Denver resident Michael Bauer camped out for the iPhone when Apple’s revolutionary cellphone launched nearly three years ago.
He’s not doing it again for the iPad, the consumer-electronics giant’s latest hyped-out gadget, which hits stores Saturday. But that doesn’t mean Bauer won’t be an early adopter, having pre-ordered the sleek tablet computer through Apple’s website.
“I think it’ll be significant,” said Bauer, who plans to pick up his iPad at the Apple store in Littleton on Saturday. “Have they created a new category? That is the question.”
Doubters say it’s an oversized iPod Touch, a mini-laptop that isn’t as powerful as a laptop or even a netbook.
Others say it will change the way people consume online content, with its portability, 9.7-inch multitouch screen and super- fast processor. It’s also an e-book reader and will be able to run 150,000 applications and games developed for the iPhone.
“The iPad presents a really cool opportunity to have that computer sitting on your coffee table,” said Ben Reubenstein, a Denver software developer who makes apps for the iPhone and iPad. “You pick it up, and you can surf the Web, read the paper and do all these different things with a beautiful color screen.”
Despite generally positive reviews, the launch of the iPad isn’t expected to create the frenzied atmosphere that occurred with the iPhone, when lines formed days in advance at some stores.
The iPad will be available at Apple’s six retail stores in Colorado starting Saturday at 9 a.m. and at a handful of Best Buy stores along the Front Range at 10 a.m.
William Young, manager of the Best Buy at Colorado Mills in Lakewood, isn’t planning for campers but expects lines to form well before the store opens. He’ll pass out tickets if the line gets too long.
“This could almost be like the Black Friday stuff,” Young said. “It will be organized chaos.”
Apple hasn’t disclosed how many units will be available at its stores or at Best Buy. Supply wasn’t an issue with the iPhone, for the most part, as consumers were able buy the phone without much of a wait a day after it hit stores.
To coincide with the iPad launch, a group of local software developers will hold a conference called iPadDevCamp at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs today and Saturday. The event will feature presentations from developers who are making apps specifically for the iPad.
The Mac Spa in Denver, which provides technical support and training, is hosting “iPad Playdate” on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. The store will have an iPad for people to play around with and free Wi-Fi and refreshments for those who have their own.
Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209, avuong@denverpost.com or
What they’re saying
A sampling of early iPad reviews:
“This beautiful new touch-screen device from Apple has the potential to change portable computing profoundly, and to challenge the primacy of the laptop. It could even help, eventually, to propel the finger-driven, multitouch user interface ahead of the mouse-driven interface that has prevailed for decades.”
“The iPad is not a laptop. It’s not nearly as good for creating stuff. On the other hand, it’s infinitely more convenient for consuming it — books, music, video, photos, Web, e-mail and so on.”
“The iPad does a lot … but you’ll notice that it doesn’t do anything your other devices don’t, and in many cases your other devices do those things better. The difference lies in what you can do with the iPad. You can pick it up. You can rest it in your lap. You can pass it around. You can leave it on a coffee table. You can tuck it in a bag. You can one-hand it while reading on a train.”
“It’s a computer that many people have been wanting for years: a slim, 10-hour computer that can hold every document, book, movie, CD, e-mail, picture or other scrap of data they’re ever likely to want to have at hand.”
OK, I want one
Where to go: Any of the six Apple stores in Colorado, and Best Buy stores in Lakewood, Lone Tree, Westminster, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins. New orders placed at will ship by April 12.
When to get there: Saturday at 9 a.m. at Apple; 10 a.m. at Best Buy.
How much: $499 to $699 for Wi-Fi-only models featuring 16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB of memory; 3G models (able to connect to AT&T’s wireless network for $14.99 to $29.99 a month) will be available later this month for $629 to $829.
Andy Vuong, The Denver Post
What it does
•Multitouch screen, 9.7 inches
•Some 150,000 iPhone applications for download; another 1,000 iPad-specific apps on the way
•Displays full-color books with pages that turn with a tap of the screen; most will cost $12.99
•Virtual keyboard; a dock featuring a full-size physical keyboard available for $69
What it doesn’t do
No camera, can’t play Flash video, can’t multitask, can’t remove battery, can’t expand memory; tied to Apple’s Safari Web browser; screen is back-lit, which could be tougher on the eyes than Amazon’s Kindle e-ink technology
