First impressions of the Apple iPad
Apple's iPad is not the computing revolution some were predicting. It is, let's face it, an oversized iPod touch. But it's also the most desirable tablet - or eReader - on the market.
And the iPad is a netbook-slayer, too - because you can touch and interact with web pages, the browsing experience on the iPad is peerless. It's not just better than the iPhone - it's better than the iMac and every other computer out there. Email is equally brilliant
Of course, the iPad has some flaws - a bright LED screen is never going to be perfect for an eReader, and the lack of a grown-up operating system severely limits what you can do with file management.
But pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard and you have a gloriously tactile, wonderfully useful computing system that will be at home on the coffee tablet or tucked up in a manbag.
Future generations of the iPad will no doubt offer OLED screens, cameras, video streaming and more; for now, we have a beautifully made, affordable multimedia tablet with hundreds of thousands of pocket-money apps to improve its features.
Tablet computing finally has its hero. And any gadgeteer worth his silicon won't be able to resist buying one.
Look and feel.
The iPad looks like an overgrown iPod Touch - it's incredibly thin with a sheer glass front and a curved, anodised aluminium back. It demands to be held - and once you pick it up, you won't want to put it down. Until you have to type something - unlike the iPhone, you're not going to be able to hold the iPad and type with two thumbs.
Hardware
Despite all the rumours suggesting that the iPad would feature all sorts of new technology, from OLED screens to proximity sensors, there's actually little new - aside from the 1GHz, Apple-built brain that moves everything along at an incredible pace - and allows it to deliver 10 hours of video on a single charge. Apple clearly decided to produce something affordable rather than something truly innovative.
User interface
The iPad's user interface will be its biggest selling point. It has to be held to be believed. Like the iPhone, it's incredibly intuitive - but it's also remarkably resposinve to any motion, swipe or prod. The transition animations are brilliantly realised, too, particularly the way the iBook Store hurls books into your wood-panelled library.
iBooks
I'm not totally convinced of the iPad's eBook credentials - at least, not in its current form. Certainly the iBooks app is beautiful, but the screen is so bright that reading will be much more strenuous than on the Kindle. I'd guess that future versions of the iPad will feature screens that can switch between easy-on-the-eye eInk and fast moving colour - but those screens are only in the prototype stage right now. 
iWork
Apple's office suite is has been beautifully re-engineered for the iPad - Keynote, Pages and even Numbers are gloriously tactile, and easily worth the $9.99 pricetag for each app. But if you're serious about doing work, you'll definitely want to invest in either a keyboard dock or Bluetooth keyboard - touch typing on the virtual keyboard is impossible. Even thumb typing while holding it doesn't work.
Gaming/apps.
The iPad will run pretty much any iPhone app at native resolution, or scaled up to fit the 1024 x780-pixel display. The upscaling doesn't add any extra detail, but it works fine - until a iPad-specific version of the app appears. The 1Ghz processor means that games fly, but the lack of physical controls could compromise the iPad's gaming potential.
Stuff says
The iPad is a truly gorgeous slice of technology that redefines the tablet - but it won't be a gadget essential until it has a purpuse. Which is why it will live or die by the quality of the apps that are developed for it. First up, we want video streaming and a universal remote control…
Comments
Drunken Max
2 years ago
I'd have thought first up you'd want Flash. does it have TV out possibilities so you can play your movies on a screen everyone can watch?
Hugh Jarse
2 years ago
Quite a lot of people online seem to be saying there is no need for a product between a proper laptop and a smartphone - and yet netbooks have been selling well despite being mainly used for email and web surfing - which is just what the iPad will be good for. Also, the iPad is quality whereas most netbooks frankly aren't. Surely the iPad is a threat to netbooks and e-Readers, and isn't that enough to be going on with?
The_Corporal
2 years ago
Maybe if it was in the same price band as netbooks it would have a point, but it's not.
It's at a price point where it's competing with proper laptops with proper grown up operating systems.
The reasoning behind netbooks is they are cheap, cheerful, and you can chuck them in your bag, back of the car etc without worring about damaging them too much.
The iPad, looks like it needs handled with kidgloves.
Also unlike e-readers with thier e-ink displays, the led screen will fatigue your eyes after a while.
