“Apple’s new 1GHz A4 processor allows apps, multimedia and screen transitions to fly. Playing back a HD episode of Doctor Who, downloaded from iTunes, motion is fast, without judder and free of lag or distortion when rotating the screen. With its superb, LED-backlit, richly coloured screen, it’s a slicker, quicker experience than the iPod Touch or iPhone,” Peters reports. “It feels like a computer, not a phone or PMP.”
“Reading books, papers and magazines on the iPad is an enjoyable experience. The brightness and colour of the screen can be adjusted to suit your preference, and it’s definitely easier on the eyes than we initially feared,” Peters reports. “Typing on the iPad is better than expected – in fact this entire review was written on it. Lie the device flat, rotate the screen to landscape and you’ll be able to rattle off text very quickly.”
Peters reports, “What most people use computers for is to communicate, browse the web and view photos, videos and literature. The iPad lets anyone – you, your kids, your mum and dad – do all that. Although there’s no news on UK pricing yet, it’s eminently affordable ($499 in the US for the 16GB version) incredibly easy to use and has a size, heft and quality that set it apart from the netbooks, smartphones and PMPs it superficially resembles. In our opinion, Apple hasn’t just created the first home tablet worth having. It’s actually redefined computing, boiling it down to essentials and making it accessible for everyone.”
Full review here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “TheMightyFinder” for the heads up.]
@ spinoza2
How about grandma gets a .mac account and backs up her ipad to the clouds? Right Predrag?
@Big Al,
You’re right, but back up and updates sure would be nice.
Maybe the iPad version of iPhone OS 4.0 will have a few additional tricks up its sleeve.
@bobchr,
Unfortunately, you can’t do that on the iPad, yet…
“I will argue that iPad is NOT designed to be an extension of another
‘primary’ computer; it is designed to be a self-sufficient, independent
computing device. “
That’s pure silliness, you’re in flat out denial. Apple is using the same paradigm as the iPod with the iPad, it’s a portable device designed to be used with a computer. All the Apple iPad apps–iWork, Mail, iTunes music and videos, etc etc–are designed to be routed through your computer’s iTunes. That’s why, for those dumb enough to want to do it, Apple will gladly set up and activate your iPad at the store. The only reason why you can pretend to use the iPad as an independent device is that it has wireless, and the iPod (other than the touch) does not.
I’m sure a lot of people will attempt to buy and use an iPad as a “laptop replacement”, but it will be a waste of money for that. If I had only one computer I would definitely not get an iPad, for $500+, I would get Toshiba or Lenovo netbook, hands down.
But you still need SOME computer that runs iTunes 9.1 (or later) to initially set it up and subsequently maintain it.
It would work best for a non-computer using customer, if there was someone else “in the home” (or a nearby friend) who was technically knowledgeable to a reasonable degree. They can have an account on that person’s Mac (or PC), and the “unpaid tech support person” can do the setup and maintenance (including backing up purchases made on iPad) as needed.
But I’m sure a self-sufficient iPad (and iPhone) will coming soon, and having a MobileMe account will have a whole new meaning and purpose.
Don’t talk about the iPad.
Just get one.
It rules.
Perhaps it could be a stand alone device… Isn’t anything you buy from iTunes backed up at Apple? If you’re iPad does die, can’t you just re-download everything you bought. Also all your email is saved in google’s servers. As far as photos you might be screwed unless you just bought many SD cards as backups. Pages creations could made into emails and saved at google, at least simple ones. Other iWork creations would be gone 4ever. Maybe a third party device/ online service will provide backup options.
Just a few quick observations.
…”All the Apple iPad apps–iWork, Mail, iTunes music and videos, etc etc–are designed to be routed through your computer’s iTunes. “
That is simply not true. The paradigm may be the same, but I am still waiting for those 40% of tasks that CANNOT be done on the iPad without an additional computer.
For aunts, uncles, grandparents and similar, iPad can (and likely will) be THE only computer they ever had, and will do jusst fine; likely much better than (for them) than getting a netbook, even a MacBook.
