Thoughts on the iPad
Today, Apple announced the new iPad (iPad!?), and the world took notice. At least for a few minutes. As expected, the hard-core Apple enthusiasts are excited, and everyone else is still unimpressed. I figured that I would take a few minutes to write up my own thoughts on this, and what I feel about the device.
First, if you need to know what I'm talking about, go to Apple's site for all the information: http://www.apple.com/ipad/
In short, I had a bell-curve reaction to it. It began with me not really caring much about the device (and half-expecting it to not even happen at all), becoming kind of excited when I started seeing the potential, to an equal drop in interest when I started thinking about what features I would personally love to see that they didn't include.
Let me disclaim first that I do love Apple. I'm just a little more realistic than some, and maybe a little more choosy on what I expect my technology to do in my hands. I think that the iPad comes very close to what I would want in a tablet-type device. But it just didn't quite hit the mark.
Here's a few things that I wish it had:
- The ability to use an optional pressure-sensitive stylus, otherwise, you'll be stuck with finger-painting applications and no handwriting recognition.
- Mobile tethering. C'mon, there are a lot of people with iPhones that pay enough to AT&T already. Why can't they just piggyback their current plan?
- A front-mounted camera. You know as well as I that future versions will have this.
- Native os X application support. It seems a little ridiculous to limit the applications to just those available on the iPhone and iPod Touch.
- USB support. The ability to plug in certain types of external devices (audio/video, headsets, external HD) would be peachy.
- Wireless inductive charging.
- The ability to run more than one application at a time. Seriously, Apple needs to figure this out.
- Flash/Silverlight support. For Hulu and Netflix.
Overall, it's definitely an interesting device. But considering what I can already do between my smart phone, an iPod Touch, and a MacBookPro… I'm yet to be sold.
Comments Back to Top
1. Anton
Jan 27th, 2010
I keep thinking of other things, too. Such as browser plug-in support. I could see my son playing FusionFall on it, if it had the ability.
2. Matt Kempster
Jan 27th, 2010
My initial viewpoint was pretty much summed up by: “If I’m going to have a 10” screen in my bag, why the hell wouldn’t it run OS X?”
I also think that it’s kinda ironic that Apple are showing off about the fact they have made something which is mostly aimed at surfing in Safari - when for the last 2 years they have been saying that the future is in Apps, rather than the browser.
Anyway, I have faith in Apple that this thing will be tremendously useful - but that will be months after it has been released probably.
3. Steven Ray
Jan 27th, 2010
I completely agree with the tethering, I already pay for an AT&T 3G plan.
Also bummed about the lack of USB support.
I think it’s the literal book UI aspect of the eReader that bugs me the most.
Yeah flash support would be nice but I have a feeling that’s going to be resolved with html 5 video.
All said, I still want one.
4. Nathan Pitman
Jan 27th, 2010
I agree on a few points, mainly USB and an optional stylus for handwriting recognition. However regarding some of your other points… inductive charging, camera… these are features which would have seriously bumped the price and I think the price is a key feature for this product. Flash? That’s a non issue in my mind… HTML5 supports video… Flash is notoriously unstable… I don’t see Apple ever introducing Flash support. :)
5. Sulcalibur
Jan 27th, 2010
I agree completely. The item is good, very good, but what’s the point? I mean, if I was going to buy a Kindle, then I’d most probably cough up the extra cash and get the iPad. Other than that, what’s the point. I’m have a great browser, ipod, photo viewer and even pdf/ebook reader, it’s my iPhone.
If this had browser plugin support and FusionFall worked on it, that would be really cool. Or if they managed to get a decent MMORPG on it, could you imagine how cool that would be.
I think it is good like I said, but I just don’t see the point.
6. Anton
Jan 27th, 2010
Nathan, Netflix currently uses Silverlight for its streaming video (and does a fine job at it, too). I don’t see them building an HTML 5 app anytime soon, but I’d love to be proven wrong. Not having access to the same services I can get on my laptop is a big loss for me. However pretty it is.
