iPad first thoughts
Category Apple
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So, I missed the live coverage as I was on the train on the way home. But, like any good geek I've been looking over the iPad tonight. If you know me, you'll know I have wanted an Apple tablet for a *long* time. So, what do I think?
Form factor - good. I wasn't expecting any buttons, and it's thin enough (though I'd prefer thinner and much less bezel).
Functionality - no webcam is a disappointment, but seriously - how often do you use it on your Macbook? No SD card reader is more annoying, but I guess the extra space went into the battery
Screen - 4x3. Seriously?? No-one seems to have noticed this yet, but every other device on the market is now 16x9 or 16x10. 4x3?? WHY?????
Comms - as expected. I'm not actually too bothered about the 3G aspect myself (see below), otherwise as expected - although video out is an unexpected BIG bonus.
Apps. Now here's where I think it's interesting. I've been thinking about use cases, and the iPad fits into these very well for me:
- Browsing the web on the sofa. Nuff said here - check!
- Taking a laptop to a LEGO event/family/pub/etc, to use the large screen to show off pictures to people. Big check!
- Presenting Keynote presentations to people around a table. Check!
- Carrying around at conferences like Lotusphere to give slide-based presentations. Check! Heavy VMWare presentations will always need something chunky, but for slideware it would be cool.
Am I bothered about using it as a phone? No. Browsing whilst on the move? Not really and if I did, JoikuSpot turns my phone into a WiFi access point. No. ebook reader? Quite probably no. An E-ink screen is miles ahead of LCD screens. The IPS screen might be as good, but I doubt it. As I mentioned on twitter, I can see the iPad as a content presentation device, not a preparation device. It's the Star Trek style tablet that is handed to Picard to review, not the built in workstation Data used in his room to prepare it. It's a digital book.
Will I buy one? Well, possibly, probably, maybe. I get the real feeling that this is a V1 device, proving the market and form factor. A V2 device, 16x9, 3G only with an AMOLED or combined AMOLED/E-Ink screen would probably be the killer device - and I can't help wondering if Apple are pushing the envelope here, just waiting for that type of screen to become more available. going upto a 16x9 form factor would give more space for an SD card reader and a camera. Movies will make much more sense too. So, will I wait for the iPadS or just be a geeky early adopter. Whadya you think?
Bookmark :
So, I missed the live coverage as I was on the train on the way home. But, like any good geek I've been looking over the iPad tonight. If you know me, you'll know I have wanted an Apple tablet for a *long* time. So, what do I think?
Form factor - good. I wasn't expecting any buttons, and it's thin enough (though I'd prefer thinner and much less bezel).
Functionality - no webcam is a disappointment, but seriously - how often do you use it on your Macbook? No SD card reader is more annoying, but I guess the extra space went into the battery
Screen - 4x3. Seriously?? No-one seems to have noticed this yet, but every other device on the market is now 16x9 or 16x10. 4x3?? WHY?????
Comms - as expected. I'm not actually too bothered about the 3G aspect myself (see below), otherwise as expected - although video out is an unexpected BIG bonus.
Apps. Now here's where I think it's interesting. I've been thinking about use cases, and the iPad fits into these very well for me:
- Browsing the web on the sofa. Nuff said here - check!
- Taking a laptop to a LEGO event/family/pub/etc, to use the large screen to show off pictures to people. Big check!
- Presenting Keynote presentations to people around a table. Check!
- Carrying around at conferences like Lotusphere to give slide-based presentations. Check! Heavy VMWare presentations will always need something chunky, but for slideware it would be cool.
Am I bothered about using it as a phone? No. Browsing whilst on the move? Not really and if I did, JoikuSpot turns my phone into a WiFi access point. No. ebook reader? Quite probably no. An E-ink screen is miles ahead of LCD screens. The IPS screen might be as good, but I doubt it. As I mentioned on twitter, I can see the iPad as a content presentation device, not a preparation device. It's the Star Trek style tablet that is handed to Picard to review, not the built in workstation Data used in his room to prepare it. It's a digital book.
Will I buy one? Well, possibly, probably, maybe. I get the real feeling that this is a V1 device, proving the market and form factor. A V2 device, 16x9, 3G only with an AMOLED or combined AMOLED/E-Ink screen would probably be the killer device - and I can't help wondering if Apple are pushing the envelope here, just waiting for that type of screen to become more available. going upto a 16x9 form factor would give more space for an SD card reader and a camera. Movies will make much more sense too. So, will I wait for the iPadS or just be a geeky early adopter. Whadya you think?
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