The iPad is certainly another marvelous inception from Apple. Though this 10-inch upgrade of the iPhone may look like just another conventional tablet, think again. It’s soon to dethrone the popular netbooks and might give companies like Asus, Acer and Dell a run for their money if they don’t create similar and more powerful devices.
For first impressions, when it’s not turned on, it looks like a dull slab of metal. But after careful examination, the iPad’s dimensions and matte aluminum finish are perfect for one-hand gripping and viewing. The marginally wide black bezel also serves as the border to the touch screen so you can rest your fingers on the outer edges of the screen with comfort, without accidentally activating any touch controls.
The virtual keyboard, though a bit unpopular with the masses, is very pleasing, aesthetically, and is a great tool for blogging your thoughts away while on the go or if you don’t want to turn on your laptop/PC. People with big fingers might find discomfort using them but it won’t take long for one to get used to it. It lacks a few alphanumeric characters, since the screen size can’t accommodate all of the keys, given the size of the iPad. But tapping and holding the key displays will display the additional characters. What you can for the meantime, however, is purchase the Keyboard Dock accessory from Apple because the iPad does not have any built-in USB ports/SD card slots that support UPNP devices. External adapters, however, may pave the way for better accessories in the future.
You can view the latest accessories for the iPad at http://www.apple.com/ipad/accessories/.
But the main reason why the iPad is such a hit with the masses is that it offers vibrant and crisp image quality under normal lighting scenarios (you just have to tweak the brightness a bit when you’re under the sun) – courtesy of the LED backlight (responsible for the dynamic contrast ratios); a 1024×768 resolution (not bad, since it runs on iPad Apps ; and the utility-wise black bezel (to give the screen borders where you can lay your fingers on ) – all those features sum up to a great product.
Apple’s signature stainless steel back plate has gone aluminum for the iPad for weight-reduction (a mere 1.5 lbs.) and more importantly, heat insulation purposes, since it’s going to rest on your palm for the remainder of its life and you definitely don’t want to get burn marks while holding it.
The headphone jack, volume rocker and screen position lock are three other features you should take note of. The screen position lock keeps the display to stay in portrait/landscape mode (helpful if you tilt the device a lot). Pressing and holding the volume rocker’s top/bottom switch will let you increase/decrease the volume.
On iTunes, the iPad has an interface similar to the iPhone. Songs, audio books and podcasts purchased from the iTunes store will play great and the iTunes store will also detect your screen resolution, so you won’t end up with pixilated album art.
On HD content and video playback, the 1024×768 resolution will not play full 1080p and 720p HD videos. 576p and 480p videos can only be played if the iPad is connected to a TV or a projector, via use of Apple’s Composite & Component Video Cables or Dock Connector to VGA Adapter.
Overall, the iPad is a great device, though the lack of the features below will be a major disappointment to utilitarian users:
1.) Stylus for handwriting recognition
2.) Two front-end USB port
3.) Internal SD card slot
4.) GPS
5.) Internal front-facing camera for teleconferences
6.) SIM card slot
Though not the full-featured device you’d expect from Apple, it’s a trendy way to communicate and browse the internet, blog your thoughts, play games, and listen to music while on the go, given the gracious 8 hours of expected average battery life. If you’re a trendsetter, this will be the perfect way to show off how tech-savvy you really are. Just don’t forget to purchase the optional iPad Case if you want added protection for your gadget.
The iPad starts at $499 and can be purchased right now through either Amazon or the Apple Store. The 3G version will be available on the latter part of April 2010.
