What's missing from the iPad
On the other hand, it has no camera, meaning that videoconferencing is out of the question, at least on the first generation of the device. It has a mono speaker, meaning that you'll want headphones to make it usable as a movie or music player. And if the keyboard is really that good, then Apple wouldn't have felt the need to supply an optional 1993-style keyboard dock. And what's with the 4:3 ratio screen, rather than a more sensible 16:9 ratio, which would have enabled you to play widescreen movies without letter boxing them and making them look small?
Apple's promotional video features their often-used designer guy who always talks about Apple products with a glazed look on his face as though they are some kind of mystical experience. "I don't have to change myself to fit the product -- it fits me," he says. He's referring to the fact that you can sit with the device in your lap and reorient it to landscape or portrait mode as you see fit, and that you can use its multi-touch capability to point at what you want with your fingers when surfing the web, looking at your photos, and buying videos and music, rather than having to use the old point and click mouse display.
Except that it's not entirely true, is it? If it really fit me, then it would have a camera built in, so that I could videoconference with my kids. Its browser would support Flash, so I could look at many of the websites that are currently denied to me on the iPhone. None of that is in this device, apparently. And you also have to buy an optional camera connection kit if you want to get the photos from your camera and onto it.
The saving grace for the iPad could be as an eReader. Apple launched an iBooks application that will enable you to buy online publications from several large publishers who signed up as its initial partners. The portrait mode does make for a perfect e-book reader, and even surfing to the New York Times page and reading it in portrait mode looks very pleasurable, as opposed to trying to read on a traditional laptop screen. But Apple's eReader story needs more work. It needs more partners, and preferably some sort of subscription hook up with newspaper vendors so that you can buy value-added content directly from within the iBooks application. The New York Times will be offering a native application for the device, but I'd rather manage everything through a single store and a single format, rather than having to download a separate application for each newspaper that I'm interested in.
The device will be available in two months time, in both WiFi-only and three G. versions. Availability in Canada is unclear.
Me? I'm a geek. I really wanted to like this more. I'll probably get one, if for no other reason than I can read Kindle books on it using the existing Kindle iPhone app. But a world-shattering experience it is not, and I expect more from the second-generation version.
Update: After further reflection, you know, I just can't justify this. There's no GPS in the WiFi-only version, and significantly, there are no standard ports in this device either, which means that Apple controls the whole experience. Throw us at least a single USB port, Steve!
There's just not enough in here to justify a product that does less than the iPhone I already have. As one person I trust said on Twitter: "This doesn't solve any of my existing problems, other than the $500 that is currently burning a hole in my pocket". No thanks. At least, not until they release version 2. And even then, maybe not.
Danny Bradbury, MSN Tech & Gadgets
Comments
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Posted by: Wiriamu | Jan 28, 2010 9:05:46 AM
Although i have to say that that product is rather promising i doubt i would pay $500-$800 for a blown up ipod touch. I would rather spend that amount of money on a low end laptop that offers way more funtionality. Also the biggest pet peve i have about my iphone is its lack of support for flash in safari, and if this tablet's safari browser doesnt support flash either (let alone have a usb drive?) then i will be saying "no thanks!"
Posted by: yup | Jan 28, 2010 12:53:35 PM
The lack of a handle appears to make it somewhat unwieldly.
Posted by: RU | Jan 28, 2010 1:24:20 PM
Actually I'm looking forward to this unit so I don't have to read at my desk or office. I'll load-up PDF's like magazines, e-books and technical manuals, and read on my couch, on the train, at lunch or where ever I feel like it. If I need to check something online I don't have to run to a computer. I'm usually on a computer for 12-14 hours a day and so getting away is good for my sanity and unwinding a little. If it plays MOV files then I can even do CBT training on it as well, now that I think of it.
I was looking at a few e-book readers and I was settling for the Barns and Noble Nook. I thought the Plastic Logic unit looked great, but I don't know when it'll ever get released and the price keeps going up every time I see news updates.
Posted by: RB | Jan 28, 2010 2:18:20 PM
Wow, what's with the huge number of narcissicstic pundits who just NEED a camera on this thing? I find quite odd. I guess there are two sides. The iphone owners who want their iPad to have everything their iphone has (Why?! you ALREADY have an iphone! This device isn't a replacement!)
Posted by: Danny Bradbury | Jan 28, 2010 2:22:04 PM
RB - it's purely down to what I want to use it for. This thing is supposed to be the perfect appliance for stuff that you'd do lounging around on the couch. Well, for me, that includes videoconferencing with friends and family. I may be a geek in that, and an early adopter, but it seems to me that a device like this is supposed to push the envelope and bring those sorts of experiences to a wider audience, in a new and innovative format. We're seeing Skype and HD cameras being integrated into TV sets now, after all. Not having a camera on this thing is a huge fail for me, and judging by the comments I'm reading from many others online, I'm far from the only one.
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Posted by: RB | Jan 28, 2010 2:37:27 PM
I forgot to post the "other side": The other side are folks like me who love their iPod Touch despite it not having a camera, GPS, 3G, etc, etc. I've been wishing for a "bigger Touch" for web surfing, email, NY Times, etc. And here it is. Exactly what I hoped for, with one exception: It's TOO big! I was hoping for something roughly twice the size of a Touch. I'm not an early adopter (got my first HDTV last year). That's the thing Apple does best. Target casual mainstream users who don't mind spending extra on a "luxury" device, as opposed to trying to make end-all be-all gadgets for techies, like Microsoft's failed tablets.
