Re-Thinking the iPad- I've Slept on It!

Well, I actually didn’t sleep with an  iPad  under my pillow last night but perhaps we came across as a little too anti-iPad on our BlogTalkRadio segment.  But who could blame us, after all, we’re Geeks!

We were all expecting super-iPad that would cater to all the needs of Dorkdome: Flash,Multi-tasking,a camera, phone capabilities, less of a bezel and true widescreen (is it even 4:3?), a DisplayPort ( instead of VGA output) perhaps.Truly to us, geeks, this is not the netbook killer that Steve Jobs vehemently introduced at the start of the event.

I roasted the iphone for being too much for an iphone or ereader experience and too little for being not quite a computer. Why couldn’t the iPad be one or the other and do it way cool? Well, I guess the answer is it is the in-between gadget “that Steve Jobs put out there. It is a tablet, not a netbook or a an e-reader So, to someone who maybe has an ok computer, doesn’t have a notebook or a netbook, doesn’t have an iphone or ipod touch  and is into portability and all the things that come with the iphone/ipod experience, yes, I admit, it could be very appealing. These in-between buyers may be inclined to eschew buying a laptop for an iPad.We certainly have been watching all the Blackberry-tethered -to-their -hand news announcers say in the past twenty four hours that they just want to rush out there and grab one.

So let me add, and reiterate some comments aimed at the new “in-between” user:

Speed: This is perhaps the most skimmed over aspect of the iPad. The speed of iPad is blazing!  This would surely quench the insatiable  thirst of the masses for faster opening and switching of apps, faster internet page loading, faster screen-rotation from landscape to vertical. And this it does. Could it be Apple’s exclusive A4 chip will change things forever?

Battery Life: If this device truly offers 10 hours of battery life, considering as we said last night, with all the bells and wifi turned off, then it will be a great internet and reading device. Power to the People.

Keyboard: Emailing could be great. The inboard touch keyboard is ample for a maybe a couple of hours of or sporadic  typing. But you know, naysayers about the iPhone experience , now say that it was easy to get used to and I can hear Tablet users and even PC users saying the same thing in the future. And, who knows, Apple may even come out eith an expanded sized tablet in the future.

Note: We watched yesterday as Steve Jobs typed with somewhat ease on his lap . I guess this is the  real lap of luxury. But, remember, this may have taken practice and may be even a bigger feat on a flat surface being that the back of the tablet is curved.

Multi-Touch: The experience on this thing is awesome. The fact that they transferred the gestures and ability to add yur own moves to games, etc… on this larger screen. I can only hope that this technology is being added to the larger Apple computers of the near future as well. Now, that would be soething.

Productivity Apps: IWork. Well I still do not favor Pages over Office when it comes to getting down to business. But let’s face it Keynote and Numbers are pretty simple and direct. Numbers with less of the toolbars and functions that only a mathematical genius can master, is especially down to earth for the in-betweener. I am not decided then, if it’s worth $10 each app(Pages, Numbers or Keynote) if there is no multitasking. I would love to be able to take notes as I scan the internet or book that I am reading.

Gaming : Okay, Okay, the iphone apps were not that great looking yesterday but benefit of the doubt, the developers did not have much time. Despite the non widescreen I am sure the resolution issues will be fixed before the actual tablet release. But the A4 chip was fast.

E-Reading: It is not exactly the Kindle-killer yet as the prices for books are not leveraged out. The publishers set them. But the iBook store, very clever. And you know, we complained about the iPad not having eInk but when you think of the general reader who wants the feel of the real book, the ipad has color and good backlight. Even the pages are like a real book and pictures can be embedded in the pages not just on the cover.

Newspaper; Now I am still disappointed after all of Apple’s bluster about  all it’s deals with syndicated news publishers that the New York Times (arguably the best but most expensive news subscription) was the only one featured. Granted, the app that the New York Times offered up was most wonderful. Let’s hope that other syndicated magazines are on the same track. It would be nice to read Time, Newsweek or even MacLife for the in betweeners.

Phone Capability: For those savvy and open to it, VOIP is possible on the iPad with its microphone (and earphone?) capabilities.Something I did not consider last night.

3G Access (Which remember boys and girls will not be available for 90 days, unlike plain old wifi which will be available in 60 days): I find it fair as compared to other carriers that AT&T will offer 250MB data for only $15 a month and unlimited for $30 with no contracts with an unlocked SIM slot. with the unlocked feature ,as Jamie mentioned last evening, you could switch in other carriers’ SIM cards. Hmmm…If you do not want to wait for 3G you can always drive find a route or mode of transportation (as some city buses do)  that offers a free wifi hot spot assuming that you already have AT&T access.

But, here’s a thought. T-mobile, the only other carrier with true GSM 3G might even come out with a cheaper version of the iPad in the future???

Accessories: Last night, we questioned what the additional cost of the accessories(everyone has to have the accessories)  mentioned at the iPad event might incur. Upon searching this morning I found that the folks at iLounge posted these and their prices.

• Keyboard dock =$70

• Case (which they reported as flimsy)=$40

• SD/USB Connection Kit= $30

• VGA Display Adapter=$30

• Want Them All?=$170

So for all of us Geeks, techies, Dorks,Technologists or whatever you prefer   out there, perhaps, unless we have oodles of money to purchase yet another new “toy”, this is not for us. But do not underestimate the “in-betweens” who have ever owned the likes, might just need to buy this awesome gadget.

Think about it. If some of the technologies employed on this iPad were to be in development for use in “real” Mac computers, this could be great for us as well.