Paul Thurrott has posted his “Hands-On First Impressions” of his 16GB Apple iPad Wi-Fi:
• “My iPad arrived a few hours ago, so I loaded it up with some apps and checked it out quickly. So far, it’s not all that impressive.”
• “I still disagree, and strongly, with some of the first generation limitations–like the lack of dual cameras and the non-widescreen display–but overall it’s a decent device.”
• “16 GB isn’t 16 GB with the iPad, it’s 14 GB. That’s a big difference when you’re talking about a small pool of storage.”
• “The device is far heavier than expected, and heavier than it looks. It is literally a big iPod touch. In fact, if anything it’s too big. Why isn’t this widescreen? It’s so obvious.”
MacDailyNews Take: While the rest of his blather falls into the usual joke category, Thurrott’s “widescreen” comment deserves comment: iPad’s total screen aspect ratio is not “widescreen,” but the device is perfectly capable of playing back “widescreen” video and does so with aplomb. Thurrott’s criticism of iPad for giving users extra screen real estate at the top and bottom for all those times when they’re not watching “widescreen” video is stupider than his “normal” biased anti-Apple idiocy.
• “I hate not having a case on this thing. It gets smudged just from the air, it seems.”
• “The default wallpaper is ugly; worse yet, the meteor shower it depicts looks like screen scratches, causing a momentary bit of panic.”
• “More later in the review, I guess. Is this thing even worth reviewing?”
And, Thurrott’s pièce de résistance:
• “Anyone who believes this thing is a game changer is a tool.”
“It feels great to have the iPad launched into the world—it’s going to be a game changer.” – Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, April 5, 2010
MacDailyNews Take: Who to believe, who to believe… the man who’s changed the world via multiple technological paradigm shifts or a sad sack who shills for perennial Apple follower Microsoft?
@jg2000
This is basically replacing netbooks…. which have a camera….. front facing….. people want to video chat…
I guess when we finally do get a video chat option apple will release ichat for the iphone/touch/pad
Just think of how much better for business it would be with video conference option… just imagine everyone at a board meeting with an ipad… at $500 each that is a ton cheaper than the cisco telepresence systems going in offices with big 60″ screens and networking equipment. plus… they could be in a meeting anywhere.
Oh there is a tool here alright… but its not Jobs. Any guesses?
Sounds like Paul already had his list of complaints ready even before the iPad arrived.
I’ve got a first generation iPod touch and I never bought a case for it…so the back silver housing has literally millions of scratches…but the front glass, although easy to smudge…has only one small scratch…amazing to me…not to mention that I have now dropped it on the concrete 4 times and twice on asphalt…it fires right up.
The smudges on the front get a baby wipe and…perfecto. It is truly a tool for me…no pun or twist used.
As to the comment that it is a giant iPod touch- I couldn’t disagree more. I hav been using my iPad for 2+ days and the only similarities are the way the home screen behaves and the way one interfaces with the applications. Once you pull up an app that is designed for the iPad the difference is clear. It is more mac like than iPod/iPhone. That is the nature of the game change here. It is by far a more in depth and capable experience. Thurott spent maybe 5 minutes with his before he started jotting down his scratch.
MDN, this man is one of a select few that should not even have time wasted on his…craptastic opinions. Let’s not even give him the satisfaction of being quoted for the hitwhore that he is. Let him drift off into the oblivion of irrelevence.
I use my iPhone for surfing on the couch. I giant iPod touch would be great for that. That’s what people aren’t grasping who complain it’s “just an iPod Touch.” People sitting on their couch watching TV doing some Web surfing or texting don’t want a laptop. I use my phone… and next, I’ll use my Big Ass iPod Touch. It’s called CONVENIENCE.
So this author would like a laptop perhaps with a screen and hinged keyboard. Something that looks like all other laptops from all the makers on the planet – but not if it resembles an iPhone. Oh no, not that the iPhone or iPod Touch
Honestly, I can’t see having a camera, or cameras on it. Maybe a font camera, but certainly not a back camera. I mean, that would be like having a laptop with a back camera…..
I still don’t see how these guys get paid for their crap opinions and articles…..
