iPad Progress Report

Now that the 300,000 early adopters have had a few days to play and work with their iPads, we're moving beyond the "first impressions" articles (but here's a video of a 2-1/2-year-old's first encounter with the device). The detailed reviews aren't out yet. The largest source of early complaints is a complex of problems with Wi-Fi reception. Apple has posted a technical support note implicitly acknowledging the problems and suggesting some work-arounds — specifically, changing SSIDs or encryption methods on base stations that offer both 2.4-GHz and 5.8-GHz signals. Finally, here's a detailed look at the gratuitous pain Apple imposes on those desiring to get iWork files transferred from and to the iPad.

Comments

Re:early adaptor?

[Trepidity]

I think the grandparent post was commenting on kdawson using "early adapter" instead of "early adopter" in the post. Presumably, an early adapter is someone who is among the first to adapt to the revolutionary new world that the Jesus Tablet brings us.

Re:Probably not 300k

[ProppaT]

I'm not really bothered by the 300k number. I'm sure there's nearly that many Apple zealots waiting to get their hands on one to begin with. What I'm curious about is how many of those 300k people are people who are just going to buy the next Apple gadget on launch day vs. those who bought it out of genuine interest. Also, I'm curious if this will drive up the sales of iPod Touches when people go out to get an iPad but realize they can save a few hundred dollars and basically have the same functionality + portability. Personally, I hope it flops...we don't need Apple dictating, shaping, and propriatizing yet another format...but that's just an off topic rant.

Re:Why did they not wait for 4.0?

[UnknowingFool]

It sure seems strange to me that Apple, who sell themselves as the "complete" and "it just works" experience would release the iPad before the next version of iPhoneOS comes out. This sounds like the kind of giant pay-to-beta-test sort of thing that Apple is known for NOT doing.

Think about that. Apple released a new product on an older but proven OS. iPhone OS 3.2 is a version of iPhone OS specifically modified for iPad. It was released in beta back in Jan 2010. You're advocating that they should have released a brand new product on a new, unproven OS (4.0 which hasn't been released outside of Apple yet). Sounds like Apple is trying to avoid the beta-testing you're accusing them of doing.

Also this week they will announce/release the beta version of 4.0 to developers. It will be at least a few months after release before the OS moves from beta to final. That would have to delay the launch of iPad for a few more months.

root

[jDeepbeep]

It's a sad day when getting root on my own device is considered 'hacking'

Yes, hacking.

[RulerOf]

I understand your sentiment, but it very likely is hacking, particularly in the purest sense of the word.

So, in true Slashdot spirit:

It's a sad day when getting root on my own device requires 'hacking'

FTFY.

Re:The baby

[LynnwoodRooster]

They didn't sell 300,000 units in one day, or even one weekend. They sold 300,000 on 4 months of constant hype and reporting, and finally completed those sales in one weekend.