iPad magazine pricing out of touch

Wired is reporting that its iPad app sold 24,000 copies in 24 hours.  While I don't doubt this figure, I do think that the pricing for their online magazine is absurd.  They point out that at $5 each, it is the same price as the print version at a newsstand.  That is true, however a subscriber gets the same thing for $1 delivered to their house.  Given that the edition at your house can easily be lent to your friends, read in the bathroom, or used to start a fire, there's a lot more usefulness than a digital copy.  Wired needs to price this app at $1 to match their subscription price.

iPad hands on

I went to the Apple store today and played with the iPad.  I came away more impressed than before, but still have some reservations.

The screen is great and the device is extremely fast.  I noticed very little lag in loading apps (other than a 3D game) and the interface was very snappy.  But as many have said, it is just a big iPhone.

Using it as a book reader doesn't seem practical to me, the screen is just way too bright.

Typing on the device is truly awful.  I generally can type at over 140 WPM but with this device I'd be lucky to get 30 accurate words out.  It is that bad.  And I don't think it is the lack of tactile response, it just doesn't recognize fast typing.  It does its best to autocorrect, but I found this did not solve the problem.

I would not buy an iPad now, but version 2 will hopefully improve on some of the above issues.  The biggest problem for me is the lack of good input device.  I don't care if they offer office type apps for this, they are unusable with the current interface.

But if all you want to do is go online, then the iPad could be a good choice, but the price will likely come down soon.

iPad reviews trickling in

The two big names in tech reviews, Walt Mossberg and David Pogue have reviews up here and here for the iPad.  The verdict seems to be lukewarm acceptance.  Neither of them are going to go Steve Jobs on us and call it "magical" but they both seem to see more positives than negatives for this polarizing device.

And maybe that's what Apple wants.  If public perception is indeed very polarizing, it could be a home run.  Better to have 50% of your audience love it, and 50% hate it, than for 90% to say "so what."

The official launch is April 3, but good luck getting one.  It is likely going to be like the iPhone, with people paying hundreds more than list price to be the first dork on the street seen with the device.  The only thing I can see that will hold back wider acceptance is that most people won't see one in the wild.  With an iPhone, people would have them on their belts, in their hands, out in public.  I don't see many people toting around the iPad conspicuously outside of a coffee house.

iPad pricing is all wrong

A big mistake that Apple made in its launch of the iPad is the pricing.  Most of Apple's products have two or three options.  The iPad has 6: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and all with or without 3G.  This creates a lot of confusion for consumers when looking at the product.  I would bet anyone thinking of buying a model right now is deliberating which model to get.  This thinking makes them focus more on the price, and focusing on price is generally not good when a consumer is deciding whether to buy a product.

Apple should have only come out with three models: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB.  The 16GB would have no 3G while the other would have it.  That way, consumers would still have the bare bones option at $499 and the middle option would only be premium.  Most people would buy a medium-high product before a medium-low.

Oh yeah, they also really fucked up on the name.

iPad Accessories: Get Ready to Pay Up

It seems that only bare bones is included with the iPad's "low price" of $499.

Want GPS?  That'll be $130, you need 3G assist for that.
Want a keyboard?  Pay.
Want to plug it into the wall to charge? Pay.
Want to take photos?  Pay. You are out of luck, the accessory only allows you to attach a camera.
Want a dock?  Pay.
Want to protect it with a case?  Pay.

Full details here.

iPad Pricing

I think the pricing of the iPad is going to cause mass consumer confusion.  They are going to have 6 different price points, ranging from $499 - $829.  These models range from 16GB - 64GB and either have or do not have 3G.

How will a consumer know which to buy?  I predict that either the 16 or 32GB models will be discontinued by year end, likely the 16.

Add to that hundreds in accessories, this seems like a complete ripoff.