you shouldn't have freedom to install unapproved apps (i.e. Android allows, seems okay). Palm also allows. What is the problem? App Store is actually an innovation in the way software is distributed. No reason why they don't provide the over-ride switch.
Biggest complaint is that to go two handed, you need to rest the iPad on something. Table will have bad neck position.
Andy Ihnatko — first impression is supreme quality of the build. When you feel it in your hand, it feels like you bought a premium product. Solid, no gaps, no leaks. The device itself disappears the first 5 seconds you use. Negativity around it makes sense, because it isn't impressive on video. After 15 seconds of use, it is a transformative experience.
One of first accessories will be 3M sticky tape on the back, to help get a better grip. iPad could show structural weakness of App Store. Looking forward to iPad as a device that always works, more stable, no reboots.
What Apple does best of all, is that they get to the real questions. As our relationship with technology continues to evolve, we have different answers to the question of what a Computer is, and what it must do for us. Some questions around ergonomics — in keynote, Apple specifically chose that chair that you sink down into, which lets you prop the iPad in your lap.
L-R: Jason Snell, Dan Moren, Ted Landau, Ryan Block and Andy Ihnatko
JS: Will iPad save publishing industry?
DM: How will eBooks work? Will they be super-locked down (DRM)? Part of the pleasure of books is borrowing from the library, lending with friends. Read so many books, that the cost would be intense if had to buy them all. Losing freedom aspects is worrisome. Library could make an app that allows checking out books online.
AI: Good news that iBooks is based on ePub. Could be a book lending solution that libraries could deploy. DRM will be critical to the survival of newspapers and magazines. Web is an experiment that has failed for newspapers and magazines. Trained average user that everything you get through web browser is supposed to be free. iBooks is one of must significant, yet understated, part of iPad announcement. iBooks was least functional application on the iPad demo units. Reason why it's downloadable is that it won't be ready to ship on devices, and also because it's an app that's going to need to evolve. Can do updates separate from OS releases.
RB: No magazine solution, no newspaper solution. Could have been most revolutionary aspect of device. Omission is puzzling. Difficult challenge face by publishing industry to adapt to iPad sorts of devices. Not everybody has development strength of NY Times. That is part of the problem, there is no MP3 equivalent for magazines. Painful to read text for long periods of times on iPad?
JS: Storefront aspect also critical, and a big advantage of being in an Apple-supplied store. Still a place for eInk type displays.
TL: another positive way iPad is going to work is with textbooks. If you could buy semesters worth of book on iPad, at fraction of cost, iPad could pay for itself in one semester. Much easier to carry iPad around than heavy textbooks. Publishers concerned about used book market, where DRM on iPad could save them. Might be a case where users are willing to make the tradeoff. Disagrees - have read books on iPhone, so isn't painful to read on backlit display for an extended period.
JS: What impact is iPad going to have in next 5 years? Are people ready for tablet style device? In 5 years are we going to see significant percentage of people using tablet format?
DM: Interesting to look at kids, at how they pick it up. Big disconnect in teaching people how to use a mouse, which doesn't exist with touch UI.
RB: Need tactile feeling to things, which is why Apple released a keyboard accessory. Skeptical to see tablet replace computer -- it is an in-between device.
TL: iPad could be focal remote control for all devices in house. Ultimately we'll be surprised by what iPad can do, because apps from 3rd party developers will be amazing.
AI: On the subject of Microsoft and tablets. Doesn't believe that tablets have really been tried. Microsoft attempts have been desktop computer wedged into tablet shape. iPad is first OS truly designed for tablet form factor, and touch. Will take a year for alpha users to get iPads and use them, and for developers to make cool applications. So it'll really pop with broad consumer base in 2011. Star Wars wasn't first sci-fi movie to make a lot of money, but it reminded movie studios that it's the idea that matters.
JS: What is biggest unanswered question?
TL: will there be iPhone OS 4.0 this summer? Will it run on iPad? What is going to be in iPhone OS 4.0 that is specific to iPad? Multitasking? Options for printing?
DM: Default home screen seems sparse. Some sort of new design for home screen in iPhone OS 4.0?
RB: Multitasking is the big question. Apple knows they have to do it. Same thing as apps with first iPhone release. People kept asking for it, and Apple eventually delivered.
AI: How easy will it be to get content into iBooks store? Can small publishers get in, or is it only for the big guys?