So it came to no ones surprise that I had purchased an Apple iPad. I placed my order the first day that I could, and already had a list of names picked out. I sat and eagerly waited with my trendy hipster glasses, hairdo, and clothes, for the device that fanboys said would change the way we do our computing. I saw the live feed of the announcement back in January and I told myself that I would wait for the second generation, as I never* buy a first gen device.
(* – I came to the conclusion after buying the first gen iPod Touch, what a God awful mistake that was).
So as time went on, my opinion began to waver as I heard the rumors of the iPhone OS 3.2 and 4.0, multitasking(?!), custom backgrounds, oh can it be?
“Goddamnit Steve.” I thought, “Why are you doing this to me? Just give me a solid update for the iPhone and MacBooks already!”
When the pre order date finally arrived, I balked and placed my order. I will forever be Steve Jobs’ Bitch.
After I saw that more rumors were flying around, and seeing more screenshots of the UI, I was getting more sold on it. Then the software/apps I saw that were being developed. “I hate you, Apple!” I felt like a battered wife going back to a broken home, “I can’t quit you.”
I sit in my bed writing this review, and I feel a little guilty since Steve, my MacBook Pro, is sitting next to me just idling there. All my computers are now, are docking stations for my various iPods, my iPhone, and now my iPad.
But this is meant as a review of the iPad, not my resentment/lust for that company that is named Apple. On with the show!
The iPad is not meant as a stand alone computer, it is not a replacement for your pc or mac. The way I see it is designed, and some others, is that this either is a media consumption device (a portable media player), or a computer to augment your everyday use.
And as both, it excels in both for me.
The iPod and Video app interfaces are beautiful and are laid out in the best way possible. If you use iTunes and are familiar with that interface, you shouldn’t have an issue with it. It actually makes me wish the iTunes interface was more like this. The only way it could be possibly better, is if it had Home Sharing enabled like it is on iTunes on your pc or mac. You can buy your usual music while enjoying your frappé at your local Starbucks and using the free wifi or if you opted for the 3G version, anywhere you go. And if your are feeling saucy enough, your favorite movie when your friend said that they destroyed your only copy and Best Buy is out, and you’re way to your friends house to kick their ass.
However, since I have an iMac, MacBook Pro, and AppleTV and a iPhone, I’m not hurting for another portable media consumption device. But, I was rather taken by the iBooks app. I like to read, but I have a little problem. My apartment is rather small, and my space is limited, not to mention the local AAFES BX doesn’t carry the kind of books I want to read, and I get annoyed by browsing books on Barnes and Noble online. Oh, did I also mention I’m not buying any conventional media for a year too?
I was looking at the Amazon Kindle or the Sony e-reader as a way to augment my reading habit. So why not try it out, right? My first purchase was, “Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang”, by Chelsea Handler. (which is a great for you to look at by the way)
I liked the fact that I could slide my finger across to turn the pages, you can change the brightness in app, font size, font face. The only thing I don’t like so far, is the limited amount of publishers working with the Apple. So I need to deal with the Kindle app and the Kindle store, which isn’t all that bad, I can get the books Apple doesn’t have available, and if ever had a Kindle, my books would’ve synced with the app and my iPad.
However, as iTunes was at first, and where that is now. I can only imagine how big the iBookstore will in a years time.
But, my biggest squee/growl moment with the iPad, came with the Photos app. I love how the multi-touch features are implemented, pinch in and out to open or close folders. Rotate with two fingers on the screen to turn images, but why Apple, why won’t you allow us to save the orientation after were done rotating it? My biggest gripe, and the one that annoys me to all end, is that the Photo app doesn’t offer basic photo editing options. Since you can use your iPad with a memory card dock, why oh why can’t you let us crop, rotate, or do simple red eye adjustments? I would love an iPhoto style or even a mobile Aperture version to *buy* to do some basic photo editing. Which, right now for me is severely lacking on this device.
Everything else? It does gaming very well. With my year long sabbatical from conventional media, it’s actually making the gaming move very easy. Between WeRule, Implode XL, Crosswords, Jelly Car 2, Flight Control HD, and the various solitaire apps, I’m set. The only thing hurting, is my wallet.
Email, Internet, YouTube. Very, very well done. In landscape, with the bigger keyboard, the 1024×768 display is aptly suited for the various emails you’ll write (or say you’ll write) to mom, surf Facebook, and watch the latest viral vids. And come later in the year, at the same time possibly. And I’ll say this, who the hell needs Flash? HTML 5 video loads just as easily as flash, and you don’t have to worry about it bogging down your system. I hate Flash, and I can’t wait to see it die the slow and painful death it deserves. In the animation realm I can stomach it, but for everything else, if you are a web developer and you rely solely on flash implementation, you have failed your clients hardcore.
Back on track, Ian.
The iPad. Is it a revolution of modern computing? I think its a start of something big. 10 hours of battery life, I managed to get 12 out of it with moderate use before I got nervous about recharging it. I like where this could lead to, and I cant wait to see what others come up with to challenge Apple. If you want laptop or a net book and you are not a power user, I suggest you try out an iPad. If you want to augment your computer use, and not always be planted at your desktop, and you don’t want a laptop. Look at an iPad. However, if don’t have a computer, and you want something small, portable, for easy computing, look at a net book or a small laptop. (To set up an iPad, you need a computer with iTunes).
I like it, I really do. And despite what you think, you’ll like it too. Just get your hands on one and you’ll realize that this something you’ve been wanting for the longest time.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ianmunroe. ianmunroe said: My review of the #iPad is up on my blog, http://www.ianmunroe.com/blog/2010/04/20/ipad-augmented-consumption-reality/ [...]