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iPad first impressions

alg_ipad.jpg

 Even though I didn't buy one I got to play with one in person today and I have to say it significantly changed my opinion. The responsiveness was amazing. I was unprepared to see it react that quickly to anything I did. The unit at Best Buy didn't have that many apps so I can't say the "demo" was very complete but I saw enough to know that at some point I will own one.

The size was a better fit than I had expected. I was able to use the touch screen keyboard while holding it but for someone with smaller hands that could prove difficult. There are keyboards, docks, and other accessories so but those were also absent at Best Buy.

I still believe that the biggest impact will come from the fact that the platform (iPhone OS) is something that is so familiar with so many already. The larger format just brings a host of new options and enhancements. The MLB2010 app on the iPad was amazing. It added a lot more functionality to the app I am used to on the iPhone. The connection at the store was flaky so checking out websites wasn't very successful.

Waiting to hear other thoughts..

A few reviews to check out:

ENGADGET: 

CNET: 

PCWorld / Harry McCracken:  

 

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Posted 3 months ago

MacHeist nanoBundle

via macheist.com

Great way to support charity and get a great deal on some Mac software.

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Posted 4 months ago

Apple iPad - The Good and Bad

Well the dust has settled and after talking a better look, I think Apple left a lot on the table with this product.

The Bad:

  1. Screen.   It's a 1024x768 resolution (4:3 - non wide screen)  which I haven't see on a laptop, Netbook or desktop in years.    So you buy an HD (or SD) version of your favorite movie or TV show and get to watch it with black bars?     What in the heck where they thinking?  
  2. On Screen Keyboard.    Watching the videos of Steve holding this thing on his lap to type reminded me of the first time I used my Acer One netbook.   I had to put my knees together just to hold it up and typing with 2 adult hands was not comfortable at all.   This was their chance to change the world - again with a new user interaction method and instead we ended up with a "super size" iPhone.     
  3. No Flash support.    Still?    Really?   What is so hard about this problem?   Pay someone some $$ and get it done already.   More than likely this is an turf war of some sort between Steve and Adobe.     It's bad enough when I can't see flash on my iPhone but on something that is supposed to be my one-stop shop for information it's just a nail in the coffin.     The fact that they didn't use NVIDIA's Tegra or Ion platforms to hardware decode flash was a tip off but this isn't going to be the sweet "media" device that I was hoping for.    No Hulu...   :-(
  4. Price point.    Sure at $499 that sounds like a great deal but check out the one with WiFi/3G and the 64GB SSD - $829.   Ouch...    
  5. No camera.   Skype, iChat AV are out.   My $250 Acer Netbook has a camera, they can't be that expensive.    With the size of that bezel, I they had plenty of room for it.
  6. AT&T.   I already want to gouge out my eyes with my iPhone because of AT&T's network.   They have officially taken over the 1st place spot from Comcast on  my list of companies I wish would burn to the ground.    I have full bars - everywhere.   Yet for some reason, I can't be on a call for more than 5-10 minutes without the call going into the toilet.    Doesn't matter where I am, or what I'm doing.   Their network might as well be made of cans and string at this point.   I guess the good news is that the pricing of $14.99 for 250MB/month will match up well with the quality of their network....    
  7. iWork.   Why in the world did they waste their time making iWork function on an oversized iPhone?    Spend that time on the main user interaction model instead...    View a PPT, Doc, or XLS is great but do you really think someone is going to use a touch interface to edit a spreadsheet?    
  8. Mono?  I'm not 100% sure but I only see one speaker.    My iPhone has stereo, why can't this thing? 
  9. No multi tasking.    I can't listen to Pandora while I browse the web.   I can't answer an SMS and read email.   I can't read a book and get an email alert.    Wow...   Lame.   See points below.
  10. No "Today" screen / "Lock" screen.   No way for me to see important data without turning it on and unlocking it.    Want to see upcoming calendar events?   Emails?    Weather?   Nope.

The Good:

  • It's based on the iPhone 3.2 OS.   How long before it's hacked?   :-)     # 9 & 10 are solved.
  • I can use my "modified" iPhone and bluetooth to get the WiFi only version only and only pay AT&T one time for their horrible network.
  • Works with all the iPhone apps.    Hopefully they have a better way to manage the apps.
  • This may be a huge push by Apple to get into the College market again.    I can see university's requiring new freshmen to own one (or giving them one) and all text books, assignments, classwork is done on the device with free WiFi.   Could be huge.
  • Might be a stretch but this could be a decent platform for large enterprise use if modified into a more durable shell.    
The Unknown:
How will this impact iPod Touch, iPhone and Mac Book sales?  I still don't see them coming out with a Netbook level product but this will impact their existing product lines in some way.   I think the keyboard is going to be the biggest success factor.    If the on-screen keyboard blows (I think it may) then this product will limited appeal.    Will someone develop a case/shell that can hold a Bluetooth keyboard so it' almost become a Netbook when you want to do some serious finger dancing?    We'll have to wait until March to fine out.   

I still want one.   Donations accepted.     

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Posted 6 months ago