As many know I am not a huge fan of Apple, however saying that I have owned 3 iPods, Kelly has an iPhone and I have had to do some support on MacBooks. This writeup will be fairly objective but some Apple abuse may sneak in. This is my initial reactions after watching the presentation online and reading a couple of live blogs or hands-on.
Today Steve Jobs and Apple announced the long fabled tablet like device the iPad. The iPad is not a MacBook minus a keyboard, it isn't even a really big iPhone. The iPad is a 10" big iPod Touch, that is it nothing more. They took an iPod Touch put in a faster processor, added a larger screen and gave you the option of 3G always on Internet access. It runs iPhone OS just like the iPhone / Touch, the only added feature / app is a trimmed down version of iWork. It doesn't have a camera but does have a microphone, this means in theory you might be able to use a skype like application to make calls on it if you wanted to but not a video chat of course.
This is a media consumption device just like an iPod Touch, it is not a creation device like a MacBook or a real tablet computer. There were many that thought it would complete against a slate PC from HP or Dell, but those will have a full OS and have at least pen input if you want to take notes. I am not sure even how good it will be for books for long reading compared to a kindle. I was hoping to see some text book announcements to go along with for electronic interactive texts, but nothing. Maybe some content partner announcements in this area are coming but they haven't been made yet.
The question is if you are a Mac person and have an iPhone and a MacBook what hole in your life does this fill? Even if you don't have an iPhone and / or a laptop / netbook will you want one of these?
Some Pros:
1. It has a familar interface for those that have used an iPhone / Touch.
2. It has all the apps and content from iTunes already even if they will be stretched funny.
3. It has 802.11n and an option for unlocked 3G (at $130 plus $30 a month).
4. It has a nice screen if you wanted to use it as a portable media device (a big iPod Touch).
5. Its starting price of $499 isn't too bad but goes up rapidly.
Some Cons:
1. Why does it have a 1024x768 4:3 screen instead of a 1280x720 16:9 screen? They are almost identical size wise and the 16:9 would work so much better for HD video.
2. No Flash? Trust me I don't love flash but there are a lot of things on the web that use it, none of them will work on the iPad at all. Why does Apple hate flash?
3. Pixel density is down to 132 ppi from the 163 ppi of iPhone / Touch.
4. It weighs half as much or more of a MacBook Air?
5. Its top end price of $829 for 64 GB and 3G plus $30 a month is a bit steep.
6. Why is it still stuck with AT&T and maybe T-Mobile, how about some Verizon love?
Some unknowns:
1. What content partner deals will be made for books, magazines, newspapers and text books. How will the layouts look on the device?
2. 10 hour battery life? If used to watch HD video non-stop or playing a game?
3. How easy is it to break the screen and how much will it cost to repair. A 3" iPhone screen is $200 so a 10" iPad screen is $400?
4. Can a stylus be used to do inking? (I doubt it, but just curious)
5. Does the 3G version come with an AT&T contract by default? Can you go month to month or is it a 2 year contract with ETF?
If I traveled a lot this might be nice as a movie / TV player, iPod and book reader. However just around the house not sure how useful it is.
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