iPad – pros and cons

First off, I want to say – iPad is a beautiful looking piece of hardware! Apple are outstanding when it comes to design of any of their range of products. Now, down to business…what we have liked and not liked so far:

Likes:

Super slick design of hard case and interface
Ultra fast icon dock program start up and touch screen nice and smooth!
Bigger screen, much easier on the eyes
iWorks installed native
Video playback, uber cool and very clean
iBooks, now this is awesome! It blows kindle and other readers out of the water…well, sort of (see dislikes)
iPod – as per usual, the best mp3 player on the planet
Battery life on the box says 10hrs – I have been using my iPad for 13 hrs straight and still a third battery left to go
Better response on the Querty Keyboard
Awesome GPS locator built in

Dislikes:

My main dislike (and I am sure I speak for the rest of the company) is the lack of Flash Player. It simply falls way short in the browser on sites like the NY times who have flash video as their mainstream media streamer.  HTML5 is so way off in the distance and in its youth, the current selection of sites is mundane to say the least that are running HMTL5 video equivalent.

No USB/HDMI charger – only docking station so you cannot charge from your MAC or PC

Currently running 3.5 for iPhone as the operation system, and not OX like you will see in iPhone 4 (which I am sure they will integrate with the next iPad release).

No Camera!! and no Skype app that can run on it!! UUUUrrrrgggghhh!!!

Screen reflection when reading in glare or sun makes it difficult, if not impossible, to see what is on the screen.

Games that have been developed for iPhone look pixelated on the screen. This will change over-time I know, but Steve Job’s touted the apps as looking “just as good, if not better on iPad”. Seriously, most of them look shit..to put it blunt.

Typing is a hassle, the back is curved a little, so balancing on your knees is a treat. Trying to correct that issue on a flat surface is completely useless because of the wobble you get from the co-vex back – really bad idea Apple!

Summary:

At the end of the day, it really is an over-sized iTouch. I personally don’t think it is the bridge between the iPhone and a Mac, it barely scrapes in at being a bridge to a Net Book..and that would be stretching it.

If you are an Apple fan, or a techno-must-have then iPad is a must. As obsessive as this may sound, just to look at it on the Dock is mesmerizing…or am I just a marketing victim? Who knows, and frankly, who cares! I have one, and that’s all that matters.

Peace out – Tim