iPad hands-on, detailed review

[*LTD*]

http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2010/01/27/hands-on-with-apples-ipad-with-videos-and-photos/

It's the most detailed so far. Worth reading. It's too long to post here.

 

[neiltc13]

Jobs really shot himself in the foot when he said that Netbooks 'don't do anything better' before announcing a device that also doesn't do anything better.

 

[rhett7660]

http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2010/01/27/hands-on-with-apples-ipad-with-videos-and-photos/

It's the most detailed so far. Worth reading. It's too long to post here.

With the video and pictures this looks really nice..... I can't wait to get one in my hands. I will probably walk out with one too... Watching the video's this looks freaking slick!

Jobs really shot himself in the foot when he said that Netbooks 'don't do anything better' before announcing a device that also doesn't do anything better.

Did you watch any of the video's?

 

[neiltc13]

Did you watch any of the video's?

Yeah. What I saw was a device which can browse the web, play music and video and run a bunch of proprietary mobile phone applications. Unfortunately it can't browse the entire web thanks to it not including Flash or Java, it can't play better music than my laptop because it has a tiny single speaker located on its bottom side. It can't play video better than any of the other devices I own because its screen has a 4:3 display while ALL of the content I have been watching has been 16:9 for years. It can't run any of the software my computer can and every time I want new software for it I have to pay a 30% premium to Apple.

 

[*LTD*]

and run a bunch of proprietary mobile phone applications.

This is huge. And those "mobile phone applications" (which users love) are about to turn into full-fledged, powerful touch-based apps. iWork is just one example.

The App Store is what will make this thing shine. Developers are already on board. Easy transition.

 

[neiltc13]

This is huge. And those "mobile phone applications" (which users love) are about to turn into full-fledged, powerful touch-based apps. iWork is just one example.

The App Store is what will make this thing shine. Developers are already on board. Easy transition.

Users love using these applications on their phone or their MP3 player because it's like nothing they've had before on such devices and there are few alternative devices which offer this level of polish.

We won't see anywhere near the numbers of applications developed for iPad because people simply won't be buying it in the same volume as iPhone and iPod touch. There will be a much, much lesser incentive for developers to make applications for it and doing so will be much more challenging.

As it's running iPhone OS, it's probably going to have all of the huge memory problems that iPhone does and it's going to suffer from these same developers not knowing how to create solutions. I can almost tolerate the OS taking 10 seconds to free up memory on my phone after I quit something, but on a device which supposedly replaces my laptop this would be unacceptable.

Oh yeah, and does Apple REALLY expect people to boot up a different computer every time they want to print a document from iWork? Do they really expect people to type on this thing or use it at the crazy angle shown in the keynote yesterday?

I predict there are gonna be a lot of people complaining of tired arms on the day the first devices start arriving.

 

[rhett7660]

^Well only time will tell if it shines or not. Something tells me nothing Apple does will suite you thou at least judging from any post I have seen. Granted I haven't seen all of your posts but just judging from the ones I have seen.

but on a device which supposedly replaces my laptop this would be unacceptable.

I don't think this is ment to replace your laptop.... Isn't this just another tool not a replacement.

 

[*LTD*]

Oh yeah, and does Apple REALLY expect people to boot up a different computer every time they want to print a document from iWork? Do they really expect people to type on this thing or use it at the crazy angle shown in the keynote yesterday?

There's an app for that.

There's a case for that.

There's a keyboard for that, too . . .

 

[Rodimus Prime]

The thing that I see that users the iPad the most is it sub standard connections. It is limited to only the 30 pin connector. For quicker photo imports and data file exports it needs USB and SD card slots. USB being the most important.

Think if you just wrap up a iWork file or something like that and need to get it exported to move to another computer well there is a USB file for that. Another common thing for me at least is I keep my USB drive on my keychain so I tend to carry and put files I need on it. Some one has an iPad well they could not get the required files with out a lot of work around to get it.

I am honestly rather shock apple did not include SD and USB connector ports. They are very very basic.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2010/01/27/hands-on-with-apples-ipad-with-videos-and-photos/

It's the most detailed so far. Worth reading. It's too long to post here.

Thanks a nice review overall. Find interesting this comment:

The most obvious is a lack of support for any providers other than AT&T in the US or GSM/UMTS providers overseas. There’s no CDMA version for Verizon Wireless, and it doesn’t support T-Mobile’s 3G frequencies (although it apparently could be activated on T-Mobile’s slow GSM network, but that might not be cost effective).

