When it was announced, I was completely underwhelmed by the iPad. I felt like, other than getting the name right, Apple had dropped the ball on creating a Tablet Computer. I've owned a first generation iPod Touch for almost two years, and it has been one of the coolest devices I've ever used. It allows me to stay connected, and, in general, makes my life a lot easier. (I can check my Facebook, update my Twitter, read my e-mails, listen to music, watch videos, etc.)
When I saw the iPad, I was disappointed in how similar it was to the device I already own. I basically had in my possession an "iPad Mini." It couldn't do anything that my iPod couldn't do. I believe it all stemmed from using the iPhone OS on the device. I wanted something new and refreshing and Apple didn't really deliver. The only things that really wowed me were the A4 chip that comes installed in every iPad, and AT&T's 3G data plan. As someone who used a Tracfone for almost 8 years, I'm a big fan of pre-paid services. I like the idea of slapping down $30 if I decide I'll use the iPad a lot that month, $15 if I'll use it sparingly, or paying nothing if I just want to stick with Wi-Fi. Other than that, the iPad was "meh."
When I drove to the Apple Shop in my town I went for the exclusive purpose of "visiting the iPad." Apple had sold 300,000 units in the first day, so I figured there must be something I must be missing. I walked in and found, surprisingly, there was nobody crowded around them. I simply went over and picked one up.
I was surprised at how heavy the device was. At 1.5 pounds it had a nice weight that gave a sense of security and solidness. I wouldn't suggest playing frisbee with it, but Apple sure knows how to design their products well. I instantly slid my finger across the bottom of the lock-screen (as I had done thousands of times before on my iPod touch) and all the applications came flying in... but something was different. This device had a smoothness and responsiveness to it that was unmatched by the iPod sitting in my pocket. Applications took next to no time to load. Everything was just there, ready to go, at my fingertips. The screen looked beautiful, and for some unknown reason, I felt a sort of hum in my fingers whenever I touched it.
I opened one application after another, plugging through iPad exclusives and iPhone apps alike. Every application was designed intuitively. An idiot could pick this thing up and know exactly how to use it. I would describe the feeling as being similar to when I switched from PC to Mac. I was genuinely happy using the iPad. It was simple, intuitive, and fun. What excited me the most, was the Netflix application, and it's ability to stream tons of movies right to the device. Hello boredom killer!
I played with the iPad for just about half an hour, and got a good grasp of what it could do. I had entered the store not wanting one, and I had left not being able to live without it. Now that I've had a little time to stand back and reflect, there are a few shortcomings that I want to "touch" on.
The first shortcoming, is the iPad's lack of flash support. I understand that Steve Jobs firmly believes that the future of the internet lies with HTML5, but honestly it is not as predominant as it needs to be to justify NOT having flash on the device. I'm as much of a fan of phasing out flash as the next guy, but right now, it's not doable. ESPECIALLY if you're going to tout this product as the definitive way to experience the internet. Blue bricks don't cut it, Steve.
My second complaint lies with the lack of a web cam. I hadn't gotten into video chatting until September of last year, but now I can't see myself living without it. Skype has used both the iPhone and iPod touch as platforms, and I would have really liked to see video support on the iPad. The entire design SCREAMS video chat. I'm assuming Apple made a conscious decision to leave it out in order to sell better iterations of the iPad down the line, and honestly if a third-party releases a web-cam that plugs into the 30-Pin connector, I probably wouldn't mind having a first generation model.
All in all, I'll probably buy an iPad. I'm already saving up my clams to get one. That being said, I can't decide whether or not I should wait for the bigger and better models which will probably be out late next year.
Is the lack of flash support a deal breaker? Probably not, but the web cam might be. I'll probably end up getting a 3G model as soon as I can afford it. Hopefully, by that time, a Hulu app will be out, and some sort of 3rd party web-cam will be in the works.
Now that the initial "wow-factor" has worn off, I plan on taking another trip to visit the iPad very soon. I definitely want to get a second impression of the device, but I wouldn't mind dreaming a little. I'll be sure to post an update if my mind is changed any.
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