“I have only spent a short time hands-on with the iPad–too short to fully run it through its paces and formally review it yet. But, after attending the rollout of the new device today, and trying out some of its features for myself, I have some first impressions,” Walter S. Mossberg writes for AllThingsD.
“On the plus side, the device is handsome, feels comfortable and solid to hold, and has all that beautiful software built in,” Mossberg writes. “Oh, and it’s amazingly low-priced for an Apple product, with that modest $499 price tag for a base version… It also boasts a decent 10 hours of battery life, and Mr, Jobs told me after the event that, for some functions, like playing video and music, the battery should last even longer… iPad will run most of the current 140,000 iPhone apps, either in a small window on the screen, or in a full-screen mode. That’s a huge plus for a new device.”
“But there are minuses. First, since it’s too big to go in a pocket, people might perceive it as just another thing to carry around, despite the fact that it’s only a half inch thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds. It also lacks a common and popular laptop feature–a web cam. So, it can’t be used for video chats or for the creation of web videos,” Mossberg writes. “Also, the carrier for the iPad’s 3G plan is the deeply unpopular AT&T.”
Direct link to video via AllThingsD here.
“Finally, while it’s too early for me to say without lots of testing, the size of the iPad’s virtual keyboard may be a liability. I found it almost too wide for thumb typing, and a colleague who’s a whiz at touch typing and tried it briefly found it awkward to type on. Apple is offering an auxiliary physical keyboard that docks with, and charges, the iPad,” Mossberg writes. “But you won’t want to lug that around.”
MacDailyNews Take: It depends. You might want to “lug” that keyboard around. Say, if you’re on a cross-country plane flight and you know you’re going to be writing in Pages, for example. The iPad Keyboard Dock certainly seems light and thin enough to slip into a backpack along with the thin and light iPad. And, for normal “typing” on-to-go, the iPad’s on-screen keyboard(s) just might work out better than Mossberg and his nameless colleague think after a brief, cursory test. After all, new keyboards, be they virtual or not, usually feel “awkward” at first and take some getting used to.
Mossberg continues, “Still, the software looked impressive, and that could help Steve Jobs do the one thing even he has never done in an amazing career: get the public to love not just a better version of an existing type of gadget, but a whole new category of gadget.”
There’s much more in the full article – recommended – here.
I am surprised how many people are bashing this device and it’s name on facebook and twitter and blogs.
$500 for a 1st generation is nice.
Okay, let me just put this out there and apologize beforehand, but…
Here’s what I see when I look at the iPad—someone took a TRS-80 Model 100, deposited it deep in the past on some other planet, and now after 1,000 years of evolving it has come home.
@deepdish: that’s okay, the same people said the iPod was an overpriced toy that no one would buy, that the iPhone was dead on arrival because it was overpriced and lacked even basic functionality, that selling apps through a central storefront would never work, etc. etc. etc. etc.
TRS-80 Model I was my first computer.
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As a student, I wish there was a stylus for note taking.
Question about the keyboard, would not Apple’s already georgous Bluetooth keyboard be a terrific companion for this with that Apple iPad case for physical keyboard input? I would spend the change for these to go together…
What amazes me about this thing is how I look at it’s features and say, “I said this is what they should do three years ago.” And you think “It’s just a big iPod Touch, what took so long?”
I’m sure these design guys were thinking the same thing all along. The design process must be really hard! Can you imagine being able to postpone the gratification this long? “Nope, not ready.” “Send it back.” “That sucks!” “Try again.” “Wait till Steve gets back.”
I have a feeling it does what it does really well.
If you look on technical specs at apple.com, you will see stand without keyboard & mention that you can use the wireless keyboard. That is my plan.
My only complaint is – I would prefer tethering over $130 for 3g plus a $15 or $30 monthly fee. How about an extra $20 per month for tethering iPhone & iPad only, ie no laptops????
Like I said, no webcam is a huge mistake, as much as no 3G, no GPS and high price on 1st gen iPhone was! The iPad simply will not do well and will be relegated to Cube 2 status! I hope I’m wrong! It’s a beautiful 1st iteration, but it is not a revolutionary masterpiece! Apple sometimes just doesn’t get it (e.g., Flower Power & Dalmation iMacs, that ugly-ass speaker iPod dock thingee, Apple TV, Lisa, Newton, Cube, etc.). Today was a big yawnfest! I’ll probably buy the damn thing anyway! What’s up with charging $130 for 3G btw? What does the chip cost? Like a buck? WTH!
PonyRD:
Of course it would and does, the iPad supports bluetooth and hence the keyboard.
Chris:
AT&T;will promised and will announce tethering when their network can handle it.
AT&T;despite all the crap that whiners dump on them, are doing a great job. I can tell you that I know fist hand of over 50 hardcore users in NY that will vouch for an overall and generally trouble free user experience there despite the occasional problematic spots and dropped calls.
