iPad – the Magical, Evolutionary, not Revolutionary, Still Great, but still Needs More device from Apple

I asked a good friend of mine to give me his impressions of his Apple iPad.  As with any device he experienced the good, the bad, and some other stuff.  Here’s his review:

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Well, I’ve had the iPad Wi-Fi + 3G for about two months now.  What can I say about?

Love it!

My eyes don’t hurt anymore  from all the squinting   I used to  do with my iphone.

First, the GOOD: No need to learn anything new!  Chances are that the majority of Americans have walked in to an Apple store and played with an iPhone or iPod touch.  So you’re in the know.

Second, it’s the Internet in your hands not on your lap.  How neato is that?  No need to turn on your laptop, wait 5 minutes, and hope you don’t have anything obnoxious running in the background.

Third, Apple’s App store is growing and growing at a rapid rate.  If there is not an app for you …wait…seriously…there’s not an app for you?  Forget it.  I don’t even want to finish this statement.  There are over 100,000 apps in the app store and 10,000 have been made for the iPad already.  You’ll find one.

Last, for 500 bucks, your “ALL IN ONE” needs are fulfilled.  Your movies, your music, your books, etc.  Apple has really cornered the market in making their device “ALL YOU NEED”.  Call the iPad a Swiss Army Knife for the modern man (or gal).  Information has never flowed so smoothy or looked so beautiful in the palm of your hands.  Sure, people might say “Hey, I have laptop and an iPhone, why would I need that?”  The answer is simple: it’s sexy.  You’ll never feel cooler surfing and reading.  Apple knows what sells.

Next, the BAD: Where do I begin?  Oh yes, you still need a computer!  What’s the point of competing with netbooks and laptops, if your device still needs to connect to a PC or MAC. C’mon Apple!  You’re marketing this thing as the laptop replacement.  The amount of time wasted on registering, syncing and backing up can be better spent organizing my calendar.  I understand Apple wants users to backup their device but for goodness sake, let the user be responsible for a change.

Second, no Front Facing Camera.  Ahh Apple… you are so smart with your timelines.  First, we release the iPad with no front facing camera, next we release iPhone 4 with front facing camera, then, we’ll release iPad  2 with front facing camera, and last: World Domination.

Third, it’s still just a giant iPod Touch. Sure there are some differences between iPod touch and iPad, here and there, but at the end of the day, Apple took a product they already had and made it 10 times bigger. Evolutionary not revolutionary.

Apple iPad case

Last, why does Apple have to make everything so shiny and delicate?  It’s pretty but don’t drop the device two feet from the ground.  You might as well add fifty dollars to the price tag because as soon as this puppy opens out of the box you’re going to want it in a case.

With all this, the conclusion is:  No gadget device is perfect but the Apple iPad certainly comes close.

Ricardo Amell,

Guest Reviewer

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Do you own an iPad?  We’d like to know about your user experience.  Submit your comments below or drop me a note at chiefgeek@gadgetreviewworld.com.