iPad Review
Let me get this out of the way...wooot!
Ok, moving on...
Brief version: Is the iPad awesome? Yes.
The iPad has been advertised as a device to fill the void between smart phones and laptop computers (whether or not that void actually exists is open for debate). After playing around with this gadget for a couple days, I am willing to agree that it far exceeds any other competitor for this area, such as netbooks. That being said, it does have it's limitations. Can it be used to replacer your main work/school computer? Only if you're willing to really go out of your way to make it work. Possible, but most likely more work than it would be worth. However, it is ideal for most everyday uses.
Web browsing/Email: I pretty much engage in these activities daily (need to cut back!), so it's important that they work well. And they do. The screen is a great size for browsing and manipulating Safari with my fingures becomes quite intuitive very quickly. The native mail app that comes wih the iPad is a nice Improvement over the iPhone one, and Google has designed a very functional new layout for Gmail. Thumbs up in this department.
Music/Video: No surprises here, just the familiar ubiquitous iPod-style design that you would expect from Apple. The screen is a good size for watching movies, and the picture quality is very nice.
Reading: Another selling point for this device is it's ability to function as a reader. The available variety is nice, as you can read books, magazines, newspapers, and even comic books on the iPad. As far as books go, I will always prefer to read on actual paper, all things being equal. Of course, it certainly is nice to be able to carry around a veritable library of books with me, and reading on this is not unpleasant. Magazines and newspapers are a nice read, though I'm steering clear of any kind of paid subscriptions (like the Wall Street Journal's exorbitant price scheme). Comics really take advantage of the vibrant color screen. Of all the readers I've played around with, this is the best.
Typing: Like its diminutive predecessors, the iPad uses a touch keyboard for text input. As always, typing on a touch screen is somewhat less than ideal, given the lack of tactile feedback. Compared to a regular keyboard, typing is a bit slower and mistakes are much easier to make. It isn't too bad though; I've actually composed this entire post using it. Fortunately, you can use a wireless keyboard for input; alternatively, Apple offers a keyboard dock.
Apps and games: I'll go into this more later, but for now I will just say that there are some really fun and/or functional. I was pleasantly surprised how well the iWork productivity apps worked.
Odds and ends: The battery life is fantastic, and the touchscreen and accelerometer both work wonderfully. The OS layout, like the iPhone is comfortably simple and functional.
If you are looking for a device for web/email/media consumption/light office work/casual gaming, then the iPad is perfect for you. Anything beyond that, you will certainly want to look for something a little bigger.
Ok, moving on...
Brief version: Is the iPad awesome? Yes.
The iPad has been advertised as a device to fill the void between smart phones and laptop computers (whether or not that void actually exists is open for debate). After playing around with this gadget for a couple days, I am willing to agree that it far exceeds any other competitor for this area, such as netbooks. That being said, it does have it's limitations. Can it be used to replacer your main work/school computer? Only if you're willing to really go out of your way to make it work. Possible, but most likely more work than it would be worth. However, it is ideal for most everyday uses.
Web browsing/Email: I pretty much engage in these activities daily (need to cut back!), so it's important that they work well. And they do. The screen is a great size for browsing and manipulating Safari with my fingures becomes quite intuitive very quickly. The native mail app that comes wih the iPad is a nice Improvement over the iPhone one, and Google has designed a very functional new layout for Gmail. Thumbs up in this department.
Music/Video: No surprises here, just the familiar ubiquitous iPod-style design that you would expect from Apple. The screen is a good size for watching movies, and the picture quality is very nice.
Reading: Another selling point for this device is it's ability to function as a reader. The available variety is nice, as you can read books, magazines, newspapers, and even comic books on the iPad. As far as books go, I will always prefer to read on actual paper, all things being equal. Of course, it certainly is nice to be able to carry around a veritable library of books with me, and reading on this is not unpleasant. Magazines and newspapers are a nice read, though I'm steering clear of any kind of paid subscriptions (like the Wall Street Journal's exorbitant price scheme). Comics really take advantage of the vibrant color screen. Of all the readers I've played around with, this is the best.
Typing: Like its diminutive predecessors, the iPad uses a touch keyboard for text input. As always, typing on a touch screen is somewhat less than ideal, given the lack of tactile feedback. Compared to a regular keyboard, typing is a bit slower and mistakes are much easier to make. It isn't too bad though; I've actually composed this entire post using it. Fortunately, you can use a wireless keyboard for input; alternatively, Apple offers a keyboard dock.
Apps and games: I'll go into this more later, but for now I will just say that there are some really fun and/or functional. I was pleasantly surprised how well the iWork productivity apps worked.
Odds and ends: The battery life is fantastic, and the touchscreen and accelerometer both work wonderfully. The OS layout, like the iPhone is comfortably simple and functional.
If you are looking for a device for web/email/media consumption/light office work/casual gaming, then the iPad is perfect for you. Anything beyond that, you will certainly want to look for something a little bigger.
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