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Friday, April 2, 2010

The iPad? Perhaps

iPadAre you getting an iPad?  What makes me even consider anything by Apple is that I really do like the iPhone.  For what it does, it does it supremely.  That said, if Microsoft was more on-the-ball, they could have owned this market, hands down, because their OS is far superior to the iPhone�s and the iPad�s.  But that�s another article!

Anyway, the iPad.  Yes, it�s intriguing because, like I said, it�s sidekick, the iPhone is excellent.  While I�m still reluctant to move towards the iPhone � I use a Windows (WinMo 6.5) phone � I�m really starting to wonder, mostly because my Imagio (and no other current WinMo phone, by the way) will be able to run the new WinMo 7 OS.

Which brings me to the iPad.  

As you can see from the picture above, it�s rather sexy.  And it�s very portable.  These two factors, alone, make the device very desirable.  It�s a touch-screen tablet computer, roughly the size of a magazine, with three models that connect to the Internet strictly over Wi-Fi (16GB for $499, 32GB for $599, 64GB for $699) and three that use a combination of Wi-Fi and AT&T's 3G wireless (16GB for $629, 32GB for $729, and 64GB for $829--pay-as-you go for the data subscription).

If you've ever used an iPhone or iPod Touch, the iPad will feel immediately familiar. Out of the box, you get many ofipad2 the iPhone's capabilities, including Apple-designed applications (apps) for Web browsing, e-mail, maps, photos, music, video, YouTube, and more. More apps can be installed using the built-in App Store software or by connecting the iPad to iTunes via your computer using the included cable. If you already own apps purchased for an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can transfer these apps to the iPad, as well.

The iPad's refined feel and high-quality materials won't surprise Apple devotees, but in the larger landscape of tablets, Netbook computers, and e-readers, the design feels distinctly upscale--especially given its price. Next to the Asus Eee PC, Amazon Kindle, or Fusion Garage JooJoo, the iPad looks like it was made on a different planet (where plastic doesn't exist).

Size also matters. As one of the first tablet computers to go mainstream, you'll need to assess the iPad's size on a case-by-case basis. For the advertised purposes of Web browsing, reading books, and checking your e-mail, we found the magazine-size screen perfectly adequate. After years of watching videos on devices like the iPod Touch, or even dedicated video players like the Archos 5, video playback on the iPad's 9.7-inch screen feels downright luxurious.

ipad3 Still, though, it is Apple, after all, and I�m not sure that I want to invest in a company micromanages to the point of megalomania.  I really don�t like the fact that Apple restricts application development.  Granted, today, it�s not that big a deal, and one could even make the argument that it insures security on the Apple products.  But we all know what happens when this sort of regulating gets out of control:  think seatbelt law, cigarette tax, etc.!  Think Big Brother.  I believe that Apple will only get stronger, and strength equals power.  In fact, I�d say that within a few years, they�ll surpass Microsoft.

The missing feature?  Handwriting.  I can�t believe that with such a great piece of hardware � not to mention the fact that the iPad is, after all, a tablet! � that Apple didn�t include handwriting input.  Still, though, it will be interesting to watch-and-see.  Once in the hands of consumers for a few months, all of the bugs will be worked out, and we�ll get something like the iPadii.  Perhaps then, I�ll ditch Microsoft.  But until then, I think I stick with Old Faithful.

Must-Have Accessory

If you get an iPad, you should throw in this wireless keyboard.  At around  $70.00, it�s totally worth it, and, I don�t know about you, but I find it much more comfortable to type on a keyboard than glass.

keyboard

keyboard2

keyboard3

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