You can create documents in iWork and e-mail them anywhere. You can import pictures (and short video clips) into iPhoto and e-mail them anywhere (or post them on Flickr, Facebook, whatever). You can download music, video, apps and use them freely. None of these functions require a computer.
Once again: which tasks CANNOT be done on the iPad without a computer, that an average computer user would normally do on their primary home computer?
…”If I had only one computer I would definitely not get an iPad, for $500+, I would get Toshiba or Lenovo netbook, hands down.”
If my aunt were to heed your advice, she would return that netbook within a week. Even if she was patient enough to give it a ‘fair shake’ and kept it for a full month, she would end up just giving up on it.
If, on the other hand, she did what I suggest in my post above (walk into an Apple store, buy an iPad, have it set up and walk out with a configured, ready-to-use iPad), a month later, she’d be surfing web, emailing friends (and nephews such as myself), buying music, TV shows, movies, checking out new apps from the store, possibly even taking pictures with her digital camera, importing them into iPhoto and emailing them around; she’d be creating documents in Pages, possibly even slide shows (for whatever purpose), and in general, do all those things that ordinary people of her age and computer proficiency do on their desktops and laptops. Only she’d be doing it on the iPad, without anyone’s help, and wouldn’t be missing any functionality.
For most ordinary computer users, spending $500 on an iPad instead of on a netbook is far better choice, even if it is the ONLY computing device in their home.
I didn’t thoroughly read through all the comments, but my question is if someone doesn’t own a computer, why would they have Internet access and even wifi access? So they’d need help setting that up. I think the iPad could be a standalone device and my dad would probably never update the OS, but he’d need wifi first.
@C1
“judder” Brit term. Never heard it before I was in theUK.
“but my question is if someone doesn’t own a computer, why would they have Internet access and even wifi access?”
You’re hitting on exactly what I’m trying to get at, and why I don’t think predrag is being realistic. His conjectural aunt really wouldn’t exist in the real world, and in the end there wouldn’t be many people who would fit this kind of fantasized iPad owner. There really wouldn’t be many people who would make the iPad their only computing device, but would be savvy enough to get everything so set up that they could make it a laptop replacement. They would have to have a fairly sophisticated knowledge of the necessary workarounds on the iPad, as well as knowing other aspects of computing (wifi, printing, cloud storage, email, etc etc) to configure the iPad’s non-main computer/non-iTunes existence.
As one commenter noted, this would be possible if you had a computer savvy person in the household (or within arm’s reach) to set everything up and maintain things when Auntie Mae has issues. And, ideally, if there were another computer around; otherwise Auntie Mae will need to regularly go to the nearest Apple Store to get updates and the like.
As I said, the iPad shines as a mobile extension of your iMac, and as such it just might replace my MacBook Pro, but I would never want the iPad to be my *only* computer. In such a situation it would definitely not replace my MBP!
I know, because I have a similar situation with someone who has an iPhone. She basically knows how to make calls, do email, and check the occasional Website, and that’s what I mean about using a fraction of the iPhone’s potential as a mobile computer.
“She basically knows how to make calls, do email, and check the occasional Website, and that’s what I mean about using a fraction of the iPhone’s potential as a mobile computer.”
So? That probably describes 60% of the computer owning American public.
So she buys a 3G, no WiFi needed at home. Cheaper, too, than paying Verizon however much for that fast connection, since many of these folks wouldn’t even end up using over 250 MB of data, so the $15/month data plan would work. If she needs to download an app larger than 20 MB, she just spends an hour at Starbuck’s on their wifi.
You buy the computer you need. If all you need is web surfing, email, and who knows how many of the specific functions that some apps may provide, then certainly this could provide a good replacement for some people that have a minimal usage you describe.
You make it too complicated. No, YOU may not be able to use this as a primary computer, but some people could.
In a few years, once “the cloud” becomes ubiquitous, and people trust it more, (and Apple has that billion dollar data center online) and the iPad has become much more powerful, yes, it (or another unit with a similar form factor) will become the primary computing device for a majority of the consumer class.
