Okay, this is probably only a code Yellow, maybe a nice Sunset but not a full-on Orange Alert. (Yes I am going to make you read my last blog post to get the “joke.”)
Apple announced its “poorly” named iPad today and low and behold, the earth kept on rotating on its axis.
Everyone hasn’t gotten a free pony, cancer has not been cured, pigs haven’t flown, hell hasn’t frozen over. No wait those last two ACTUALLY HAPPENED. (Geaux Saints!) I for the record went out to dinner and a movie with friends, then came home to read a few of the gagillion reports.
First several iPad related tweets and links I clicked, all pans with some valid points.
Picking Some BIG Nits
- The iPad can’t walk, talk and chew gum at the same time. Okay but how many of us really do that much at once, i.e the much ballyhooed multi-tasking that the iPhone can’t do either? Sure it would be great to listen to music, while reading a book, while keeping the Twitter client open. It’s effective time-management, if not efficient battery management.
- The iPad will have the staying power of a fart in the wind. The more you want something to do, at the same time, the more it’ll kill your battery. It’s nothing new but to be really useful, a mobile device like this needs to work a full-day without requiring a recharge.
- The iPad will hold you hostage, making the iTunes, App and iBook stores your only crack dealers. From what I can tell, this one is even more true of the Apple iPad than say the Amazon Kindle or Sony e-reader. Sure they all have their proprietary formats, but if the iPad won’t let you transfer your own PDF files (or PDF ebooks bought from small, online publishers) than yes, it’s even more restrictive.
Some of the WHAT DID YOU EXPECT gripes
- The iPad is not a laptop or netbook, but a touch screen tablet forces you to actually touch it without a keypad. No witty rejoinder; if you need a physical keypad, stick with your Crackberry laptop or netbook.
- The iPad is not a home theater system. Doesn’t have full 1080p, cannot run your 60″ plasma screen, and requires lots of extra doodads to hook it to anything.
- Internet access via cellular connection will cost money, in terms of the product and a service plan. And horror of horrors, you gotta give than money to AT&T, a valid complaint for a lot of people but still…
Hey, There’s Hype Too
- The iPad may be more than just a serviceable e-book reader.
- The iPad prices were low-ish, by Apple standards. But of course, they go up.
- The iPad has potential. Damning praise, but there is room to grow.
Living Down to Expectations
The Apple iPad is not the Jesus Tablet, at least not yet, which is the biggest thing it has going against it. It’s a neat toy looking for its sandbox. Apple has the bar raised so high, it’s unreachable.
No one is as smart, as inventive, as game-reinventing as Apple, not even Apple. But look back on the first iPod and the first iPhone–they only got better; so too will the iPad. I can wait. FWIW.
I’m amazed. You win excellent sir.
Trying something new… to all spammers trying to use the blog for link bait… Don’t. I will remove your fake email address, and the link to your b.s. website or blog. Oh, it’s Miss!