tablets

The 404 552: Where we're like, 'Been there, done that' (podcast)

This morning Wilson told us he'd tear his hair out if he hears the word "iPad" one more time, and we completely understand, but we still have to talk about it a little bit on today's show, so beware of falling strands. There's plenty of coverage on CNET TV of Saturday's official Apple iPad launch, plus a first look at gaming on the iPad, and, of course, the official CNET review.

While all the Appleheads patiently waited for their friendly neighborhood mail carriers on Saturday, two 19-year olds in Pennsylvania had a different plan for their iPad. They waited in line for it at the local Best Buy, then took it out to the parking lot and got all "Office Space" on it with a Louisville Slugger, except that at about 1:09 into the video, a tiny voice of reason finally chimes in with "What was the point of that?" Not to blow this out of proportion, but the point appears to be a warning to adults about putting money into the hands of stupid, stupid kids. Come on guys, you could have at least smashed something truly useless, like Jeff's 8th Palm Pre.

Speaking of uselessness, Microsoft just announced that it's finally removing the word "Series" from "Windows Phone 7," the name of its upcoming mobile operating system. The tweet offers little explanation and Microsoft offers this short and sweet statement, as reported by our own Bonnie Cha on Crave: "Customers want a simpler way to say and use the name consistently. The important thing is keeping the focus on the Windows Phone brand, which we introduced in October and will continue investing in through Windows Phone 7 and beyond." Well played, Microsoft!

We hope you had as relaxing of a weekend as we did, but it's time to get back to work sending us voicemails (1-866-404-CNET) and e-mails (the404{at}cnet{dot}com) so we have material to play on the air while we wait for the next big Apple product launch. Just kidding...but seriously, iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad.

EPISODE 552 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Survey: Most iPad owners have Macs, iPhones

iPad owners are huge Apple fans who already own Macs, an iPhone, and at least one iPod, according to a weekend survey from Piper Jaffray.

Piper Jaffray senior analyst Gene Munster, who coordinated a survey of 448 iPad buyers on Saturday, said 74 percent of iPad owners surveyed currently own a Mac, while just 26 percent own a PC.

Apple has also done a good job attracting iPhone owners, Munster found. About 66 percent of those surveyed said that they currently own an iPhone. A whopping 99 percent of those iPhone owners say they will use their handset in conjunction … Read more

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Apple iPad launch day

The reviews are in on Apple's iPad. And starting Saturday, you can actually get your hands on one.

In the days preceding the April 3 launch of the Wi-Fi version of the iPad in the U.S., there hasn't been the same kind of line-waiting frenzy as with past releases of the the iPhone: few are camping out ahead of time.

That's likely because those who wanted to snag an iPad the first day had the option to have it shipped to them--for free. But those who didn't plan ahead, or only recently got the must-buy-it bug, will have to go into an Apple Store or a Best Buy to make their purchase.

CNET's got a team covering the launch: Greg Sandoval in New York City, Erica Ogg and James Martin in San Francisco, and Josh Lowensohn in Palo Alto, Calif. Follow along with our live blog below.

Sandoval, 8:15 a.m. EDT at New York's Fifth Avenue Apple Store: In the final hours before the iPad went on sale, the line out in front of the store saw a little controversy.

Greg Packer, the retired highway worker who says he began waiting in line since Tuesday to ensure he would be first to walk out with the device, learned on Friday that those who had preordered an iPad would be first to enter.

The person who is in position to be allowed into the store first, with less than an hour to go before Apple starts letting people in, is Richard Gutjahr, a blogger from Germany.

Packer says he represents the fans who were willing to wait in line, but that's going to ring hollow to some because Packer, 46, may not be the best representative of Apple's truest fans. He's a well-known "line sitter," who spends much of his time appearing first at public events in hopes he will be interviewed.

… Read more

Apple iPad hands-on review

Editors' note: CNET's rated review of the Apple iPad is now available.

The Apple iPad is an unprecedented device. It doesn't shoot rainbows or make puppies, but this roughly 8x10-inch tablet computer melds your laptop, smartphone, gaming console, and iPod into a single, affordable, unfortunately named thing.

