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iPad Gear: Hands-on Apple's accessories

iPad Gear: Hands-on Apple's accessories



Special Report: Apple iPad




The Official Apple iPad Case












The Apple Wireless Keyboard









Dock Connector to VGA Adapter









Topics: Apple, Hardware, iPad, Mobility





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  • ipad case

    looks horrible. agreed.
  • Gee why not get a netbook?

    Seriously, do you really need all that crap to get it near being a real computer?

    Still it's a lifestyle choice - isn't it? ;-)
    • No.

      No it isn't a "lifestyle choice", and it isn't a Netbook either.

      A Netbook is a cheap (though increasingly not THAT cheap) laptop
      with a small screen, cramped keyboard, poor battery life, slow
      processor. It one advantage is that it is small and light. That's it.
      Maybe you need a computer like that (and yes there plenty of use
      cases) but most people would be better served by a laptop.

      The iPad isn't that.

      The iPad was not designed to replace a laptop, Apple are perfectly
      clear on this - you still need a computer.

      Right so what's the iPad actually for then? Mostly; content delivery.
      Watching a film, reading a book, listening to music, surfing the Web or
      even playing a game, all things the iPad is good at. If these don't
      sound like work, then you're getting the idea. While you might find an
      iPad useful for work, that isn't its reason for being. Sure you can use
      iWork on it, yes it'll do email and I'm sure there will be lots of "serious"
      applications - that isn't the primary focus.

      Is there crossover between a Netbook and an iPad? Sure, lots of
      Netbooks get used for the things Apple designed that iPad for
      (Netbooks just aren't very good at those things) but there are use
      cases where either a Netbook makes more sense (not may but they do
      exist) or a laptop is far better.
      • Content delivery.

        I stopped living with my parents years ago. I get to chose what content I want to watch now. Why should I buy an iPad and have Apple act like my parents again and dictate what content I can an cannot watch.

        Get a grip man, you're utterly deluded.
  • OMGosh - did I just read a comment stating the iPad is a great device?

    Yet maybe the Apple accessories are 'not so great',
    hmm? BTW .. nice videos! (I've been a - Whovian - for
    quite sometime now and the video clip of the 11th
    Doctor's first episode which we can't view in the States
    until April 17th was a bit of a treat. Thanks for that once
    again, Jason.)

    Oh .. just returned from a golf vacation today and I just
    had a chance to open three shipped iPad accessories of my
    own: The slammed iPad case, the iPad power adapter and
    the iPad dock (nice to have a duplicate dock located on
    different home levels). My camera connector clip, as we all
    know, still has not shipped but rumor has it that this will
    allow some USB connectivity. (See following link)


    Still waiting for my 3G model due to ship in early May.

    Oh .. just curious .. are you still happy with the decision to
    avoid the 3G version?
    • 3G

      Don't need it. My android device can wireless tether over wifi.
      • That brings up a good point...

        It's so sad that you have to buy non-Apple phones to do Wi-Fi tethering of your Apple iPad or laptop. It certainly makes Apple look stupid for chaining themselves to a technological boat anchor like AT&T. Just pile that on the heap of poor decisions they've made, like leaving out an iChat camera.

        And, come on Apple, when are we going to get a worthy desktop client for these cool personal devices? Seriously, iTunes sucks for personal data and file management on personal devices. It's like trying to use a hammer as a wrench. Try explaining to a long-time Palm user who is considering an iPhone that they will need to run their mp3 player software in order to update their contacts and watch their expression.
        • Wrong...

          While an iPhone out of the box cannot tether, a simple jailbreak allows you to see the tether option, and turn it on. I know because I have been using it. Its very fast, I can download at about 150 kb/s, and do it all wirelessly. Only Apple, which you rightly stated, is holding back this feature. But the iPhone hardware, software, and the network all support 3G tether, so if you want a Palm experience buy one. The iPhone is not for everyone, so I dont know why it is so popular. The interface is the dealbreaker. Every other phone ive used is the biggest hassle to set options, and navigate through the features. Android is promising, but really looks SO similiar to the iPhone OS, I can't give it much credit. In fact I know of no phone that did it as well as Apple, until AFTER the iPhone, when you had time to copy and get better components. Nothing new was done, Palm and Android became your i-Alternatives. Same basic structure, different flavor, on top of parts that came after the original iPhone.
          • No Jailbreaking

            why don't we go ahead and just ignore any answer
            with the term "jailbreak" in it.

            If people wanted to have to work on their phones,
            they wouldn't have bought an iPhone.
          • Feel free to ignore if you want to

            But I found his jailbreak situation, interesting enough...
            ubiquitous one
          • I couldn't agree more

            I don't want to have to HACK my device to USE my devices CAPABILITIES!! If it was capable in the first place why isn't it turned on APPLE???? Just say NO to Jailbreaking! Then say no to Apple.
          • tether FYI

            Apple tethers in other counties and with other Carriers. Its ATT thats holding it back... not Apple.
          • AT&T has a policy against that

            Tethering is against their policy. They want you
            to pay for an extra plan. I've inquired
            extensively about it assuming the AT&T people I've
            talked to were stupid. Why can't I use the plan I
            paid for again? Basicly it boils down to, they
            don't want you using the bandwidth. Of course, it
            probably costs too much to try and track so I
            don't think there are any reprocusions.
          • Didn't Apple have a part in that contract?

            I'm pretty sure they did; so they knowingly anchored themself to the cromagnums at at&t!
      • Tether to iPad?

        How are you going to tether your android device to the iPad? I'd like to tether my Motorola Droid to the iPad but can't figure out a way. I have PDANet on the Droid, but the rest of the pieces are still missing, I think. If you have a way, I'm all ears.
  • RE: iPad Gear: Hands-on Apple's accessories

    i would have loved this product, but when the basics are missing, a usb interface, a card-slot. those two simple need just does not justify a purchase of this sleek device, might i say
    • Accessories?

      You know you can get them right?

      Sure you wanted them either (1) in the box or (2) on the device. Well
      sure, it would have been nice if Apple had stuffed the iPad box with
      goodies such as these - but life isn't like that, and they would probably
      have charged more...

      However it is worth noting, USB isn't actually very useful without drivers.
      The Apple USB is for connecting cameras - I don't think you can use it for
      anything else... it would need drivers (then the iPad would be a different
      kind of device).
      • Only camera?


        Only cameras would connect to the iPad?

        How many devices in your home right now contain
        video or audio information?
    • usb... not needed

      this is and will be the best device in its class. The others will fail for so many reasons
      • Your insane

        "for so many reasons"