At&T;has been exemplary in there customer service and I doubt Verizon could match that in a million years. I have had years of dealing with both companies.
It’s amazing that people complain so loudly and obnoxiously about AT&T;. They really are making an incredible effort to service their iPhone users the Apple way – Anyone denying this is full of shit.
you get the ‘iPad sleeve’ and all of a sudden, the use scenarios for this thing are limitless…
flop it down on the desk and the iPad is angled so you can comfortably type with the virtual keyboard…
Please excuse the typos – maybe typing will be more fool proof on the iPad:
Chris:
AT&T;promised and will announce tethering when their network can handle it.
AT&T;, despite all the crap that whiners dump on them, are doing a great job. I can tell you that I know first hand of over 50 hardcore users in NY that will vouch for an overall and generally trouble free user experience there despite the occasional problematic spots and dropped calls.
At&T;has been exemplary in their customer service and I doubt Verizon could match that attitude and level of support in a million years. I have had years of dealing with both companies.
It’s amazing that people complain so loudly and obnoxiously about AT&T;. They really are making an incredible effort to service their iPhone users the Apple way – Anyone denying this is full of shit.
Those who are complaining the loudest because the iPad did not meet their expectation have to remember they were probably not Steve Jobs expectations as well. This is a CONSUMER product, not a geek squad wish list. Is is designed when both a laptop or desktop computer are not the weapon of choice. It is an adjunct to these other products, not a replacement. I want one and I want it NOW.
they released the SDK! imagine at launch 60 days from now. with the new 3rd party software coming out for it. it’s going to be much more useful / fun than it is right now. just like the iphone. the apps will help the iPad’s success. it won’t just be a photo album, web browsing, email, book reader, video/music player, iwork host. trust me, the apps that will come out will make this huge. medicine’s an obvious industry to take advantage. education (teachers and students). tourism. advertising. gaming. man, this is going to be huge! trust me!
Undeniable Truth 53014: A great many people’s self-worth today is determined, in direct proportion, by how much the world disappoints them. Absolutely nothing meets expectations in scope and functionality, everything is overpriced and out-of-reach for the “average” person, quality control and service/support after the sale stink, marketing is dishonest and deceitful, etc., etc., etc.
The new mantra of this planet: If you can’t publicly posit something deleterious about a product, service, movement, or person, don’t say anything at all.
Yes, and to be sure: disaffected consumers of the world unite! Rage on, rage on against those who have the temerity and hubris to better your world. You have nothing to lose but your chains of hatred and vitriol!
“It also lacks a common and popular laptop feature–a web cam. So, it can’t be used for video chats or for the creation of web videos,” Mossberg writes. “Also, the carrier for the iPad’s 3G plan is the deeply unpopular AT&T;.”
Funny how the strap line at the top of this page misses this criticism. Typical one-eyed MDN commentary. iPad – meh.
@ iMaki: “no webcam is a huge mistake, as much as no 3G, no GPS and high price on 1st gen iPhone was”
Really? You know they sold six million 1st Gen iPhones. In fact, they sold out of them a few weeks before the new model was released. If that’s what you consider “a huge mistake,” kudos for Apple. There are a ton of companies that would love to have a mistake like that!
“but it is not a revolutionary masterpiece”
Why doe sit have to be an all out revolutionary masterpiece? I think in the long run we’ll look back and say that it actually was a masterpiece. If you’ve followed Apple for the last 10+ years, you know Steve Jobs plans for the future. And this device sets the stage for a paradigm change in computing.
It looks like it would be perfect for compulsive bloggers.
Give it 6 months. I bet multitasking is coming in iPhone OS 4, and that will be on the iPad. The geeks picking holes don’t get it – this isn’t for them. this is for joe regular who doesn’t care about video chat, doesn’t want to type an essay on it, isn’t even that fussed about doing 20 things at once and just would like something better than a crappy, slow netbook to browse the web from on his couch and play the odd game on.
It’ll sell millions.
I think the work Apple has done with iWork clearly demonstrates the level of sophistication possible out of next generation apps to come. The next “developer’s goldrush” won’t be built on iFart apps.
Applying a screen protector accurately (without skewing or bubbles) will be really hard!
Oh Kindle… your soooo 2009. Case closed on that project Amazon!
I find all the naggers and naysayers funny. Remember the iPod? “What, an MP3 player for $500?” they screamed.
Better still, the first iMac. “What, no SCSI (remember the interface that made Macs crash all the time?) and no floppy drive? But I still have three floppies with my Mac Write II files!”
Quick, somebody complain about the glossy display and the lack of PCI slots!
Honestly, I think we saw the start of something very big yesterday. I can’t wait for it to arrive in Europe.
Like a large picture book you have on coffee table in front of the couch, this is where the iPad will be most at home.