7. Anton
Jan 27th, 2010
I saw Kyle Jones on Twitter (@justkyle) mention that a DVD player would be cool. I think that’s a good point, actually. >> Link.
8. Brian Delicata
Jan 27th, 2010
Lack of a built-in camera and multi-tasking is a bummer. If they were included I can envision myself using an iPad when travelling or at client meetings and remotely connect to my Mac Pro if I need to load something which is not on the iPad.
Having said so I might still get one….
9. Nathan Pitman
Jan 27th, 2010
No doubt a built in camera will be in a future revision, iChat on that thing would be awesome!
RE Netflix… I think they would be daft to ignore a standards based video format in favour of a format that requires their users to install a plug-in… if YouTube can do it??? Of course I doubt they’d be likely to switch anytime soon… but I would be very surprised if its not even on the radar for them. :)
10. Jeff Gardner
Jan 27th, 2010
One word: PHOTOSHOP. If I could use full-blown Photoshop on this baby, I believe the iPad would then be a force to be reckoned with.
I was following the iPad rumors like a hawk until today’s product show… and I’m still pretty happy with it, because it answers the issue I was having with buying an iPod to watch movies… this is an excellent media device… but it’s still lacking
11. Keith Homel
Jan 28th, 2010
Re: DVD player… I think this is a way Apple is trying to phase out physical media. Like they did with floppy drives and going to USB for peripherals. They want you to stream everything online (of course flash/silverlight support would be nice for Hulu/Netflix). I don’t blame them, but DVDs and blu-rays aren’t going anywhere for a long while.
Also, they still want to sell Apple TV.
And, spinning a DVD drive would eat up battery life and make the whole thing bulkier. Look at the Macbook Air. I was expecting no drive based on that thing.
And again, re: flash… I don’t understand the hate. Flash is all over the web, and it’s not going anywhere. Nathan, HTML5 is great and all, but until IE6 leaves the planet we are still going to have to make sites which work in IE6. It’s a shame, but it’s the truth. If you are a business which wants to reach as many customers as possible, they will want IE6. I deal with it every day being a freelancer.
Until Apple supports flash, the iPhone and now the iPad will be held back. You need to right tool for the right job, and if I can do an animation in flash in 30 minutes vs. trying to do it in video or whatever else is out there, I’m going to do it in flash, charge my client and get out of there. Not to mention the data capabilities of flash (which no one seems to know about). Ever heard of Flex? The days of “skip intro” are over. It’s too bad that’s what everyone thinks of when Flash is mentioned.
12. SKASSIS
Jan 28th, 2010
i’m with you on most of your points. there appears to be a couple adapters that plug into the device, one is a USB interface between a desktop Mac, and the other is an SD card slot adapter. see it at the bottom of this page: http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/
13. SKASSIS
Jan 28th, 2010
i do see it as a useful coffee table device—ideally there would be a couple floating around the house for quick access to the web on a whim. i think the point is that it will do most things on a larger and more convenient scale than our iPhones. i hate the duplication in internet access from AT&T. hopefully they’ll have enough sense to give current iPhone customers a price break on service. no Flash support is a big sore spot for me too. i’m all for QuickTime when its convenient, but to not have Flash support is just infuriating. their iPad site video should say its absolutely the best web surfing experience, except for viewing Flash content. if Apple has a technology that replaces Flash, lets have it. don’t keep us waiting. grrrrr
14. Anton
Jan 28th, 2010
I want to take this moment to point out Jeff Croft’s write up about the device. He’s got some very interesting thoughts that I think everyone should read:
http://jeffcroft.com/blog/2010/jan/28/ipad-thoughts/
15. Shirren
Feb 8th, 2010
I think we have all made a few good points here, but I think we need to ask an important question, who is the target demographic for the iPad? I do not believe the iPad is really targeted at power users. Power users much like myself are simply going to end up using our Macbooks and the like for day to day use, not the iPad. This is why Apple have chosen to design the iPad the way they have. There a few obvious features like iSight etc that’s missing but remember this is the just the first incarnation, have we forgotten what the iPhone was like when it first came out?