GMS is the most popular cell phone standard out there in the world market place it seems. Given the rumors of a deal with Verizon, it seems that Verizon did not want to compete with what may have been Apple's demands of the $15 and $30 price points - along with what seems to be a stronghold on the WIFI hotspots that AT&T seems to have.

There’s currently no demonstrated way to attach the iPad to a Mac to use it as a multitouch input device, although this may be possible with third party software; if nothing else, developers could use network commands to relay touch gestures to a desktop app.

Wacom, are you listening? LOL Seriously, I work in a camera shop - and when I announced on Wednesday afternoon that the iPad was official - that was one of the first questions I was asked my another Mac user in the shop!

There’s a mic and a headphone jack (it’s not clear if it also supports mic-integrated headphones), so there’s at least the potential for VoIP applications over WiFi. There wasn’t a bundled version of the Voice Memos app on the prototype models, nor a version of the iPhone’s Voice Command, but there’s no reason either couldn’t be added by Apple by the time it ships.

Heck I would even like BT headset compatibility for VoIP! Haven't kept up on the BT headset front since I only have the 1G iPhone - but would be nice to find a decent BT stereo headset that allowed for VoIP with the iPad.

The iPad is even designed to do something when it’s doing nothing. With the device at its unlock screen, there’s a button to start a slideshow configured to your preferences within Settings (below). This turns the thing into a nice animated slideshow picture frame of your selected photo album as it recharges.

Something that I saw as a value add as a photographer that uses iPhoto. Always wanted a digital picture frame - but the ones at this level were $150 to $250... too rich for a single use item for me. My only wish would have been for Apple to have given us the much rumored dual 30-pin connector slots - both for vertical and horizontal.

Even with all their hardware partners, Google’s Android and Microsoft’s Windows Mobile haven’t been able to attract the same kind of attention from developers or software buying users. Apple’s new iPad is unique on many levels, and demonstrates a formidable new challenger in a the formerly lackluster tablet computer market. For competitors to match it, they’ll need to catch up not just in hardware but also in media distribution, in developer tools, in customer base, and in raw component technology, and all at a tremendously aggressive price.

I agree, though time will tell if the 16gb versions at $499 and $629 will be enough to keep up the the Kindle and the Nook. Yes the iPad requires a $15 or $30 a month charge for 3G access - but one gains web access, video access, and so much more.

Given that Time publishing gave a preview of what was possible a month or so ago (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntyXvLnxyXk&feature=player_embedded) with SI (also I shared with some folks at work on launch day - which my co-workers loved!). But not seeing how that is possible on the current Kindle or Nook readers.

Have not had a chance to look at the Kindle DX live yet, and we know that the Nook does not ship till Feb 12th it seems. But if the demo of Ted Kennedy's book that was demoed on Wednesday is any indication the higher price for some books are in order. The ability to show photos is a major plus on some books.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

There's an app for that.

There's a case for that.

There's a keyboard for that, too . . .

Both of these are something that I could see happening if I make the leap to the iPad. Want to reserve some of my current thinking on the iPad for a separate post. The case does provide for easy typing on the virtual keyboard. And the keyboard dock would allow me to replace my iMac or my Macbook pro as my day to day computers.

For me my day to day life is emails, some letters, reading the news...

I see MobleMe playing a bigger part in Apple's future plans for the iPad. As does the Airport Extreme and Time Capsule allowing for printing of documents on a wireless network.

Know it is poor form to follow-up to ones own reply - but as an iPhone user I am truly torn as to whether I will go with the iPad.

My tastes in reading are newspapers, magazines, and tech type of books. I read some fictional and non-fictional books from time to time. Some I end up buying, mostly after reading a library copy or having friend loan me theirs.

I loved the NYT's demo of their iPad app. That is the one thing that bugged me about going to their website (and even the Washington Post) is that it is not what I like about having a printed page before me.

At the right price, I can see me subscribing to them again... One of the joys with the Washington Post when I buy a copy or get to read a co-workers copy is reading the comics pages. <blush> On the iPhone it is painful

The reason I am still on the fence with the iPad is because of my iPhone. Love having it on my hip at work - stealing moments to read an email, or maybe glance at a favorite webpage. All on my hip or pocket....

Might be lining up in March for the 3G iPad if they through a bone to current iPhone users. Cut the fees to $7.50 for 250mb and $15 for unlimited. This would have been a no brainer for me! Don't think that most users of the iPhone and iPad would be using together....

Just in this economy I just want to control my airtime costs....

