Joshie.com

I know I said the iPad was a dud for me. I based that on my hopes and dreams that the iPad would be running OS X rather than just being a giant iPod Touch. As time has passed, and any hope of a full OS X tablet has gone away, I have thought more about the whole thing. I'm not as negative about the iPad any more. I love my iPhone. I could never replace my iPhone with an iPad, but I definately could see myself keeping an iPad on the coffee table instead of my MacBook Pro to read news and email. I am not sure how many people will find that the iPad fills a need. It's more like an extra device to have around the house to quickly look something up. For those that have said it's perfect for cooking I really have to disagree. I'm not putting a $500 - $900 device on the counter with my mess I make when cooking. My standard practice is to print out recipies because then the paper can get all nasty without my computer getting nasty. I still can't see the 3G model being worthwhile. Partially because it is AT&T and partially because of the $15 - $30 monthly data fee. Just get a MiFi so your laptop or your iPad could both get online anywhere. No point in paying AT&T for service you can't even share out beyond the iPad.

So I think I'll use the iPad. I probably won't read books on it. I still love my Kindle for that. I don't want a backlit screen shining in my eyes when I read. I don't want to have to constantly remember to charge the iPad to read a book on the ferry to work when my Kindle lasts 2 weeks. I'm not going to use the iPad for music because honestly I have my iPhone for that. It really is just a device to post on my blog, read my email, and check out news. I'll never agree that the thing is magical or revolutionary. The iPhone was revolutionary. The iPad is evolutionary. Maybe if the iPad had a camera for Skype, could sync wirelessly like AppleTV, allowed background applications, and cost about $200 less I would say it was revolutionary. Hopefully it won't become another hobby project for Apple like the AppleTV has become. AppleTV is a sad little device that could have been so much more. My TiVO fills all my needs with Netflix, Amazon Video, Rhapsody, Blockbuster, and that it's a full DVR supporting Cable Cards. If only Apple had the wisdom to build out something as nice as TiVO.

So if you are going to buy an iPad go for the 64Gb WiFi model. I believe that's the best option of them all. Stay away from AT&T's 3G and get a Verizon or Sprint MiFi for your data service.

So the iPad was announce today. I watched the press briefing and had hopes for a real tablet that could run Snow Leopard. Instead I see a 9.7" iPod Touch that is overpriced and redundant when you already have an iPhone. Why would I pay AT&T more money for their shit network to run this device? Apple plays like they know how bad AT&T is, but they stay with AT&T anyway. It's like they are a couple and AT&T is the brain damaged jock who beats his cute cheerleader girlfriend, but she stays with him anyway for some demented reason. Come on Apple... AT&T? Are you serious?

Watching the video on the iPad site you'll see Jonathan Ive saying the iPad is "magical" and "exceeds your ability to understand how it works." That is when I say Apple has jumped the shark. This is just absurd. The new device would maybe be useful if priced at $100 with $5/month service but that's about all I'd pay for it. I certainly wouldn't pay $499 for the low end model that doesn't include 3G, and $829 for the high end model including 3G. Nor would I pay for anything in the middle. Add to that either $15 or $30 a month for data and you must be kidding me.

As a device with a 9.7" screen can you imagine trying to read your email on the bus with the big screen? It's hard enough for me to tilt my iPhone away from prying eyes. Now I'll have twice the screen to try and tilt away from others. The iPhone is perfect for the bus, and my laptop is perfect for the plane. I just don't see a need for this in-between device the way Apple made it, and by making a new form factor they are splintering application development once again. Now there is the option to make an app for the Mac, iPhone/iPod Touch, Classic iPods, or iPad. It's just too much, and Apple constantly changes things so with every generation of Operating System on each there are things you need to change to keep working. Was there really a need to now have an additional class of applications?

Add to that a complete lack of camera so forget about video Skype, and also no background apps so forget about listening to Pandora or Last.fm while you work on email. The typing experience can't be all that wonderful since they built a dock with keyboard for this when Apple never did that for the iPhone. The claim has always been that the soft keyboard is the best, and now Apple has made a physical keyboard. That would seem contrary to their previous assertion that the soft keyboard is the best you can do. 

I vote NO to purchasing the iPad. That's my opinion anyway. I love Apple products, but this one is a dud for me.