In the meantime, for simple users, yes, this could do it.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Apple called it an “iPad” and not a “MacTablet”: they wanted to put in squarely within the ecoverse of the iPods and the iPhone. A real standalone Apple tablet, a Mac Tablet if you will, would definitely suit the purposes you have in mind, but this is (maybe) in the future. The iPad is not a dumbed-down computer, it’s not a netbook killer, it’s something completely different, but in its current iteration there’s no question Apple designed it to be tethered as an extension of your primary computer. If they intended it to be a standalone device like a Kindle they would never have required iTunes to get the thing going.
* sigh * Well, at least nowadays people are attacking Apple—taking Apple seriously—in contrast with the old days when Apple was a laughingstock, a bumbling company that made toys and whose customers were fools.
Wait—
sorry, the stock phrase is pathetic fools…
I saw some guy tonight hunched over his tiny netbook trying to read the screen. What a winner.
@predrag:
Ok, here are 3 things the iPad can’t YET do:
– Watch a movie from a DVD in your (home or rented) collection (I have a large collection of DVDs I purchased and enjoy watching- a NetBook would allow me to see them while “on the road”).
– Pop in a music CD from your home collection to play or transfer music to the iPad (are you really going to take your entire music collection to the Genius Bar to have them load it?).
– Have Skype video calls with friends/relatives (no camera until at least next year)
– Print anything
Not a long list, but some important features.
I believe Apple specifically handicapped the iPad so as to NOT cannibalize MacBook sales. This was strictly a business/economic decision (i.e., not a technical decision).
The day will come when we will see a MacPad, but it’s not today or tomorrow…
It doesn’t print out of the box, but there are apps that allow printing to various wireless printers. And, of course, with version 4 of the OS, it will print out of the box.
iPad Poem
.
iPads are NOT for the tech elite
Who code and fiddle with knobs and tweets,
Those pasty faced who hack and kludge
And track down every cyber thug.
No, the iPad’s not for nerds at all,
It’s more for moms and dads who call
Upon their sons and daughters when
They click and fail to understand
What happened to that note they typed
That disappeared and now they gripe
And complain, “It’s too complex!”
It’s true: these folk are truly vexed.
They need help. That’s plain to see.
The iPad comes to set them FREE.
Just ONE button, actual,
Controls all buttons, virtual.
Navigation, once a pain,
Now so simple, clear and plain.
I’m a Geek, I must admit,
But even I am craving it.
This device isn’t ‘better’ than
Anything I’ve ever seen,
Or imagined, mused or dreamed,
But does that matter? I don’t think so,
Computers will still run the show.
iPads, like iPhones before,
Recreate themselves and more,
When hardware comes and apps, as well,
But mostly, they will SELL, SELL, SELL.
.
.
.
©2010 Dave Stephens
.
iPad will be just fine.
@KenC
It’s a Brit mag. This was an almost intelligent article from T3 which is usually full of fawning, lightweight commentary with zero substance. They exist for the advertisers, not their readers. This is similar to most American mags from whom the world’s publishers take their doomed example.
So, yes he is a Brit. Which tells us that he speaks English. Unlike Americans, who have no national language, except their own (APE) i.e. ‘pidgin’ English versions. These include such classic terms as ‘gimme, gotta, gotcha, lotsa, wanna, gonna, yeah, ass, center, would of, could of, second of all, tire (tyre), check (cheque)’ and boatloads more. Of course the proper elocution for American Pidgin English, is to speak it with a mouth full of gum, the while. That is mandatory.
And it is ‘rhyming’ not rhymey(?)’ slang btw. Perhaps you were confused by the old American derogatary term for Brits … ‘limey’?
@ carbonasaur
Good poem.
Can I use it, with full accreditation?
ccoomar@gmail.com
@C1
Jitter + Shudder = Judder
Juggs + Wiggle = Jiggle
Those Brits…I tell ya….
The iPad will become more independent when the keyboard dock contains an option for a hard drive and for additional I/O ports. Then it’ll shift into second gear and no longer be just a baby gorilla.