My wife had the same “Uh-oh” moment with the shooting stars looking like scratches. Beyond that, she LOVE, LOVE, LOVES her new iPad. As I expected, it is the perfect Mom Machine. She has never raved about techno-goodies like I do, yet she was giddy with this machine. And the screen is gorgeous.
Techno wizard son and I were equally impressed, and I think I need one for myself, as the wife doesn’t seem too interested in sharing. Way to go (again), Apple. Rock on, aapl.
Only time will tell, but for sure, the “computer” world is not the same since Saturday. However this all shakes out, the iPad HAS changed the game. Even that Mr. Thurrott has to admit that.
The more I think about people like ThoroughlyRotten, I realize he’s the Scrooge or Potter of It’s a Wonderful Life of our times. They just can’t tolerate anything being wonderful, or good in life. Everyone should be as miserable as they are.
My iPad is performing exactly the role I envisioned for it and I could not be more pleased. There is really no reason to provide Thurott any more of an audience even though most know what a jackass he is. He has been wrong about everything to do with Apple which isn’t surprising given his obvious genuflecting to Microsoft. He should be embarrassed but this is his pathetic meal ticket.
Hey kiddies…Like I said…keep buying those iPad 1.beta’s for me. Even Thurrott agrees those R&D;dollars are needed to devise the corrected iPad 2.0 with dual cameras and the SSD. Now if only people can buy into the whole IR thing. Then the iPad could become the computer that sits on everyone’s coffee table. When you order a movie then the iPad can fire up your home entertainment system and prompt you to start the show. No more remotes.
just my $0.02
He complains about the weight. The iPad teardown shows that most of the space and weight is taken by the battery – which gives the iPad more than ten hours of battery life – an that is amazing on a device this size.
It IS a big iTouch….yeah so….the iTouch is pretty amazing and with more REAL ESTATE the iPad is even more amazing. It has just started….
The only reason it seems a little heavy is that it is so hard to put down.
The guy is a hit whore. He knows it. He knows he doesn’t contribute much to society. I feel sorry for him. He has to come up with hit whore crap everyday to make a living.
One thing nerd writers do is presume all nerd things are for them. Perhaps nerds like PT might consider how meaningful the device would be for technophobe partners of nerds, you know, the non-nerd in the home who finds no value in the PC experience and upon whom a laptop or netbook would be irritatingly too technical.
Psssssttttttt … pads come in different sizes … Apple typically offers a small/medium/large kind of selection … if the iPod touch is the small, and the iPad is the medium, wouldn’t it be reasonable to look for a 1440 x 900 at the same 132 pixels per inch in a 12.86″ diagonal screen (10.9″ x 6.8″)?
Shhhhh, don’t tell Paul
If it’s so lame…….why did he buy it in the first place? It’s obviously not a review model or he would’ve had it earlier. So, he had to order it or go stand in line for it.
Ok. I will give him the “The default wallpaper … the meteor shower it depicts looks like screen scratches, causing a momentary bit of panic.”
My wife thought I scratched the screen too. Maybe that is Apple’s April Fools joke?
Last week someone showed me their first gen. iPhone with smashed glass and it was still working. He had dropped it. It was not a scratch or cracked, it was several cracks of the top of the screen. That was impressive.
On topic. What computer does not use some of it’s storage for the OS, none. Oh so he did not buy a case, that is his fault. I did like the wallpaper, however I quickly changed it to a picture I took. Again his fault. How many weeks have they been telling us the wight, could have tested that, I do not think it is heavy; but then he is probably used to cheep plastic PC, not well built MacBooks. Dual cameras, it would suck to take pictures with this. The fact that he can’t come up with real issues shows how great the product is.
Steve Jobs has revolutionized the computer industry several times in his life and is a billionaire several times over.
Thurrott has done what?
It’s pretty obvious who is the tool between those two?
What’s funny is that he actually bought the thing.
It dont have camoaaaa whaaaa. It’s too heavy whaoaaaa. I’m still a complete moron whoaaaaaa. …!
@Jersey_Trader
Maybe they WANT our wives to think we scratched their screens. So they can sell us that $79.99 “Marriage Saver” app.