Why is there no Camera on the IPad

First post on a user to user discussion board, and your question is about the lack of a camera on the iPad? It would be fairly unwieldy as a camera, but one on the front would be nice for video chat. If you really need a camera, check out the Camera for iPad app. 99 cents of pure joy!

The omission of the camera might be, if the iPad had a camera it would not be allowed in my places; courts, schools, government buildings, hopitals and so on and so on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNiSMyHLlqo&sns=em

Who knows for sure...?

if the iPad had a camera it would not be allowed in my places; courts, schools, government buildings, hopitals and so on and so on.

I don't understand that, "courts, schools, government buildings, hopitals and so on and so on." ALREADY have LOTS of cameras.

Why would you want a camera on an iPad?

It's too big and clumsy to take photographs.
The angle you hold the iPad would result in unflattering images for iChat.
People viewing your image during an iChat session would feel "seasick" with your swaying.

If I want to take Photos I use a real Camera or an iPhone. If I want to use video conferencing I use my MacBook Pro or iMac.

I don't need a camera on every CE device. Do the people who complain about the lack of a camera also complain there's no Camera in their Refrigerator so that they can monitor the freshness of their milk?

I think no camera on the Ipad is a good idea as comments from other people have said. It also saves battery power.
But Apple should allow a desktop webcam option that would plug into the docking port or that can be synced with bt.
yes I know about the 99 cent camera app. But that requires a iphone.
?

For any electronic device, the manufacture has to meet certain budgets: battery life, weight, volume, performance, and perhaps most importantly, parts and manufacturing cost. I suspect that once Apple decided on the $499 price point, they found that they were over-budget on manufacturing or parts costs. Removing the camera was probably the best way to hit their cost budget without seriously reducing consumer acceptance of the iPad. I say "removing" because it's clear from an internal examination that the iPad was designed to accept a camera module.

With a mind to how Apple go about designing a product such as this, it seems clear to me that there are three reasons there's no camera. The first and most minor is that it leaves a feature to add to a later model to help stimulate upgrade fever. I don't see this as a major factor, just a longer-term economic consideration. The second is that the more features they add to the iPad, the greater the risk of cannibalizing sales of their laptop range. The third and I think most telling is that in the design process, Apple were keen to give every feature included a solid purpose and rationale, and a camera simply didn't fit that because as has been pointed out, a rear-facing camera would turn the device into an unwieldy camera, while a front-facing camera would turn it into a video chat platform where users get to look up your nose, or see you and your background wobbling around as you try to hold the thing. In that context I suspect a camera was seen as a feature that added the wrong impression to the device.

In the latter sense, it's true that there are stands and docks which could help resolve the problem, but bearing in mind that Apple clearly position the iPad as the casual web-on-the-couch solution, including a camera that in essence demanded the use of a stand or dock didn't make sense in the design concept, so it was dropped once the design was being finalised.

I can understand a front-facing camera for video chat and stuff, but a rear one ? It would look kind of silly to use to take a picture.

And besides, is there really anybody who doesn't have a camera on their cell phone already ?

That might be the most wonderful thing about the iPad, lacking a camera.

Cameras on computers enslave people to them, it also gives Big Brother ultimate control if they wanted it.

If you want to see how that would look in real life, watch the documentary "We Live In Public" and the appeal of a camera on our devices doesn't seem so appealing.

Trailer for We Live In Public: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XSTwfdFwIY

Another scary scenario... Take a look at this: http://tinyurl.com/y9r4hp2

I like knowing that no one has the ability to look back at me when I'm on my iPad.

I respect everyone's opinions. But I am honestly surprised at how many of you are so quick to adopt excuses as to agree with the lack of camera.
If I may say so, this is a typical Apple product fanboy mentality. Just as with the iPhone, the lack of multitasking, MMS, and other features which were eventually added, the fans had all kinds of excuses as to why they didn't want those features only to cheer when they arrive.

A camera on the iPad would be a bit awkward to use. Yes. That is the only valid reason I can agree with. Steve Jobs being the deciding word on these product likely tried it on a prototype and decided "this too awkward and doesn't enhance the experience" (or something to that effect.)

