Why You Want an iPad (A Reality Review)

By: William Armstrong (Contributing Editor)

I know that right now, many of you are wondering why we chose now to write a review. After all, didn’t the iPad come out like under three months ago? A little belated, to say the least! Well, there is a method to our madness. First of all, three months ago we weren’t giving away a bunch of free iPads (Yes, we are giving away one 64GB iPad each week!) Next, it gives us the opportunity to offer a review from a different perspective. Most of the reviews you have seen on other tech websites had only a brief glimpse of the device and what it can do before rushing their review up on the site. Here on day 90, I can share with you the experience of using the device, because in the end, the user experience is what makes or breaks a device. So this review is for all the holdouts. All the people that wanted to be sure they were making the right choice before making such a large investment. And it is so that everyone that is eagerly hoping to win one of our iPads in our product give away will know what they are getting themselves into.

Let me first start by mentioning that I have wanted an iPad since long before they were released. Long before Steve Jobs even announced the iPad’s existence. The truth is, I have wanted an iPad ever since I saw Jean Luc Picard holding one on Star Trek: The Next Generation. I envied him, sitting in his quarters, sipping his Earl Gray tea, and reading what ever it was on the screen of his beautiful touch screen tablet. I know what you are going to say, and its true, they are quite different. But still I love the idea that powerful, portable, touch screen tablets are finally among us!

What Did I Get?

The iPad comes in 6 different flavors. Your choice of Wi-Fi only, or Wi-Fi plus 3G, and each offering a 16, 32, or 64 gig storage capacity. My first impressions of the iPad is that if felt like an old friend. After all, it uses the same basic software as the iPhone and iPod touch. This was a brilliant move on Apples part, seeing as how most of us already have some experience with these devices. Even those that never owned on have probably played with one belonging to a friend or family member. Moving from page to page is seamless and feels natural. Setting up my email and iTunes accounts were as simple as any other mobile device. Having easy access to the Apps Store was nice as well. And now after months of use, I still find myself a bit amazed at the interface. The 10-inch (9.7”) touch screen is just as brilliant as it was on day one. I will admit though, that one of Apple’s touted features, the fingerprint resistant screen, is not quite up to the hype. I find myself wiping it off almost daily.

My model is the 16 Gb Wi-Fi only, and I have not found it wanting in any areas. True, as we’ve all been raised to believe, the more the better. However, I didn’t really see the need for spending up to a thousand on the one with the most memory + extras. The nature of the iPad’s operating system allows for super fast navigation, on line and off. And in this day and age, I am never very far from a wireless Internet connection. So personally, I don’t really need the added monthly bill for 3G when everywhere I go, there’s a Wi-Fi router. I still love the built in accelerometer, which allows me to move from a portrait to landscape view seamlessly. Viewing photos and other pictures is still very enjoyable, moving to each with a brush of my finger. I have found a few great photo editing apps that occupy much of my time, making me feel like a pro with their easy interface. Media management is a breeze with iTunes. You plug into your home computer or laptop and sync your music, movies and pictures back and forth in moments.

A Few Minor Quirks:

In my time using the iPad I wish there was a USB port, or maybe an adapter to connect the 30 pin apple connector to a USB. I have found many occasions where this would have been handy. I also find the lack of flash annoying when browsing the web. Many companies have adjusted their websites to accommodate iPad users, but most have not. There is a software plug in that will simulate the flash, but it costs money to use what everyone with a windows machine gets for free. I’m sure with time, more and more sites will have adjusted to the iPad. Is it that much of a dealbreaker? Not at all. Unless of course the iPad is your one and only computer, but let’s face it, most iPad owners have a home computer.

Being an IT professional, I tried very hard to see whether or not the iPad could replace a laptop as a workstation. After a 3 month evaluation I have found that the iPad is a great tool to have available for business, but should not be your only computer. The first and most obvious reason is that you need a computer with an iTunes account to transfer much of the data. The iWork suite, similar to Microsoft’s Office suite is a great addition to your iPad and will help keep you in the loop and productive while on the go. The three programs offered are Pages, a MS Word alternative, Numbers, for Excel, and Keynote, Apple’s answer to Power point. A great feature of these programs is they can open and save files as Office documents, so there are no compatibility issues. Creating documents is more of a challenge than opening them. Typing with one hand while holding the iPad in the other is a trick in itself. I highly recommend purchasing a stand and wireless keyboard if typing documents is going to be a regular occurrence. Fortunately, and not surprisingly, apple offers both products for purchase on their website. And this is not just speculation, as this very review you are reading was written on my iPad!

Reality Grade:

The few minor annoyances I have found have in no way detracted from the value of the iPad as both a business tool, and entertainment device. Apple has definitely delivered a game changing piece of equipment, again. Just as the iPhone changed the face of cell phones, the iPad is changing the personal computer world. With all of the features that the iPad does not offer, like USB, Ethernet, web cams, etc… there is still, a full quarter year after its release, not a comparable product on the market. Every major company is working hard trying to release an “iPad Killer”. Still no one has stepped up to the plate. The iPad is a device with staying power, much like most Apple products. Even when new tablets do come out, they are still going to be defined by how they compare to Apples offering. Those who are waiting for something better are missing out on a truly remarkable piece of technology. Those who are about to get their own iPad are in for an experience they are going to enjoy and remember for years to come. Or at least until the strategically planned next-gen release comes, in which case I don’t doubt the hordes of seasoned Apple fans wouldn’t mind purchasing the upgrade.