Will the iPad let me install Firefox?

The iPad does not run Mac OS X, and there's no version of Firefox for the iPhone OS, so no, you will not able to install Firefox unless and until the Mozilla project decides to produce a version for the iPad and/or iPhone.

Or is it a totally closed system where you can only install Apple products like you can on the iPhone?

You appear to be laboring under a misconception. Even on an iPhone you can install non-Apple products. I've lost track of how many apps are available, but it's on the order of 100,000 or so.

if I can't browse the full web like i can on my laptop,

Other than sites that require Flash - as of yet there's no indication that there will be a version of Flash for the iPad though we're still a couple of months away from release - the iPad will indeed be able to browse the "full web" as long as the site is coded using industry-standard methods and doesn't use coding only supported in certain browsers. You can do that on the iPhone now, with again the exception of Flash based site or sites that insist on browser-specific features.

Everything that any of us know about the iPad can be found here:

http://www.apple.com/ipad/

Best of luck.

Dave Sawyer wrote:
You appear to be laboring under a misconception. Even on an iPhone you can install non-Apple products. I've lost track of how many apps are available, but it's on the order of 100,000 or so.

It was said that there are over 140,000 apps on the app store now during the iPad announcement

J.C

Check the app store to see what is available for download.

Dave Sawyer wrote:
The iPad does not run Mac OS X, and there's no version of Firefox for the iPhone OS, so no, you will not able to install Firefox unless and until the Mozilla project decides to produce a version for the iPad and/or iPhone.

Or is it a totally closed system where you can only install Apple products like you can on the iPhone?

You appear to be laboring under a misconception. Even on an iPhone you can install non-Apple products. I've lost track of how many apps are available, but it's on the order of 100,000 or so.

But they all have to be APPROVED by Apple, and Apple has already said that anything that conflicts with the built-in apps are forbidden. So only Safari will be allowed on iPhone OS platforms.

if I can't browse the full web like i can on my laptop,

Other than sites that require Flash - as of yet there's no indication that there will be a version of Flash for the iPad though we're still a couple of months away from release - the iPad will indeed be able to browse the "full web" as long as the site is coded using industry-standard methods and doesn't use coding only supported in certain browsers. You can do that on the iPhone now, with again the exception of Flash based site or sites that insist on browser-specific features.

If HTML 5 was adopted, then Flash (and its associated performance hit) can be killed off.

Romad... I believe the word conflicts means... messes with. FireFox wouldn't mess with Safari or interact with it either. Time will tell if FireFox comes to the iPad.

Message was edited by: David M Brewer

binaryTree wrote:

I was going to get a netbook, but if the iPad will let me browse the web in the same way than I might consider paying more for it - even though it will have all the same features as netbook - just because it looks cool and has a touch screen.

"even though it will have the same features as netbook" <---- Every $2XX netbook I have saw has a camera to video chat. The iPad will not have a camera! Big thumbs down in my humble opinion. This is the deal breaker for me.

romad wrote:
...only Safari will be allowed on iPhone OS platforms.

romad ~ There already are alternative browsers on iPhone OS platforms — see HERE.

I should have said "conflicts or duplicates". I've talked with iPhone SDK users and duplication is one of the no-nos. However, if you have a jailbroken iPhone, then you can put whatever you darn well please on it, I understand.

Interesting that you don't see FF, Camino, IE, OmniWeb, iCab, Opera, Shiira, SeaMonkey, etc. listed. Are these "approved" browsers really viable alternatives to Safari on the iPhone? From the descriptions, they seem to be targeted at 1 or 2 specific uses as opposed to normal general use.

I may go and look at the QuickSurf app, however.

Just went to get it and was told it is NOT available in the U.S.

Message was edited by: romad

BUT I did find iCab!

Thanks for the tip!

Message was edited by: romad

But they all have to be APPROVED by Apple, and Apple has already said that anything that conflicts with the built-in apps are forbidden. So only Safari will be allowed on iPhone OS platforms.

Several other web browsers have already been approved and sold through the App Store. Whether or not Apple would approve a version of Firefox is unknown.

And the fact that Apple has to approve all apps does not alter the mistake of the initial statement which was that only Apple products could be installed, which is patently incorrect.