Posted by: k | Jan 28, 2010 3:03:33 PM
Does anyone know if the ipad can be used for drawing? Can I use photoshop on it? Then again, if there are no ports, how would I even get my program onto the device...
Posted by: RB | Jan 28, 2010 3:42:58 PM
K: There is Photoshop for Iphone, so I see no reason why Adobe would not upgrade their App to work on the Ipad.
By the way, I just watched the keynote video (Apple.com) and I must say the live blogs and single page articles from yesterday do not do the device justice. They skipped over a ton of features. You have see it in use. For one thing I realized its a device finally worth storing photos on. (Check the video, you can link them to a map!). There's a microphone, (which nobody yesterday seemed to acknowledge). Anyways... im sold, but now I realize I need bigger than 16gb which puts this way out of my acceptable price range. :-(
Posted by: MA | Jan 28, 2010 5:20:15 PM
Apple is known for their forward thinking devices, and this one just does not seem to be it. They know how to create a ton of hype, but if you are going to tease people that much then don't be surprised when they turn on you and your re-introduction of the iphone or iPod touch. Come on give us what you insinuated.....give us a tablet computer that we can take any where and do any thing with. "A" plus on the hype...flat "D" on the actual device.
Posted by: Seth Bookey | Jan 29, 2010 2:25:18 AM
I could see it being a good way to make presentations. The iPod Touch has a few apps for genealogists, and this device is light enough and big enough to be able to take this along to make presentations to clients without lugging out a laptop. As someone with two iPods and an iPod Touch, I have to admit that I am pretty much only using the Touch now. However, the lack of reliable WiFi, even in places that supposedly have free public WiFi, is annoying. As someone who is unwilling to shell out even $30 extra a month on a plan for a smartphone, and as someone who will never go back to using AT&T, ever, I have opted for the iPod Touch, but am frustrated at how difficult it is to pick up WiFi signals that are supposedly open and unlocked.
On the camera side... a lot of digital cameras now offer WiFi transmission and infrared. Would be interesting of you could snap away with a better digital camera and then zap them over to the Touch or iPad (a name I am not thrilled with after hearing "Tablet" for months).
And btw, I thought Jobs was completely anti-tablet...
Posted by: delron | Jan 29, 2010 11:03:51 PM
Now that Apple has big market share again; after being ' forced ' to comply with at least some computer market standards several years ago....they have become they're Ultra Arrogant selves again and are once more trying to FORCE the public into the Apple Only concept of computer use.
WE will control the use of your computer, we will remove all standard ports; hell we will just remove all ports and connectability, you will only use software that you buy from us, we will monitor your computer use. We will move all of our facilities and personnel to China. YOU WILL BE ASSIMILATED. In time you WILL LOVE APPLE....or become part of a plasticised people exhibit.
Posted by: jr lava | Jan 31, 2010 9:30:19 PM
All this really is, is a giant iPhone that can't make phone calls?????WTF apple. After all it has been Mac users who have been asking for a Mac tablet for graphics and photo editing. And this is what Steve -o has come up with. And all this buzz about Apple leading the way to the future with this tablet. I have been using tablets for over 5 years. It is the single reason I have not switched to an Mac based system in the first place. I was holding out on upgrading because of the tablet buzz and this is what I get. Oh well, looks like windows 7 for me.
Posted by: Bekbob | Feb 1, 2010 12:49:29 AM
I was really rooting for this one. I love my Mac Book and iPhone and thought this would fit nicely inbetween. But it's just missing too much in this version. I want the GPS, which means I have to get the 3G version. But the biggest issues for me are: no SD card slot, no USB slot, no stereo speakers.
I had hopes of travelling with this thing and watching movies on the go. With no built in card reader or USB and just a mono speaker, this is not the device for me. The lack of an SD card slot is the biggest problem with my iPhone. I'm not going to invest in a bigger version of the iPhone with the same lack of external storage, no camera and one less speaker. Maybe version 2.0 will be a lot better. This one is not for me. Careful Apple, Newton almost ended you, don't make Newton 2.0.
Posted by: Jana | Feb 4, 2010 1:59:23 AM
Agree on almost all points.
WEBCAM - absolutely needed, if iPad is to replace netbooks. I would love to take it with me when traveling, so I can keep in touch with family - but with NO webcam, it's bland.
AND yes, I already have iphone, but it's also useles for videocalling with no front camera!!!
USB and MEMORY CARD SLOTS - absolutely needed. There aren't that many wireless printers available yet, other than that, what's the point of having amazing word/photo editing etc on it, if I can't print direct and still have to go to mac or pc...?!
SPEAKERS - that doesn't bother me, noone is going to use this to organize a dance in the hall, earphones for personal use are just fine.
I'l
Posted by: Jana | Feb 4, 2010 2:28:21 AM
So, I'll wait to see what happends with 2nd generation....
However, as an educator, I sure hope that some kind of tablet will replace textbooks, especially for elementary kids. So long to overloaded school bags and waste of paper! Hurray to interactive textbooks.
I teach in Hong Kong, where the system is still heavily textbook-based and I truly feel sorry to see little P1 students carrying more than their weight in their school bag.
So tablet-makers, do put some effort in making your product school-friendly.
Apple - this really means including FLASH and USB/memory card slots as well. Teachers would make a good use of it, uploading school-based workbooks, homework etc. for their students.
Bring the price down - which should not be difficult in huge markets like Hong Kong school kids!
Posted by: iPhone Dock Speaker | Jun 24, 2011 12:19:52 AM
I think in several years iPad will be able to replace books at schools and universities, but still it will take. Me personally, i prefer books, though it can seem not ecologically friendly at all.