Don't get me wrong, I like the look of it, but in it's current iteration it is just an expensive toy.
waspish
2 years ago
saving my money for the new iphone 4g not one bit impressed
Hugh Jarse
2 years ago
The price is certainly within the upper band of netbooks - assuming $500 translates to £400 in reality. Netbooks may have a proper OS, but for a lot of people the tasks they actually want to accomplish such as email, web surfing etc can be done without a proper OS - and with a high quality multi-touch screen they will be more appealing tasks to do than on a cramped cheap netbook. Look up user satisfaction of netbooks, and for most people actually using them kinda sucks. I know geeks who love their netbook, but that is not who Apple are going after with this. ALso, the low end model is the same price as the Kindle DX, so I think a lot of people will see it as a surprisingly good value piece of tech.
Gizmodo have a good piece:
http://gizmodo.com/5458531/why-the-ipad-will-crush-netbooks-and-ebook-readers
fez89
2 years ago
This is just $100 less than the Nokia Booklet 3G...This iPad is a beautiful machine but just doesn't have enough features to justify its release. The Nokia has 12 hours battery and 3G, GPS and 120GB HDD...For the same price I would get an iPad that has 32GB... this could be very fragile if put in a bag without a tough case to protect it. Then again...I haven't totally ruled it out lol
The_Corporal
2 years ago
I am willing to put a tenner on the fact that when it's released over here you won't get the base model for under £500.
I watched the keynote this morning and there are several claims which Jobbsy makes that had me laugh out loud.
You're right though, Apple aren't going after geeks who know thier tech, they are going after iBots who will buy anything with an Apple logo on it
The_Corporal
2 years ago
http://www.soundadviceblog.com/commentary/apple-ipad-epic-fail-meh-71-currently-think-so/
Drunken Max
2 years ago
You can get a decent Notebook for that money. If its got the same crap email client as the iPhone that means you have to delete emails even when you've downloaded them onto your server then it just shows what minimum effort Apple have put into the OS. Its a cloned iTouch / iPhone and its yet again a closed device to only Apple products and services.
Drunken Max
2 years ago
"Future generations of the iPad will no doubt offer OLED screens, cameras, video streaming and more; for now, we have a beautifully made, affordable multimedia tablet with hundreds of thousands of pocket-money apps to improve its features.
Tablet computing finally has its hero. And any gadgeteer worth his silicon won't be able to resist buying one."
I'll buy one in the future then.
Q. Apps I already have on my iPhone? Would I have to buy them again if I bought an iTampax
The_Corporal
2 years ago
Stop calling it the iTampax, it's actually the iTenalady.
blue3112
2 years ago
It does look the bis, shame I've just got a 64GB touch, so I guess I'l wait till the 2nd or 3rd Gen models and maybe get one.
Ross Dixon
2 years ago
Surely it would be very easy to make the iPad reader friendly. why not have inverted txt. So white is black and Black is White. That way the screen will not be too bright and the letters clearer.
Paul Barton
2 years ago
Anyone saying "I can have a PROPER OS for less... blah" - this isn't for you. Anyone that realises that a full OS designed for a cursor might be a DISadvantage on a tablet - less is more etc... might be pretty keen on it.
I would take this with a choice of 140,000 apps over a plastic netbook anyday. Just for browsing, it looks great.
Crazy Kid
2 years ago
Don't know about you guys, but I am getting it for my birthday. It sure sounds great!
dolph452
2 years ago
Pretty, but far too expensive. And how can a piece of tech be classed as internet friendly when it doesn't support Adobe flash?
Nice toy if you're gullible and have cash to burn.
Dynamic Webb
2 years ago
iPad looks like a brillant next generation netbook. Like the 1st gen iPhone, the iPad is an awesome & beautiful gadget but won't quick off properly till the 2nd gen iPad is released (hopefully with flash and iChat).
BTW: It properly costs £350 - £550 because its aimed at the netbook market.
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2 years ago
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dickie2501
2 years ago
no flash player then it's no use for the purpose they are trying to sell it for don't understand why apple won't include it , it's about time the fanboys got over this nonsense that apple can do no wrong and i include STUFF in this as well, it's time they were knocked down a peg or two , if it was another company they would be slated but because it's apple you fawn all over them it's embarissing and does the industry no good either.
Snige
2 years ago
er how many sites have you read that are loving it? So far in the press, this is getting panned.
finnie81
1 year ago
I absolutely don't need one, but i want one so bad!
I do reckon it will do the things you'd use a netbook for much better than a netbook, which was the product Steve Jobs was aiming for, as he said in his keynote. Flash is the only big issue i reckon, and how hard can that be...?