Thoughts: Apple iPad

Posted by Alex on Jan 30, 2010 in Blog | Comments

Wednesday for many was marking the day of a new creation from Apple and i use the word ‘New’ lightly. For weeks people have been speculating what wonderful things apple are creating and instead we get this device that is very impressive but is missing several key features that we were all expecting.

Operating System: The iPad for many was to revolutionize portable computing. Say goodbye to that clunky laptop and say hello to the iPad which is ridiculously thin and runs your favourite Mac software operated on some sort of Mac OS.. but no. Instead we have an oversized version of the iPhone. When i first seen the home screen for the iPad i was really disappointed. Many speculate that the reason they didn’t design something new for it is because they are working on a 4.0 OS for the iPhone which they will release in the summer which will also be compatible with the iPad. Well it makes sense and i really hope thats the case because i think its looks bloody bland on the iPad.

Design: I can’t really complain. It’s just what i was expecting. Its looks apple like, it’s thin and it’s pretty. I think that many were hoping for a screen right up to the edge of the device but i guess that will come in time. The sizes that it comes in are quite reasonable and they have everything in you would need to run your everyday iPhone applications. I particularly like the keyboard dock that is available. I can see myself using one of those.

iBooks: This is what interested me the most. Though looking at the keynote video it doesn’t seem that the books are going to be much lower than what it would cost you to buy it on the shelf. If you’re like me i like things i can touch. When i buy something i like to have some material value to it. It will be interesting to see how it develops. Needless to say i would choose this over a Kindle any day.

Compatibility: I really think it’s awesome that you can take apps from iTunes App Store and just start using them without any modification. Though it saddens me a little because when rumours were first flying around about this device i had images in my head of people using Photoshop to create wonderful things on the iPad. Maybe one day? In the meantime this cross device compatibility is very cool. I love the 2x pixel option to enlarge to full screen and look forward to seeing what people come up with in the way of apps specifically for the iPad.

Overall i am a little disappointed. No camera (webcam), No Mac OS, No Flash etc. It’s my iPhone but bigger. Why not just have a nice laptop! Then again i am excited. I really hope that magazines go crazy with this device. I can see myself settling down with this and reading a newspaper or a magazine and being able to interact with it instead of vising a site like they shown in the beginning of the keynote. The price is incredible and really does make a big impact on my opinion of the product.

The key question being, will i buy one? The answer is.. probably. What do you think?


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  • Alex, I think you've missed a few important points. When considering Mac OS X for a computing device such as the iPad, you have to remember that's been tried before. Microsoft came out with a tablet computer that had a slightly modified version of Windows. It was an utter failure. But why? It failed because Microsoft retrofitted a user interface that was designed around the concept of mouse and a pointer. The mouse and pointer were originally created to simulate a person's finger -- to give them a new way to interact with their software. Menus, icons, clicking, right clicking and double clicking are all concepts based on the notion of a mouse and a pointer. Imagine, then, what happens when you try to replace the mouse with a touch screen. How would you right click with a touch screen? What about a click-and-drag? Those concepts are incorrect for a touch screen.

    Instead of retrofitting an old user interface designed around a mouse, Apple has decided to leverage the most successful multi-touch operating system ever: iPhone OS. Don't forget that over 40 million iPhones have been sold. Something has to be said for enormous success of multi-touch on the iPhone. Swipes, pinches, flicks and taps are intuitive. Imagine, then, how foolish Apple would have to be to kick that success to the curb when designing a brand new, multi-touch based computer.

    I think many people aren't thinking about the difficulty of designing a touch-based tablet computer. Apple has hit one out of the park with the iPad. Don't believe me? Go to an Apple store and give one a try. It'll change your mind.
  • Thanks for your thoughts. I certainly see where your coming from. I must admit that when I first seen the iPhone 3GS I was not that impressed, but now I love the thing! Maybe it will be the same with the iPad.

    The main point I'm making is that it was not what many had hoped for. I look forward to trying one for myself.
  • theunsanitarynapkin
    "Many speculate that the reason they didn’t design something new for it is because they are working on a 4.0 OS for the iPhone which they will release in the summer which will also be compatible with the iPad. Well it makes sense and i really hope thats the case because i think its looks bloody bland on the iPad."

    You seriously believe Apple would release their next bet in computing without being clear on how they want to present it? There's no way iPhone OS will radically change the way the tablet user interface.

    Will I buy one? Definitely. Apple has cleared all doubts by that rock bottom price.
  • "You seriously believe Apple would release their next bet in computing without being clear on how they want to present it? There's no way iPhone OS will radically change the way the tablet user interface."

    You were saying! I win! 4.0 in the fall!
  • I don't believe it will radically change but i think it will improve the appearance of the OS and hopefully introduce things like multi tasking and more customization. If you read articles from reliable sources many are pointing towards a hold off in OS design because of 4.0 release in the summer.
  • theunsanitarynapkin
    Hold your horses. You were talking about a different tablet user interface, because the current one looks bland and iPhone-like. I said 4.0 won't change that. It doesn't. It still looks iPhone-like, and that's fine. You lose, I win.

    Btw, nice new look. Like it.
  • Thank you! :) Okay well lets call it a draw then! lol
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