I bought an iPad when they were released in NZ the other week. I couldn't help myself and my initial feeling is one of being very impressed with all the different things this device can do. I'll probably blog later on some of the cool things I'm doing with it, but in the mean time I'm looking at iPad mindmapping software and came across this good comparison site:

http://mindmappingsoftwareblog.com/mind-mapping-apps-for-the-ipad/

I'm thinking I will need some mindmapping software as I run around in my new job trying to absorb all the new information hitting my brain!

I'm also going to see what type of modelling / architecture software exists for the iPad.

Apple has just eclipsed Microsoft as the biggest technology company in work by market capitalisation - $222 Billion versus Microsoft's $219 billon. Stunning turn around for Apple and not great news for MS considering it used to be over $500 Billion in the past.

So the iPad is released and confirmed. There are some really interesting possibilities with this device based on the capabilities released - notwithstanding a reworked version of iWork (Pardon the pun!). I've managed to resist for a day - but I have now placed an order to get one from the first NZ shippment slated for the end of March. I'm planning to look at this device fare more than a personal device for home - I'm really interested to see what implications are for the Enterprise environment. I expect to be blogging about it in the future.

French Telecom/Orange exec Stephane Richard confirms the existence of the iSlate only that have his statement clarified as "hypothetical". You have to love this cloak and dagger around the iSlate!

For the latest in rumours on the impending islate from Apple as per my last post checkout:

iSlate.org

There has been loads of buzz recently that the Apple will be announcing a Tablet PC in January. At CES Microsoft debuted some new tablets in the form of slates with the usual lack of flair that we have come to except with Microsoft and Tablet PCs.

Myself personally - I'm a very heavy iPhone user and after using the iPhone I strongly believe a multi-touch slate is the way of the future for personal computing. To me an Apple slate represents a broadening of the type of interaction first properly seen on the iPhone. For me it's simple - you can use a device interactively without using some stupid thing in the way like a pen for example. My kids are shinning examples of how using an iPhone or an iPod touch can be so easy. Both of my kids learnt to use a iPod touch within minutes without any real instruction. (My boy learnt on my iPhone at 6 and my girl recently on an iPod touch at 3!).

So it is with huge anticipation I was reading gizomodo tonight and the whole Apple Tablet debate is not just warming up but about the be a blazing fire! Some outtakes from the article:

• The rumor is that the device will be called the "iSlate". The domain iSlate.com has been traced to Apple as well as a shell company called Slate Computing which has some trademarks registered against iSlate.
• The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco has been booked out for late January by Apple - a place often used by Apple for big media announcements.
• The likely cost will between USD$700 and $900 which would see it land in NZ for $1300 to $1700 at my guess.
• The device is rumored to be smaller than Apple's current laptops but bigger than the iPhone or iPod Touch. 7", 9", or 10"? Most people are saying 10-11".
• The chip used could either be an Atom or ARM based. Likely to be ARM given Apple's recent purchase of PA Semi.
• It could use and OLED screen - but at the price above?

Hopefully it all comes true this month - I know personally I'll be lining up for one!