Today, Apple announced their “most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device:” the iPad. It’s the tablet we’ve all been waiting for.
Right?
Well, it’s a tablet, that’s true. Let’s run down some specs first.
Specs:
9.7″ Multitouch Screen
1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)
0.5″ in Depth
1.5 lbs (1.6 lbs with 3G)
Available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB with or without 3G.
1GHz Apple A4 low-power system-on-a-chip
All models are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth ready
Digital Compass
Accelerometer
Built-in 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
Approx. 10 hours of web surfing, watching videos and listening to music.
For even more specs, check out Apple’s iPad specs page.
Ok. So what exactly does it do?
Everything an iPhone does… but on a bigger screen with a more convenient user interface. Quite literally, it’s the perfect go-between for a MacBook Pro and iPhone.
So if you already have both, why would you need an iPad? It seems a little ridiculous.
You all know me: I’m a huge Apple fangirl. Before today, I thought Apple could do no wrong.
The iPad changed it all. I hate to say it, but there really wasn’t anything terribly innovative presented at today’s “Latest Creation” event. Additionally, there are a few major things missing from or wrong with the iPad.
1. They named it the iPad.
If you’re on Twitter, you saw the jokes likening the iPad to feminine hygiene products. Because it sounds like one.
However, if you missed them, here are a few favorites:
“With a name like iPad I’m guessing we’ll only use it one week a month and occasionally while we’re sleeping.” @ruthakers
“The new Apple iPad! With 4 gigs of absorbency!” @thebenbrooks
“You can do things with the #iTampon that you just can’t do with the #iPad – like biking, horseback riding and swimming” @thomasjhardy
And let’s just add insult to injury with the trending topic: iTampon.
BTW, MadTV did an iPad sketch 4 years ago. Seriously, Apple, what were you thinking?
2. No Flash support.
One of the biggest complaints about the iPhone is it’s lack of Flash capabilities, and since this is a larger device than the iPhone, it will inevitably be an even more prominent issue. I understand that Apple wants people to buy things from the iTunes store, but frankly, if there is a service that allows me to use or see something for free (think Hulu, not torrenting), I’d rather use it. I understand wanting to make money – trust me – but come on! I’d really rather not buy an entire episode of SNL just to watch a single clip. And Hulu makes it really convenient to watch my fave clip of Arrested Development. Over and over and over again. And again.
I’d rather suffer through 30 seconds of ads than pay to watch something once. Seriously. This is the beauty of services like Hulu and Netflix (can I get a what what for instant view!). Let me subscribe to stream a movie or show instead of charging me. This is half of the reason Blockbuster is failing, Apple. Get on the boat!
3. It’s missing classic tablet functionality.
By classic tablet functionality, I mean it’s not going to be draft/design friendly. I was hoping that Apple would integrate some of the functions of Wacom’s line of tablets & pen input displays. Considering that Apple is the first choice of the creative industry, they truly missed out on an opportunity to integrate some awesome extended features here. Specifically, I would have loved to see write-to-text and precision art tools. Given that the iPad runs on the iPhone OS and is really more of a multimedia center than productivity tool, this point is really nullified.
4. No multitasking.
Yet another carryover groaner from the iPhone & iPod Touch: the iPad doesn’t run multiple apps simultaneously.
Seriously?! When the eff will I be able to listen to Pandora AND text without having to reload my freaking game of Scrabble?!
5. Poor multimedia integration in general.
The iPad won’t have a camera, SD card or standard USB port. The camera is a no brainer, plus you would think that you’d be able to add pictures directly. Additionally, most cameras are USB ready as it is. Unfortunately, you’ll have to buy a dock adapter to use a USB peripheral.
I know that this isn’t necessarily supposed to function as a normal computer will, but let’s be honest here. This seems to be a great multimedia center as a whole, but it ONLY seems to be a multimedia center. I thought that it may at least be free standing, but unfortunately, it seems that it has to be synced to a primary computer. In essence, it’s an oversized iPod Touch.
If I were to even consider getting an iPad, it would HAVE to function that way so I wouldn’t have to load down my MacBooks memory with my iTunes and iPhoto files.
But who are we kidding? That’s what externals are for, and frankly, the iPad doesn’t have enough memory to hold my iTunes & iPhoto libraries.
6. AT&T
I mean, are we kidding? I feel like I’m writing a rant about everything I want to change about the iPhone. It’s unfortunate that the computer company with the top rated customer support services is paired with wireless’ absolute worst. Not only is AT&T’s customer support absolutely abhorrent, but their network is patchy at best. I used to depend heavily on the 3G network, since moving 5 feet requires reconnecting with whichever Wi-Fi network is connected. Unfortunately, data users put more pressure than AT&T can handle on it’s data network (and AT&T isn’t about to admit that they’re the problem). With growing 3G network dissatisfaction and many people citing AT&T as an anti-selling point to the iPhone, I’m more than bothered that AT&T received exclusive data coverage.
In essence…
The iPad is, unfortunately, an overgrown iPod Touch meant to act as a shiny toy that seems to simply be for show. Let’s be honest here, everything about it’s functionality screams “buy more stuff from Apple via iTunes, the App Store and iBooks.” I love Apple. I do. But this seems like a call out to the elitists of the Apple marketplace.
I think iBooks is really the most exciting announcement of Apple’s “Latest Creation” event. To create a marketplace for books is (I think) the final frontier of multimedia consumer products for Apple to sell and of course the iPad is a great device for it. It has a lot of potential for innovation within the realm of academia. The question is will iBooks be able to compete with Amazon for the Kindle’s share of the wireless reader market?