But when people sit down with the iPad at a coffee shop or a park, one of the first things they'll do is post a Tweet, and WISH they could attach a picture of what they were tweeting about. But alas, you can not.
So you have to pull out your iPhone and do it.
Or you have to deal with messy dongles to attach a camera to your iPad.

And a front facing camera would have been awesome. Apple would make a bundle selling stands for the iPad to make it a video conferencing device.
I can only assume they did not include for 2 reasons:
1) Keep the cost down and profit margin up. After all we know Apple is in the business first and foremost to make money (and should be, and are good at it.)
2) They intend to offer it in a next gen product and that folks makes a great upsell. We know the next iPhone is likely to have a front facing camera and some sort of video chat, and I believe the iPad will follow.

So keep telling yourself DON'T WANT an camera in the iPad and are happy about it. (For some who are concerned with privacy I'm sure that's true.) But for many of you it's merely an excuse to make you feel better about the purchase.
After all, it is a great product. I personally love it anyway. But I for one feel it hit misses the mark by about 20% for various reasons like the the storage is too small, it should have a camera, and I really think it would have been better at 16x9 (that's a whole other debate.) Fortunately none of those minor reasons were enough to sink the product and Apple obviously knew that.

RF9 wrote:

So keep telling yourself DON'T WANT an camera in the iPad and are happy about it. (For some who are concerned with privacy I'm sure that's true.) But for many of you it's merely an excuse to make you feel better about the purchase.
After all, it is a great product. I personally love it anyway. But I for one feel it hit misses the mark by about 20% for various reasons like the the storage is too small, it should have a camera, and I really think it would have been better at 16x9 (that's a whole other debate.) Fortunately none of those minor reasons were enough to sink the product and Apple obviously knew that.

You know I was going to say the exact thing before I read your response. Except I was going to mention that no I'm not displeased with the lack of a camera because I feel bad about my purchase. Actually I just ordered one today so I was well aware that it didn't have one and I've read some of the sites that say it'll likely have on in the future. But in all honesty if it had one great (as long as I didn't have to pay extra for it) but I've got a cam on my iMac and I don't think I've used it more than a dozen times in the last 2 1/2 yrs. My MacBook has one and when I first got it I used it..... "Hey kids here's your dad at work!" but haven't since. If it's a camera to take photos I've always got my iPhone and I'm not bothered by the fact I might actually have to stick my hand in my pocket to pull it out.

So while I can see why a lot of people would find one useful (if not downright necessary) to categorize anyone that doesn't need one as someone trying to downplay their mistaken purchase is just not the case.

I respect everyone's opinions.

... clearly not so much ....

this is a typical Apple product fanboy mentality

... and ...

for many of you it's merely an excuse to make you feel better about the purchase.

I wonder when the art of expressing an opinion without deriding anyone not thinking alike dropped out of fashion?!

Speaking personally, as opposed to stating a viewpoint as to why Apple chose not to include one, which was the subject of this thread, I had always thought a web cam would be so useful to have that I ended up with one on a whole bunch of different systems - only to find I don't use this feature even a tenth of what I expected I would. Thus (just as with my iPhone incidentally) I'm entirely happy not to have one in my iPad. Whether present or not, it would not be a feature I would use, so for me I'm happy not to have paid for its inclusion.

Steve Jobs being the deciding word on these product likely tried it on a prototype and decided "this too awkward and doesn't enhance the experience" (or something to that effect.)

I'd be prepared to bet you got that just about exactly right! Though interestingly, his track record for getting things right over the past few years has been remarkably good.

By your argument however:

But when people sit down with the iPad at a coffee shop or a park, one of the first things they'll do is post a Tweet, and WISH they could attach a picture of what they were tweeting about.

and

And a front facing camera would have been awesome. Apple would make a bundle selling stands for the iPad to make it a video conferencing device.

There would have to be two cameras, not one. I have no way to know, but I can't help wonder how many people who don't want either or both would end up having to pay for their inclusion for the benefit of those who do.