Of course, we come to you with a standard list of complaints. The absence of an integrated video camera puts the kibosh on any hope of using the iPad for video chats, and without Flash video support, many Web pages look like Swiss cheese. But the biggest problem with the device is coming up with bullet-proof reasons to buy one.

Because the iPad is an entirely new class of device, you'll probably need to lie to yourself a little to justify the purchase. But at this point, any CNET readers worth their salt have mastered the art of making excuses to buy new gadgets.

For the uninitiated, Apple has posted a cheat sheet of demo videos that provide a smorgasbord of reasonable answers to the question: "Why do I need an iPad?" To hear Apple tell it, the iPad is a Web browser for your living room, an e-book reader for the den, a movie player for the kids, a photo album, a jukebox, a gamer's best friend, a word processor, an e-mail machine, and a YouTube junkie's dream come true. No excuse good enough for you? Wait a few minutes and a developer will inevitably make an app for it.

Whatever you need to tell yourself to buy an iPad, we can safely say the device is a worthwhile addition to any wired home. We don't give much weight to the pundits who say that the iPad is the future of the personal computer, but we think it's the most entertaining gadget we'll see all year.… Read more

The 404 551: Where Natali and Justin have an Apple iPad battle (podcast)

The CNET New York office is typically a tame environment--unless it happens to be the eve of a big Apple product drop and turns into pure unapologetic madness! It's the day before the release of the much-anticipated Apple iPad and Natali picked one up this morning for a CBS News segment, but little does she know The 404 has our own version, and it's bigger, cheaper, and even comes with its own stylus! Unfortunately, we can't do a side-by-side comparison because the real iPad is currently submerged in a puddle of Wilson's saliva, but we'll try to get the thing in the studio for Monday's show, pending a serious wipedown.

Jeff and I are still disappointed by the lack of features on the iPad, but we can't shrug off the awesome-factor of the new Netflix for iPad app that dropped yesterday. Some disregarded it as a cruel April Fools' joke, but it is indeed available now on the App Store. The service is free to all Netflix customers, who will now have mobile access to more than 20,000 movies and television shows currently in the library. You can even continue watching movies from where you left off on your TV or computer at home.

We can already sense your irritation at all this iPad talk, so let's move on. Sending dirty text messages to your boo bear isn't just for professional golfers and tweens anymore. Studies show that more and more adults are using "sexting" to get nasty on the run, so we're running down a list of five tips for safe sexting. The list is cheeky, and while we agree that the No. 1 tip is to be discreet, the article neglects to address the wonderful world of multimedia messages that can add a visual aid to your naughty text.

Guess we know what you're doing this weekend! And after you do that, shoot us a line by leaving a voicemail at 1-866-404-CNET or send a message to the404(at)cnet(dot)com and let us know what's on your mind!

EPISODE 551 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Friday Poll: Got your eye on an iPad?

iPad Day, as you've surely heard, is almost upon us. When Apple stores around the country open their doors Saturday morning, those who have preordered the much-hyped tablet, yours truly included, can finally get their hands on one. Those who haven't preordered the device can also get one at Apple stores starting at 9 a.m. local time, as well as at most Best Buys.

It's been reported here and elsewhere that iPad preorders are numbering in the hundreds of thousands, and you, being Crave fans, perhaps count for one of those. Or at least you're … Read more

Photo redux: Apple iPad

The Wi-Fi version of Apple's new iPad is just around the corner, and I can practically hear the fanboys champing at the bit from my climate-controlled cubicle. The massive media player-cum-e-book reader is set for retail availability this Saturday, April 3. Not that you could avoid Apple's massive media campaigning efforts if you tried, but just in case you forgot what this thing looks like and what it can do, we're here to remind you. The gallery below contains up-close and personal shots of the device as well as a plethora of information on its functionality.

10 things Netbooks still do better than an iPad

We might indeed be in the midst of a sea change in portable computing--at least, according to early hands-on reviews of the iPad, Apple's cannon shot at the Netbook universe at large. "They're not better at laptops than anything, they're just cheaper," Steve Jobs himself commented at the unveiling of the iPad in January.

The iPad might bring something new or refined to the equation. And the affordable, tiny, and yes, often bare-bones Atom processor-running device we've come to know and love, or hate, as the Netbook is often clunky and frequently disappointing, true … Read more