When Apple first announced the pending release of a tablet-based device, I was a bit surprised by just how polarized the reactions were from the tech community. Early reactions ranged from "giant iPod Touch" to "something that would change the world." After spending almost a week with the device, I think the truth lies somewhere in between.
First and foremost, let's keep things in perspective... this is not as monumental as Gutenberg's invention of the printing press or Gore's invention of the Internet. The iPad will not cure cancer or usher in a new era of world peace. I don't even think it will revolutionize personal computing... at least not right away.
Steve Jobs & co. are exceptionally good at reading market trends and getting into position to take advantage of a rising tide. Macs steadily eat away at WinTel market share by delivering a simple and near bulletproof OS. The iPhone continues to dominate the mobile market and has placed most of the cellular stalwarts in catch-up mode... largely due to the variety, diversity and accessibility of apps. iPods have redefined how music is purchased and consumed after the MP3 reached critical mass and Napster bit the dust. And each new introduction comes wrapped in the signature beauty and simplicity of a technology product designed from a standpoint and aesthetic that essentially "gets it" from a consumer perspective. We want devices that look good, conform to our lifestyles and - most importantly - simply work without forcing us to jump through hoops.
In many ways, the iPad exemplifies Apple's ability to catch the next wave and lead the market by the nose to deliver exactly what consumers want. From a computing perspective, it's far superior to any netbook I've ever used. From a portable media standpoint, the iPad's stunning screen makes watching movies on-the-go a really amazing experience. As a gaming device, the iPad should give the folks from Nintendo & Sony a run for their money... especially when most of the games are available for < $9.99 and can be downloaded right away... leaving Apple well positioned to cash in on the convergence of impulse buy gaming and the painlessness of micropayments. As a web-surfing appliance, the iPad absolutely screams... pages are fast-loading, easy on the eye, and with the exception of the much lamented lack of Flash support, you sacrifice nothing by using the Internet on this device versus your laptop or desktop system. (This blog posting, for example, was typed entirely from the iPad... the keyboard in landscape mode works extremely well.) In short, for the vast majority of users, the iPad fires on all cylinders.
So where are the drawbacks? From my perspective, very few. Apple's eBook application is great and the Kindle app from Amazon lets me access any of the books that my wife and I have already purchased, but the iPad is heavier than a dedicated e-book reader and I'm not sure how the backlit screen will treat the eyes during marathon reading sessions. I'm not thrilled with the battery recharge time when plugging the iPad in to your Mac versus plugging it directly into a power adapter. (Charge time is significantly slower when charging via USB connection.) The device is also very solid but something about carrying around a big piece of glass makes me fearful that one drop could shatter my new investment. The fact that I'm a total klutz doesn't help, but a thickly-padded case alleviates some of those concerns. My biggest gripe about the iPad is that if i wanted the 3G model I would have yet another access charge from AT&T... even though I already have an iPhone data plan. I get the fact that they need to make a buck, but I'm opting for the WiFi only version as a result.
So at the end of the day, the iPad isn't going to change anyone's life. What it does for me, however, is take one giant step toward delivering on the promise of all that the Internet has to offer. From cooking (Epicurious app) to information consumption (USA Today app) to catching up on past episodes of my favorite shows without being tethered to a DVR or paying to watch an episode that was originally broadcast for free (ABC app) the iPad does it all... and it does so in a very practical way. I've got a ton of travel coming up at the end of the month and into May and will have an opportunity to see how well the iPad fares as a quasi-replacement for my laptop... I can already tell that my Dell will probably stay under the seat during the flights. I also plan on buying some of the more business-oriented apps that will enable me to do some word processing, spreadsheet and presentation work on the device. I also want to kick the tires with some of the remote desktop applications that will enable me to access my iMac and Windows machines from the iPad. However, based on nearly everyday use since buying the iPad a day or two after launch, I think it's safe to say that Apple has hit it out of the park. Again.
Please take a minute to leave a comment and let me know if you found this post to be helpful or at least interesting. If you did, I'm happy to share my experience with specific apps or with the device in general as I get more "hands-on" time.
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