First off, “iPad”, really?!? What kind of name is that. I remember looking at early “renditions” of the fabled Apple Tablet with names including iSlate and iPad. At some point, there was a Borders survey that mentioned and iPad, and I immediately scoffed at the name.

For all this time, people were imagining some amazing device that would be somewhere in the field between smartphones and laptops, not just a huge iPod Touch.

Really, I don’t see why you would spend $499 or more on a device that basically does what an iPod does, but with a larger (multitouch) screen which is supposed to make reading book, browsing the web, and the such easier.

You could buy a netbook for a cheaper price and it would come with a keyboard as well as more functionality. Not to mention you could get one with a touchscreen as well.

Granted, the iPad does have some good points such as weighing 1.5 lbs and a 10 hour battery life, but really that is about it. Look at how stupid the device looks in Steve Job’s hands, being just a huge iPod:

You’ll be able to run all the iPhone/iPod apps on the iPad. Though there is still no multitasking, giving further reason as to the little benefit between the iPod Touch and iPad.

People who want to have an excellent on the go reading device should get a Kindle (which gives you a very paper-like experience), those who want to get a great multimedia device, get something along the lines of an iPod (I’m only saying this to prove a point), if you want to have a cheap portable computing device, get a netbook. So tell me, why would you get an iPad?

So, $499 for the 16GB model, $599 for the 32 GB model, and $699 for the 64GB model. 3G adds $130. The Wi-Fi only model will come out in 60 days, and the 3G one in 90 days.

Image from Engadget.com

Gizmodo article: http://i.gizmodo.com/5458292/apple-ipad-everything-you-need-to-know

Gizmodo has a great guide to all the rumors that sprung up regarding the Apple Tablet:http://gizmodo.com/5434566/the-exhaustive-guide-to-apple-tablet-rumors

Specs: http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

Engadget Article: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/the-apple-ipad/

Engadget Apple Tablet History: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/the-apple-tablet-a-complete-history-supposedly/

The Standard (agrees with me!): http://www.thestandard.com/news/2010/01/27/early-ipad-reaction-its-just-giant-ipod-touch?source=nlt_weekly

The HP Touchsmart PC IQ1770 is my favorite computer of CES. It’s similar to Apple iMac (in that it is an all in one) but with a touchscreen monitor. It will be released at the same time as Windows Vista and will cost $1,779. It has a touch activated addition called SmartCenter. It has a calendar, a photo editing application, and a basic weather feed. Included with the calendar is a Post-it(r) styled note application to leave notes (or voice notes) for other members of your family.Otherwise, the TouchSmart PC works very much like a typical modern PC. It includes all of the amenities of a system in its price range, including a slot-loading, LightScribe-capable DVD burner (standard definition), an 8-in-1 media card reader, integrated 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a TV tuner, a Webcam and a microphone on the top edge of the LCD, as well as the usual assortment of video and audio connections.

In MP3s is the Sansa Connect. It has the long awatied feature of wireless downloading and internet radio (Hmm, I guess Starbuck’s wi-fi can come in handy sometimes).The player comes with 4GB of flash memory and offers an SD card slot to add more. The body is sleek and compact, measuring in at 2.05×3.58×0.63 inches, and the bright color screen is ample at 2.2 inches (diagonal). The Connect is due in March and will sport a $249.99 price tag.

In Home Theater is the the LG BH100 and the Phillps Soundbar. The LG BH100 is the previously impossible player. It is the ONE that can play HD-DVD and Blu-ray. The player can deliver up to 1080p output resolution at 24 and 30 frames per second via HDMI, but future-conscious buyers might lament that the HDMI version is just 1.2, not 1.3. The LG also has Blu-ray Java compatibility. All of the standard A/V outputs are present, including 5.1-channel analog audio outputs. Of cource it will still be able to play our traditional DVDs and CDs.

The Phillps Soundbar HTS8100 is a 1.1 virtual surround speaker (one speaker and a subwoofer). But what is different is that it has a built in DVD player (sorry no blu-ray or HD-DVD). It is about 5 inches thick and uses Phillips Ambisound technology. The price tag might scare you though at 1,000 dollars. There is an alternative: the Phillips HTS6600 which is a 2.1 virtual surround and will cost $599. Both will be availible in the second quarter on 2007.

I’ll continue on later, so check back often!