Apple’s big reveal of the iPad today had the tech world on the edge their seats, ready for the “next big thing” from Mr. Jobs and the Cupertino crew. Does the iPad live up to the hype?
Here are the basic specs:
9.5 inch x 7.5 inch multi touch capacitive display
.5 inches thick
1.5 lbs
1024 x 768 pixels at 132 ppi
1 Ghz Apple A4 processor
Available with 16, 32 or 64 GB flash drives
10 hour battery
WiFi by default, 3G models available too
Price starts at $499 for the base WiFi model, runs up to $829 for the 3G 64 MB model
I have not had one in my hands, but the device looks impressive on the surface. It runs the iPhone OS, so all of the iPhone apps you know and love are there, plus some tweaks and additions, notably the addition of iBooks. Sort of iTunes for books. I like the idea of books on demand (I’m a big fan of the Kindle app for iPhone) so the addition of e-Books on the iPhone platform is welcome. Several apps look like they have been upgraded – mail has many more options, contacts, calendar, maps all have much needed upgrades that make use of the additional real estate on the iPad.
The iPad also builds on the iTunes store in the video arena. Movies and TV shows will look great on the device, as will You Tube and streaming web content. There are a couple of downsides – it looks like the display is only 720p, and for Apple only knows why, they STILL won’t display flash. That said, given the display size video will likely look great.
Is it a game changer? I’ve been thinking about that since the demo ended and honestly I just don’t think that it is. I do think that in its category it will be the clear leader, and its competitors will be scrambling to follow. That is the key though – in its category. The iPhone was a game changer because it dominated its category (cell phones) with must have added features. Web browsing, music, video, maps and of course, the app store. It was revolutionary because it brought all of these things together on a device that everyone already used every day, their cell phone. I don’t see the same demand for what is essentially a really big iPhone. Sure there are people for whom this device will be the end all be all, I can’t live without it, greatest thing since sliced bread. Commuters, techies, travelers will benefit from this device. Most people though just don’t need it, and there was nothing in the demo today that makes me think people are going to look at the iPad and say – OMG I NEED THAT.
Is it cool? Yes. Is it great technology? Absolutely. Is it great design? Sure, but really just more of the same iPhone design. Is it going to be as big as the iPhone? No way. Will it “change publishing as we know it”? I really don’t think so. It’s hard for me to believe that a device as costly as this is will be ubiquitous, or even really popular in the average household. People like to read papers and books, share them with friends, leave them on trains. Yes, the content you can get from an eReader is way beyond what a magazine or newspaper can deliver, but I don’t see people paying $500 for the privilege. Especially when you throw netbooks into the mix.
Think about the average household and what people’s computing needs are. Email, web browsing, games, some word processing (homework, letters), spreadsheets, pictures. I can do all of this from a netbook for $299, almost half what the iPad will cost. Also, the netbook will likely be windows based, so will use MS Word and Excel, not iWorks (eeeww), so I can edit documents for school or work without an issue. If iPad can run Office for Mac, that would be great, but there is no indication that this is possible.
Here’s another measure I use for the iPad. If I am going on a trip for a week, can I get through the trip with only the iPad? For me, the answer is probably not. I’m going to need a device I can edit word/excel on. I can view the docs on the iPad, and iWorks allows me to save MS Office documents, but will specific formating in Excel and Word save too? I don’t know the answer here, and it’s important. If I can safely edit anything that Office throws at the iPad in iWorks, then I’m all set. If, as in the past, the formating gets messed up, that means I have to take either a netbook or a laptop with me which means I’m not likely to take the iPad with me – too many devices. Which in turn means that I probably wouldn’t buy it if I can’t use it on trips. Oh I wish there were open standards for documents. Oh wait, there is.
So, what do I make of all this? I love that the iPad exists. It means that people are thinking about how we look at our online universe. It didn’t WOW me, but something will. Maybe it will be an app for the iPad, or some yet to be released feature, but it’s not there yet. C’mon Steve, make me NEED THS!
