Intel, Nvidia, NSA Rally with iPad's Early Success
More and more technologists are getting a first hand use of Apple's iPad, and they like it.
We managed to get some time with Intel last weekend for a totally different topic -- which we can't reveal yet -- but representatives from the company ended up actually talking about Apple's direction and the iPad. Were they just sidestepping talking about the secret technology.
We asked Intel if they were upset about Apple not going with an Atom CPU in the iPad.
"Not at all. Just think, a few years ago they were not using our processors at all, and now we're in every Mac, so do you think we can be upset?"
The Intel reps also indicated that the iPad was the talk of the town and a favorite among other engineers at the chip giant, pointing to the device's ease of use and large applications and games library. When asked if they already had one, they said that most were waiting for the Wi-Fi + 3G model.
On the other side, we have Nvidia with graphics business. But discrete GPUs is just one side of Nvidia's business. The company this year will be pushing forward in the mobile devices space with the Tegra 2 SoC, which aims to power many of the tablets current in the pipeline.
Apple may have all the spotlight in the world for tablets, but Jen-Hsun Huang, Nvidia's CEO, views that as a positive thing as it's validation for tablets that will use Tegra 2, which will boast capabilities beyond that of the iPad.
"I am really delighted to see the success of Apple," he said. "And now we can take it from there forward and innovate all around that. We have seen the first of the tablets. But we haven’t seen the best of it yet."
National Security Agency, Lieutenant General Keith Alexander, also indicated that he and his colleagues are liking what Apple has done with the iPad, focusing on usage rather than following other traditional tablet makers.
"I am a technologist. I love computers. I have a new iPad," Alexander said to a committee of Senators.
The Wi-Fi + 3G iPad is slated to arrive later this month, although international availability has been delayed to May.

talk about totally unrelated organizations hoping on the "we don't know tech, but we know popular brands, and apple is one"
one of those pop culture, we need to talk about, to look like we got a finger on the pulse of current happenings.
Ugh, I don't see how loving computers and having an iPad are related. That's like saying, "I love calculators. I have an abacus."
Still haven't seen a person with one IRL.
haha, true statement for me.
But anyway. The general consensus on campus here (I work at NAU) seems to be that technology gurus hate the iPad (including the die-hard Mac fans, strangely enough), while the general "average-user" population love the iPad.
I managed to play around with one, and it is definitely a cool product, and I think Apple did VERY well with it, especially with its ease of use. Having said that, I will never need/want one.
-me-
NSA on it, like it.
Isreal banned.
Why? It because NSA can track where you are. The device will not stop broadcast your location...
Mmm, interesting! Wonder what we might have in store!
But the iPad was really a first step. We can all agree that it's not up to par with our expectations, but it will set a curve for the tablet market, and manufacturers will continue to improve its design. And that's a good thing. Competition = lower $ from the customer.
Look at VIA & Intel, Intel took them down because VIA start selling their own ultra low power CPU. Most likely, Intel will do the same. Bannnnnnnnnnning Apple using the Intel Core technology.
LOL
Personally, I would never get one since I am not a couch potato.
But the people who waste their time haunting ipad news sites to trash the product really have problems. Seriously, do you guys do the same type of stalking for cars or TV brands you don't like? If you hate the ipad so much why do you spend so much time reading about it?
+1
yea, just wait till they make a better one to put in all their macs, wont be no more intel in apples. next up GPUs, then USBs, say hello to the Universal Apple Bus.
The iPad is a tool that serves a purpose and does that so well that it's near perfection. That purpose is not to replace a laptop or a PC for productivity purposes, and those that don't understand its draw will really have to learn this before they stop typing "iPad sucks" in every forum they visit.
I hope there's a follow up article to the Apple fanboy one that focuses on Apple haters, because they're just as blind, just as arrogant, and just as noisy.
+1