AndyO wrote:
I wonder when the art of expressing an opinion without deriding anyone not thinking alike dropped out of fashion?!

Sorry if I come across as disrespectful or insulting. That is not at all my intent. Perhaps my use of the word 'fanboy' is misconstrued as an insult. I don't consider that to be an insult nor do I mean that. And I'm not calling everyone here a fanboy. I'm saying that some of the rather weak excuses seem motivated by defending the product or company at just about any cost... something a fan or fanboy would do.

Any yes, I respect everyone's opinions.

Joel C. wrote:

You know I was going to say the exact thing before I read your response. Except I was going to mention that no I'm not displeased with the lack of a camera because I feel bad about my purchase. Actually I just ordered one today so I was well aware that it didn't have one and I've read some of the sites that say it'll likely have on in the future. But in all honesty if it had one great (as long as I didn't have to pay extra for it) but I've got a cam on my iMac and I don't think I've used it more than a dozen times in the last 2 1/2 yrs. My MacBook has one and when I first got it I used it..... "Hey kids here's your dad at work!" but haven't since. If it's a camera to take photos I've always got my iPhone and I'm not bothered by the fact I might actually have to stick my hand in my pocket to pull it out.

So while I can see why a lot of people would find one useful (if not downright necessary) to categorize anyone that doesn't need one as someone trying to downplay their mistaken purchase is just not the case.

The thing is, a laptop, an iPad, and an iPhone all have completely different use case scenarios. You don't know how you would or wouldn't use 1 or 2 cameras in the iPad if it was there and apps were provided to use them.
As with many 'excuses' I hear for lack of features on previous Apple products, people say they don't need them or don't miss them because they never had them in to miss in the first place.

I can't tell you how many people said the iPhone didn't need multitasking or app folders. "I haven't had them it for 2 years and don't miss it, why would I want it?" But those people never had a smart phone with multitasking or app folders and don't understand the functionality they're missing.
Now Apple is adding multitasking and folders and people are going to find quick that they didn't know how they could ever live without them.
The joke is that people will say "Apple invented multitasking and folders."

Now we're not talking about the iPhone. But what I'm saying is that if you don't have a camera, how do you know you wouldn't have found it very useful?
The very existence of this thread and countless other blog posts criticizing the lack of camera is a testament that it is a desired feature. And mark my words. If they ever offer one with 1/2 cameras in the future, people will be thrilled and possibly upgrade just because of it.

I still do NOT think Apple left it off for our benefit or because it the use case wasn't there as has been suggested in this thread.
I believe it's far more likely that comes down to economics and the fact that they figured it wouldn't affect sales (much) to exclude it, and that they could offer it as an upgrade at a later time.

It's possible that in order to sell to business and government it would have hurt sales to include the camera (because it's not allowed some places.)
Or Apple was simply no ready to support the camera in the SDK and included apps and again have bigger plans to offer it at a later date with a well supported launch.

I understand there is an iPhone app to turn your iPhone over in to a remote camera bluetooth for the iPad. This app is poof that people want it.

I apologize for my passionate responses here. I don't mean to dominate the thread with my my mental spew. Reading some responses clearly hit my button. I just get wound up when I hear such willingness to dismiss Apple's decisions as something people never wanted in the first place.
It just sound like they drank too much Kool Aid.

Having said that, there are good reasons and arguments put forth against the camera and I have to agree they are very sound arguments. The reason may very well be one or some of them and I wouldn't disagree. If I was in the product planning team for the iPad, I'd have to admit there would be pros and cons to weigh through.

OK, again sorry for the long post. I promise I'm done. Thanks.

"I respect everyone's opinions. But I am honestly surprised at how many of you are so quick to adopt excuses as to agree with the lack of camera.
If I may say so, this is a typical Apple product fanboy mentality. Just as with the iPhone, the lack of multitasking, MMS, and other features which were eventually added, the fans had all kinds of excuses as to why they didn't want those features only to cheer when they arrive."

If we had the camera on the iPad, there'd be something else to complain about... To many perspectives & opinions to please everyone.