Bill Gates: The iPad Isn't All That

Brent Schlender over at Bnet had a quick discussion with Bill Gates about Apple's much hyped iPad, and Gates wasn't impressed.

There's no denying that Apple's trying to be market-maker when it comes to slate/tablet computers. Up until this point, pretty much all tablet computers that have come out have all been forgotten. No one even remembers the HP Slate that came out during CES. It was a big launch for HP, and then the day after, no one spoke of it again.

Bill Gates doesn't seem to be too fond of the iPad either, saying that there's nothing on the iPad that he wished Microsoft would have done. Despite that, he did give Apple credit for the iPhone.

The quote:

“You know, I’m a big believer in touch and digital reading, but I still think that some mixture of voice, the pen and a real keyboard - in other words a netbook - will be the mainstream on that,” he said. “So, it’s not like I sit there and feel the same way I did with iPhone where I say, ‘Oh my God, Microsoft didn’t aim high enough.’  It’s a nice reader, but there’s nothing on the iPad I look at and say, ‘Oh, I wish Microsoft had done it.’”

Read the rest of the post here.

  • rawoysters
    You're right on Bill!
    Reply
  • You left out the official quote where Gates said "iPad ain't all dat and a bag of chips, girlfren!"
    Reply
  • omnimodis78
    There's not denying it, this thing is ugly. Looks exactly like an oversized (and cheap looking) digital picture frame.
    Reply
  • liquid0h
    Yeah Gates, I bet you said the same thing about the iPhone when it initially came out.
    Reply
  • omnimodis78
    liquid0hYeah Gates, I bet you said the same thing about the iPhone when it initially came out.Your comment proves that you didn't read the article!
    Reply
  • mlopinto2k1
    Nothing like reality. I love when people are honest.
    Reply
  • I agree with Gates for a device the size of the I-Pad. If Apple had introduced a smaller form factor I could see the utility.
    Reply
  • mlopinto2k1
    omnimodis78There's not denying it, this thing is ugly. Looks exactly like an oversized (and cheap looking) digital picture frame.As much as I don't like the whole hype behind the iPad, I think your observation is a little corny.
    Reply
  • omnimodis78
    mlopinto2k1As much as I don't like the whole hype behind the iPad, I think your observation is a little corny.No I don't think so at all - I mean I don't want to argue it because this is all a matter of perspective, but the first day I saw that thing being held by Jobs that's exactly what I thought. I'm actually not knocking the device at all, I'm just saying it's ugly - it's very archaic in it's design. I don't think that's corny at all. If this thing was borderless and thin, I guarantee you it would be praised.
    Reply
  • SneakySnake
    @ omnimodis

    Do you know how frustrating and annoying a borderless touchscreen display would be? It's not borderless for a reason
    Reply