The iPad doesn’t offer anything you would need if you already have an iPhone and Apple computer. I’d imagine it’s great for kids for the games, music and entertainment tools. However, $499-$829 is a high price to pay for a kids entertainment gadget. I can’t really think of a great target market for such a gadget except for the frequent traveler. However, in my travels I’ve found my MacBook and iPhone to be beyond sufficient.
I love my Mac gear, but the iPad is one gadget I won’t be adding to my arsenal anytime soon.
What do you like or dislike about the iPad and would you buy one?
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
With regard to the last point, I’m pretty sure I read that all of the 3G models are unlocked. I don’t think you’re tied to AT&T.
Resa:
I came into yesterday hoping for the same thing I think you want – a Macintosh running OSX in a tablet form factor. We didn’t get that yesterday – and when I say we – I mean you, I and others who are looking for a replacement for their notebook/netbook with a tablet style interface.
OTOH, what I think Apple is going for – and what has made me rethink my disappointment – is a class of device that lies between a smartphone and a computer.
Clearly the iPad is not going to be a replacement for a computer – desktop or laptop – that will do “industrial strength” productivity apps such as CAD/design/image editing/etc..
However, most people don’t necessarily want or need that type of productivity tool in a or factor in other than what they already have – a decently powered notebook or laptop. The failure to date of the Tablet PC is testimony to this. If Apple had gone down the same path, albeit with the incremental advantages of OSX, I think they would have failed.
I do agree that the non-Flash support is a bit of a downer – that may or may not be resolved between Apple & Adobe – or by a 3rd party solution – at some point.
Am actually leaning towards buying one, and here’s why – I have both an iMac and a MacBook Pro – as well as an iPhone. I do most of my major imaging/drafting work on my iMac at home. It is a rare occasion that I need to do this mobilly, and when I do, I carry around the MBP.
I do use an iPhone for mobile email, PIM, web access, and a bit of diversionary gaming in downtimes.
With the advent of the iPad, a more efficient scenario for me is:
1) a low-end iPhone or other Smartphone. Not a lot of storage required, and likely even a lower-cost data plan.
2) a desktop Mac/PC to do the bulk of my productivity work at home, and also for completely robust multimedia capabilities
3) an iPad with 3G to become my mobile PIM/Web/Email/media platform, with some limited productivity tools (word processing / spreadsheet / presentations / others TBD) that I can do within an easy to use form factor. And oh, it also becomes my eReader (replacing a Kindle), and mobile gaming platform.
Others – particularly yours – mileage may vary…but I think I see what Apple is shooting for here.
And, one last point re your issue #1 – while I think it is is cute and oh so fun to jest about the use of the word Pad, I will point out that this word has been in common usage for other than feminine hygiene products for quite some time. In fact, a Google search on “pad” this morning disclosed no links to such hygiene products for at least the 1st 10 pages…..
Oh…and re Flash – maybe some good news here, per TechCrunch:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2010/01/27/adobe-flash-ipad/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29
@Jeff: Didn’t realize that – thank God.
@Gregg: You make great points, though what I love most about my iPhone is it minimizes the number of other gadgets I have to carry around or even buy (eReader, GPS, cellphone, PDA, handheld gaming device for light gaming, etc.). I don’t want to have to carry around a phone AND some other gadget, though I can see the convenience of having an expanded UI for mail and limited productivity tools.
And as for point #1, I’m simply echoing the mass response. I find the name unfortunate and I think it deflated a lot of the Apple tablet hype’s momentum.
I think more than anything, I was expecting something beyond an enlarged iPod Touch. I’m still nonplussed.
BTW, also on point #1, it seems to be something of a girl thing.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/28/apple-ipad-itampon
Only urge that you actually get some habds on with the device (as will I), before making a final determination. Heard a lot of simialr push-back from folks when iPhone was first announced – “why would anyone want an iPhone when my xxxxx smartphone has all those apps & more?”
BTW, my own (non)contribution to the issue #1 discussion was to observe that Apple is really out for blood with this product……. :)
I’ll def take the time to play around with one and give a more in depth review pending my thoughts after getting my hands on one (hopefully I’ll be able to try one out at MacWorld next month). I suppose my determination is more based on practicality. And the fact that I’d rather buy a new iMac right now than another carry-on gadget.
And I laughed really loud at that last one, Gregg. Love it!
Resa:
Reason why I recommend that we both do some hands-on with the iPad stems from what I did when first iPhone came out…. I went to an Apple store and observed the people testing out the device….. two things struck me: 1) the broad demographics of age/sex/lifestyles of the people interested….and 2) the almost universal sense of delight that was on their faces as they used the iPhone.
Sometime, product/platforms success are based less on the “speeds & feeds” aspects of feature/functionality/applications, and more on the overall experience.
The iPhone succeeded on the basis of the latter, not the former….am assuming that this is what Apple/Jobs is also betting on with the iPad – that it does SOME things better than previous platforms.
We shall see……
I don’t think people will realize how revolutionary the iPad it is until about a year or so into it. The apps that will be created for this will be completely different than the ones created for the iphone/ipod touch.
They will take advantage of the size and multi-touch with multiple hands. I can envision a whole slew of apps for recording studios, live music, art, home automation, health, education, etc. Apps that would be inconvenient, too small or just plain stupid on something the size of an iphone.
Sure, it makes a great e-reader, but that just barely scratches the surface of what this thing can be capable of. Think long term and not what it will do on day one. This really is a new category of gadget.
Now THAT is a great point. I think the value of the iPad is in the hands of developers and I’m very interested to see what will come next.