 

[Rapmastac1]

That is a great review, there are many around now and a lot of them offer up a lot of points about how this device will and won't be successful. Honestly I think it will be successful, whether in its first gen or second gen iteration. I remember all the bashing the original iPod touch got because everyone said it was just a stripped down iPhone. Now iPod touch purchases outnumber those of the iPhone...

This seems like a great day-to-day device for me. Currently I'm trying to cut down the amount of power I use. Being able to use this instead of my huge iMac would be great. Most of the time I use my iMac I am just browsing my select forums and checking up on my Bank accounts and paying bills. I also do a daily spreadsheet (long story) and it would be great if I could wake up and enter data into it right then and there. It's also great for the calender but my Blackberry seems to be more tuned to that since I look at it so often throughout the day. Maybe if I could sync my Blackberry calender to the one in the iPad...

The only things I would really need my iMac for are updating the various libraries (music, video, pictures, etc), ripping and encoding my purchased dvds, backing up various data, and printing stuff as well. I could see my iMac only being turned on maybe once or twice a week to sync data up. This would cut my power consumption quite a bit since my iMac stays on all the time (sleeping when I'm not using it, since I go up and use it and put it to sleep so often).

I'm obviously very positive about this device but it won't be a day-one purchase for me. Maybe a month after to see if there are any problems.

 

[rhett7660]

The thing that I see that users the iPad the most is it sub standard connections. It is limited to only the 30 pin connector. For quicker photo imports and data file exports it needs USB and SD card slots. USB being the most important.

Think if you just wrap up a iWork file or something like that and need to get it exported to move to another computer well there is a USB file for that. Another common thing for me at least is I keep my USB drive on my keychain so I tend to carry and put files I need on it. Some one has an iPad well they could not get the required files with out a lot of work around to get it.

I am honestly rather shock apple did not include SD and USB connector ports. They are very very basic.

I agree. These should of been in there. One work around I can see for this is emailing the dock, but that is a work around. I too carry a usb drive with me. This makes me wonder if this will be like the iPhone/iPod, only able to connect it to 5 authorized computers?

 

[Diapason]

...
As it's running iPhone OS, it's probably going to have all of the huge memory problems that iPhone does and it's going to suffer from these same developers not knowing how to create solutions. I can almost tolerate the OS taking 10 seconds to free up memory on my phone after I quit something, but on a device which supposedly replaces my laptop this would be unacceptable.
...

So for instance ... how long does it take to your laptop to be ready and with a program loaded into the main memory, from the moment you switch it on? Is it comparable with the iPad?

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I predict there are gonna be a lot of people complaining of tired arms on the day the first devices start arriving.

Compared to holding what?

A book?
A netbook?
A feather?

These red herring arguments are getting so monotonous. Plus, if no one is going to be buying the iPad, as H8Rs unanimously predict then who is going to be complaining? The box it ships in maybe?

 

[wolfpackfan]

The thing that I see that users the iPad the most is it sub standard connections. It is limited to only the 30 pin connector. For quicker photo imports and data file exports it needs USB and SD card slots. USB being the most important.

So I guess you missed the part of the announcement that showed the SD card and USB adapters.

 

[rhett7660]

So I guess you missed the part of the announcement that showed the SD card and USB adapters.

No,, the adapters are nice, however that is an extra charge. I would have liked to have seen a usb on the side or bottom that allows you to attach a thumbdrive to the device without the need to use a dongle. I am not saying lets have firewire 800 multipal usb ports etc. One would have been nice.

 

[phobic99]

So I guess you missed the part of the announcement that showed the SD card and USB adapters.

Yes because everyone wants to carry an additional dongle just for these inputs. Really though, Apple could've integrated those into the iPad from day one but why not make some extra cash on the side while giving people a reason to jump to the iPad Rev B. when it has integrated USB/SD ports?

I'd figure most people won't mind either way. Consumers are gonna lap this thing up.

 

[G4R2]

Compared to holding what?

A book?
A netbook?
A feather?

These red herring arguments are getting so monotonous. Plus, if no one is going to be buying the iPad, as H8Rs unanimously predict then who is going to be complaining? The box it ships in maybe?

I couldn't agree with you more .

Something similar occurred with the original iPhone release, and in fact most of Apple's releases. The expectations people have for Apple products far exceeds reality and when a product is released it isn't considered in the context of reality.

Thus arguments about sore arms- Clearly Apple's short sightedness and stupidity for not having invented an anti-gravity device to reduce its weight and mitigate the strain on its increasingly hefty and capricious customers. And while they're at it, where's the mind control interface, the AI, and the holographic display?

