We’ve had a week to play with our new iPad at the Pursuitist, and felt it was a good time to weigh in on Apple’s new device.
We’ll say off the top that the iPad is a heck of a lot of fun, and it actually is a really nice tool. That said, it’s not for everyone. It has, like any computer, it’s strengths and weaknesses.
First, the good.
The iPad looks great. Those familiar with the iMac will know how beautiful the screen is. iPhone and iPod touch users will have no problem using the interface. Like any touchscreen, it needs a cleaning every now and then. But the large screen is amazing. The ability for it to orient to the viewer works flawlessly. Photos and movies displayed sharply. No one should complain about the images this device produces.
The iPad is fast. Whether surfing the web or running applications, it zips along. Movies and TV shows didn’t have any hiccups – and as stated above, looked great.
Speaking of surfing the web – the lack of Flash has been a criticism of the iPad by some, but to be honest, it rarely was an issue. I thought I’d run into more sites that wouldn’t work, but it was far less of an occurrence than anticipated. I found that I love to use the touchscreen while casual surfing. It’s more intuitive than using a mouse. It made surfing a pleasure.
Apps were a blast. We downloaded about 10 or so right off the bat. Things loaded smoothly and without issue. The apps we selected varied from some games to some news/information types, such as BBC News and USA Today. Real Racing HD was great – every person who played with my iPad took it for a spin and loved it.
The included applications were simple, elegant and great to use. This includes the iPhoto, iTunes, calendar, mail and maps programs. Setting things up was easy, using them intuitive and understandable. The iPhoto program was great – really fun to show off, easy to find things.
We also downloaded the Apple aps for Pages, Numbers, Pages and Keynote (meaning Excel, Word and PowerPoint). All worked fine. The limited screen wasn’t ideal (especially when you needed the virtual keyboard), but they were all acceptable.
The next app to discuss is the much anticipated iBooks. We have to say that this is a killer. After the quick install, I downloaded a few free books and bought one through the store. I then proceeded to read on my iPad, sitting on the couch, for almost three hours. I loved this. It never felt like I was at a computer. The app itself is slick and intuitive. The implications for students is amazing – with the ability to copy and paste from their iBooks to their word processor, they can plagiarize easier than ever! This app is one of the best things about the iPad.
One quick note – there have been some complaints about WiFi connectivity – we tried in four different places and things went off without a problem. Also, battery life has been great.
We brought the iPad over to several friends for their reactions, and despite the varied levels of computer knowledge, each came away pretty amazed. Enough to buy? Not all of them, but they all saw the potential.
We have heaped praises on the iPad – but what is lacking?
Personally, I didn’t find a need for the camera – but I’m not a ‘take a photo every moment’ type. I can see where having it might be nice, but it’s not a deal breaker for me.
No multitasking is a bit of a downer. I feel it will come later (it’s on the new iPhone OS). This will be a positive. Being able to cut and paste from various applications will help this be more of a productivity tool – which it isn’t (more on that later.)
The aforementioned Flash support would be nice – but it’s not essential – and based on Apple’s comments – not being considered.
As mentioned above, the productivity apps – Keynote, Numbers and Pages – are nice, but the lack of a keyboard makes it a bit awkward at times using these.
Not a lot of negatives – but this device still isn’t for everyone.
It’s not – for most people – going to be a productivity computer. It probably won’t be used much by businesses. Sure you can get the dock and attachable keyboard to tote around, but if you’re doing that, you may as well just have your laptop. If a person doesn’t use the standard Microsoft Office Apps very often – mainly just needs the web and email – this would be great.
Next, who (or why) would you get an iPad:
The iPad is mostly for media consumption and entertainment. It’s absolutely magnificent for simply surfing the web, working on email, sharing photos, playing some games, reading a book, watching a movie. I argue that it’s EASIER to do these things on the iPad than it is on a standard computer. The touchscreen (we can’t emphasize this enough) is fabulous. The virtual keyboard works fine for these types of applications.
I would probably argue that if you already have an iPhone and a laptop for your home, you don’t need the iPad. But if you don’t, the iPad is a great device.
I especially see some opportunities with older users – who’ve never been completely comfortable on a PC. The iPad would be perfect for this group – who simply want to surf the web, swap email and photos.
A frequent traveler will also love this, with the long battery life. The ability to handle your email, surfing and time killing movie watching is unsurpassed for something this size.
All in all, this is a solid addition to the Apple lineup. It’s not a must have for most people – and for some, it doesn’t really make much sense. All the same, it’s a slick, very fun device that will find a niche in most any home. It is, in my opinion, the best way to consume media without feeling like your shackled behind your laptop or desktop. To me, that’s a great positive.