The Apple iPad Revisited
Last January,
Steve Jobs, founder of Apple
introduced the iPad to the world. But it
wasn't until the last two weeks that the
iPad was actually available to consumers.
For those who are still in the technology
dark ages, the iPad is a handheld tablet that
is a larger version of the iPhone without
the telephony feature.
Apple's tablet, the iPad, is a device
that fits between a smartphone and a laptop,
said CEO Steve Jobs.
Now that I've gotten my hands on
an iPad, I can honestly say it is a wonder
and a totally different way to experience
the web that the traditional computer,
laptop (notebook) and netbook (those small
laptops that yearn to be a real computer one
day), which I have all.
It all begins with the feel. The iPad feels
cool in your hands, the silver metal back in
contrast with the glass screen is a contrast
in sensations in your hands.
One noticeable difference between an iPad
that any other portable computer is that,
like the iPhone, you turn it on and it is
instantly ready to work.
My netbook, an Asus EEE, takes a couple of
minutes to get the Windows log in screen
from cold boot to a minute or so "sleep".
The iPad is ready in less than 5 seconds.
Viewing videos and photos is an experience
like no other. The images are crisp and can
be resized with the movement of two fingers
working together. If you are an iPhone user
you can relate. If not, you will have to
experience it for yourself to understand the
power in your hands.
What makes the iPad work are programs called
"Apps". And there are hundreds and thousands
of apps available, free and pay, offering a
slew of games, utilities, business tools and
not good for anything other than to fill
your screen with apps.
Users of the iPhone already experience many
of the features of the iPad, like the Safari
browser and iTunes.
The iPad will run most of the iPhone Apps
and includes iBooks,
an electronic book reader. The world will
change its way of reading books.
One of the most important features of the
iPad is its battery life. Apple claims 10
hours of use, not counting standby. I got
better on my first day, as I just couldn't
put it down.
The iPad comes in various versions, the
16GB, 32GB and 64GB with wi-fi and the soon
to be released the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB with
wi-fi and 3G.
For users in Costa Rica best avoid the 3G
option as the iPad uses a mini SIM card that
is not available in Costa Rica, so you will
be disappointed paying for a feature that
may be some time before ICE complies with a
minis SIM system.
A novel idea, one which I didn't get around
to doing since I was too busy taking in the
new way of surfing, is using a 3G iPhone to
broadcast a signal that can then be picked
up by the iPad and you now have a wi-fi iPad
connecting to the internet wherever there is
a 3G cell signal.
The iPhone, by way of special Apps, is
turned into a router broadcasting a signal
to which the iPad can connect by either
bluetooth or wi-fi. (More on that once I get
it going).
Now for the down side. The iPad is not a
substitute for a notebook (laptop) or
netbook, as it does not have a hard drive to
save files, like photos or pages from the
internet. As well it comes only with little
memory, so storage of large volumes of data
is impossible. This is were Cloud computing
comes in with its ability to store files and
data online.
Also it takes some time to get used to the
online keyboard, typing on a glass surface
rather than spring loaded keys takes some
adjusting.
But the worst of all, the iPad promotes bad
habits, like slouching on the couch or
laying in bed while surfing the net,
listening to music or watching videos. The
iPad can also disconnect you from your loved
ones, the addiction keeps you plugged in
rather than tuned in.
The other negative is the price. Starting at
$499 plus taxes and all costs to get it to
Costa Rica, it can be an expensive toy.
As a friend out it the other day, the iPhone
is a need - we all need a cellular phone
nowadays - but the iPad is a want. And
expensive one at that.
Will I recommend it?
Yes. No doubt it is a piece of
technology that will soon be the the norm.
When can I get one?
If you are in the US at any Apple or Apple
approved retailer. If not, then eBay and
other websites or a friend who is the US.
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