Truth is that this device is basically exactly what users should have expected if they knew and understood Apple or any successful business. When you look at a company such as Apple, or Microsoft, or Sony, or numerous others, it's about the pipeline, not any one particular product. You can see the fingerprints of this pipeline on every Apple product, new and old.

That's why this product does make sense. And judging by the comments on these forums, it's also abundantly clear that Apple in many cases understands their customers and what they want better then they understand themselves.

 

[pmz]

Yeah. What I saw was a device which can browse the web, play music and video and run a bunch of proprietary mobile phone applications. Unfortunately it can't browse the entire web thanks to it not including Flash or Java, it can't play better music than my laptop because it has a tiny single speaker located on its bottom side. It can't play video better than any of the other devices I own because its screen has a 4:3 display while ALL of the content I have been watching has been 16:9 for years. It can't run any of the software my computer can and every time I want new software for it I have to pay a 30% premium to Apple.

silly trolls and their silly repetitive jibberish

Yes because everyone wants to carry an additional dongle just for these inputs. Really though, Apple could've integrated those into the iPad from day one but why not make some extra cash on the side while giving people a reason to jump to the iPad Rev B. when it has integrated USB/SD ports?

I'd figure most people won't mind either way. Consumers are gonna lap this thing up.

Of course, you're a mechanical engineer, which means you can explain how Apple could have created the exact precision unibody design AND add SD card slots and USB.


Why would you typically connect a camera to this? That's what the Mac is for. Import your pictures to iPhoto, edit/organize as necessary, sync to iPad or push up to Mobile Me and pull down to iPad from anywhere.

Common sense.

If you're absolutely positively desperate to load up your unedited photos NOW, and you have only your iPad and Camera, this CCkit is for you. For all of 3 minutes of transfering a card worth of photos.

Some of you are so petulant its ridiculous.

 

[Hammie]

... We won't see anywhere near the numbers of applications developed for iPad because people simply won't be buying it in the same volume as iPhone and iPod touch. There will be a much, much lesser incentive for developers to make applications for it and doing so will be much more challenging. ...

Have you used the SDK yet?

My friends son downloaded it and he said it is killer and he is already modifying his iPhone apps for iPad size. Most of it is easy sine the graphics are already in a resolution that will be acceptable for either device. There are some sizing parameters that need to be addressed, but its no big deal.

Basically, its no different writing an app for one and porting it to the other.

As I've been told. I'm not a developer so I have no first hand experience writing them.

 

[trssho]

This is huge. And those "mobile phone applications" (which users love) are about to turn into full-fledged, powerful touch-based apps. iWork is just one example.

The App Store is what will make this thing shine. Developers are already on board. Easy transition.

Absolutely. When apps are built for this device rather that ported over from the iPhone, peoples jaws are going to drop. This will make cool iPhone apps look silly and clumsy. Jobs should have had more stuff ready to show off, but sure they were trying to keep the wraps on.

 

[phobic99]

Of course, you're a mechanical engineer, which means you can explain how Apple could have created the exact precision unibody design AND add SD card slots and USB.


Why would you typically connect a camera to this? That's what the Mac is for. Import your pictures to iPhoto, edit/organize as necessary, sync to iPad or push up to Mobile Me and pull down to iPad from anywhere.

Common sense.

If you're absolutely positively desperate to load up your unedited photos NOW, and you have only your iPad and Camera, this CCkit is for you. For all of 3 minutes of transfering a card worth of photos.

Some of you are so petulant its ridiculous.

So you're saying it would be impossible for Apple to have done something like include an SD card slot and a USB port? Right. You sound a little defensive in your reply in promoting the iPad. May I ask why?

Actually even Steve sounded a little defensive when he was being challenged but I suppose it makes a lot more sense for him to defend his product since he is the CEO of Apple and all.

Video here: (jump to 1:40) http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/29/...battery-life-to-kindles-youre-not-g/#comments

 

[brad.c]

Why would you typically connect a camera to this? That's what the Mac is for.

The IPS screen on the iPad makes it a better portable viewer than an MBP. Assuming the hardware hooks are in place, it could even be used as a live preview screen that is 6" larger than what you have on most DSLRs.

I bought the camera adaptor for my classic iPod, and use it as a portable overflow drive when in the field. A 10" screen on top of that? That would be my purchase decider right there.

 

[GeekGirl*]

Nice Review thanks for posting it.