iPad, iPad, iPad!
I don’t have much to contribute to the iPad conversation that hasn’t been said elsewhere. I’m in the process of buying a home in a location that will add three hours of train travel per day to my commute. Imagine how nice an iPad would be in such a situation.
I haven’t decided if I’ll spring for the first generation model or hold out until the second generation debuts around a year for now. By then, perhaps we’ll see an OLED screen option, a front-facing camera, a built in SD slot, a faster chip, and more storage space. Then again, maybe we’ll just see a speed bump and a slightly thinner design. Who knows. One thing Apple needs to add pronto, though, is a Dvorak option for the virtual iPad keyboard.
A capability that would make the iPad doubly appealing would be if it could serve as an extension to a Mac. Imagine if the device could transform into a WACOM-style pen tablet, additional screen real estate, or a place to house palettes for Adobe Creative Suite and other apps. But I’m just day dreaming here.
So, I agree that it looks like a giant iPod Touch and wished to see a more original design. I, too, am not crazy about the name. But for those who say the iPad doesn’t live up to the hype, I disagree.
The few journalists and uber-bloggers who actually got to use it say that the hands-on experience made all the difference. It’s reportedly a real pleasant experience. It’s fast, fluid, and solid. But what about the apps? The reworked iWorks suite may have been the most boring part of the stage presentation for some, but for me it was the most interesting. What they did with Pages, Keynote, and Numbers really showcased how this is not just a big Touch. It’s a game changer. It’s going to be much more than just a media consumption device. It’ll be a device that meets all sorts of different needs for all sorts of different users. I think that’ll be apparent once the apps start rolling out.
That’s all I have to say about the iPad…until I get one.
Reader Comments
I think that this will be a great thing to have while traveling around on a boat, don’t you?!
It will be especially a nice addition for these old eyes when we will be able to look at maps and weather on a larger screen.
Why would anyone want to buy a reader like the Kindle that just lets you read a book. For a bit more money, you can have one of these that will let you read that book and do other countless things with it. The iPad has my vote.