Check out the site on the screen! Yes, I reviewed and wrote the review on the same day.
Initial Thoughts:
Up front, let me tell you I have been waiting for the iPad for a long time. I am a serious gadget fiend, and the iPad may very well turn out to be the ultimate gadget. I have been an Apple convert for the past 10 years, and with this new paradigm for computing, I suspect Apple will have a huge hit on their hands.
I spent several hours with a production unit yesterday- and it is indeed a seriously cool device.
Things I like about the iPad:
-It is seriously fast- loading applications, books & movies almost instantly.
-The screen is gorgeous- bright, crisp and with none of the artifacts you commonly find on LCD screens. There were no dead pixels on this example.
-It’s suite of applications have all been optimized to take advantage of this new form factor.
-With it’s iWork suite of applications, it can be used for productivity as well as simply for viewing. The inclusion of Keynote with the package will allow the iPad to be a serious presentation tool.
-The internet experience on this device is the best I’ve ever had (with one caveat- see below)
Things I don’t like about the iPad:
-To get the full 3G/WiFi experience, you need to spend close to 900 dollars.
-No USB or SD slot.
-No Webcam
-No Flash, which is not a big deal to me (in spite of the fact that my main website is ALL flash.) Some people will be more bothered by this than others.
Now why oh why did they not include a webcam? This one inclusion, along with iChat and a simple video trimming application would open up a world of possibilities, particularly for someone like me who uses iChat to speak with family members and maintains a video blog. I cannot imagine it would have cost too much, and it would have allowed me to leave my cumbersome laptop at home.
iPad Ergonomics:
Companies have been trying to get tablet computers to catch on for more than 15 years (I used a prototype made by NCR while I was in medical school.) With the iPad, there is the first likelihood that tablet computing may catch on to a significant, non niche market. This new form factor brings with it a whole host of new ergonomic considerations.
The iPad feels like a piece of jewelry- it is light and beautifully finished- tactilely wonderful. It weighs a hair more than a pound. If you are holding it, you would likely rest it across one forearm and type/gesture with the other. You could also conceivable hold it in your hand, but this would be precarious for something on which you’ve just dropped a significant bit of cash. Holding this way will be tiring after a while, and since it is out in front of you, will likely fatigue your upper back and neck.
At this point you would then put it down on a table or desk. Now, lying flat you would encounter a significant amount of glare off of the glossy screen, and your head would be tilted far forward to see it, and potentially further when it came time to type. In the Apple store, there are lucite displays which hold the screen at about a 30 degree angle. This is helpful, but isn’t really enough to relieve neck strain. A 45 degree stand would allow you to see the screen, prevent some of the strain on your neck, and allow you to type in relative comfort. I have seen stands for the iPad which hold it nearly straight up for viewing videos and movies, but nothing so far with this optimal 45 degree tilt. Apple will introduce (soon I think) a stand and keyboard combination which will optimize the screen and typing positions, but this combination sacrifices some of the portability which might have been the reason you wanted one in the first place.
Conclusion:
These small quibbles aside, I absolutely love this device. My problem will be holding off until a version with a webcam becomes available- MUST….USE…..FISCAL…..RESTRAINT!!!! If I couldn’t hold out- I would definitely wait for the 3G version which has an internal GPS module, to be released later this month. I can only imagine using this while traveling- access to maps and guides to the various sites- it will totally enhance the experience. If you are getting one, I urge you to consider the few ergonomic suggestions I have made.
Be well!
-Andy
