What iThink about Apple’s New iPad
The release of Apple’s iPad has the tech world buzzing. As usual, Apple’s so-called fandom came out in support of the new product, while the other side poked fun at it, even making crude jokes regarding its name – I’ll leave that to your own investigation. If I might quote Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along”. We should take a look at the iPad and make an honest assessment of the product based on what it is and is not.
The iPad is a tablet computer, so it was designed as a small, mobile, and streamlined version of a desktop computer. Personally, I like to think of a tablet computer as a digital version of the planner books we all used to carry. Furthermore, its screen is larger than mobile devices, and it is multi-touch, meaning it can read multiple-finger gestures.
The iPad has many convenient features that make it a great choice for those on the go, like Email, Web access, Maps, Contacts, Calendar, iBooks, a viewer for photos and videos, and more. Plus, it can tap into the 140,000 or so applications from the App Store. The iPad’s sleek form factor and large screen provides a nice balance between portability and convenience. Weighing a pound and a half, it’s slightly smaller than a magazine and only half an inch thick, yet it boasts a 9.7-inch color, back-lit display.
While there is little doubt that the Kindle was the first successful eReader, it seems that the iPad has taken the eReader concept and attempted to improve it. Some in the blogosphere and the media have dubbed the iPad as the “Kindle-killer,” due to its multiple capabilities in addition to acting as an eReader. However, the Kindle does have features that make it better suited for those who are looking for a device that is strictly an eReader (see “Top 10 Reasons iPad Will Not Kill the Kindle”). Whether or not the iPad is going to actually kill the Kindle is another discussion entirely. One thing is for sure, though. The iPad wouldn’t be an Apple product if it didn’t offer much more than just the eReader capability.
On the downside, the iPad is not a traditional desktop computer. Due to its processor, the iPad cannot multi-task. This means no listening to iTunes or some form of internet radio while reading an eBook or surfing the web. Another drawback to the iPad is its lack of a camera. It seems illogical to some that the iPad would have photo/video viewing capabilities but no built-in camera. Finally, the iPad’s 3G capabilities are only available with a subscription to AT&T’s 3G wireless plan, which is $30/month – a fact that has many thinking twice about purchasing it.
Regardless, whether you are an avid Apple supporter, or if you think Apple’s products are not what they’re cracked up to be, the iPad has already made a large impact on the tech world–and it’s not even released yet. What do you think about it?
Further Reading:
Author: Ben Parlier (11 Articles)
Ben previously served as a graphic designer at ZCorum.
Random question: I know you are using wordpress for this blog, but have you tried any other platforms. I am trying to decide for my blog? and I ask because I like yours.
[...] iPad The release of Apple’s iPad has the tech world buzzing. As usual, Apple’s so-called fandom came out in support of the new product, while the other side poked fun at it, even making crude jokes regarding its name â I’ll leave that …Continue Reading [...]