I just got back from checking out the iPad at the local Apple store. A few things:
- While I certainly wouldn’t call it heavy, it definitely isn’t light. I wouldn’t want to have to hold it along the edge for a long time, however when I held the device with it’s back in the palm of my hand, it was a bit more manageable.
- Pulled up ESPN.com on the iPad. It rendered the mobile version, but that was because someone before me had already opened ESPN.com. So I’m not sure if that’s how it initially rendered or not. But when I switched it over to the normal version, wow. Video renders in HTML5. And all I want to say about that is that Flash can go to hell. HTML5 video was very cool, very seamless.
- Viewing the web in portrait mode instead of landscape mode was awesome. Those who use an iPhone are already used to this on a smaller scale. But to see it on the iPad is very awesome. I actually use a spare monitor at work in portrait mode, and for the web I find it much more functional. It’s great to be able to see more of a web page from top to bottom.
- iPhone apps run in 2x mode work fine, but are pretty pixelated. iPad-specific apps are going to be the bread and butter.
- All of the native apps from Apple have the polish you would expect. The design and interface of the iPod application is very fresh. It is, without a doubt, a step forward for the touch interface, compared to what we currently see with the iPhone.
- The overlay menus (which are pretty much non-existent on iPhone) are very intuitive and helpful on iPad.
- iBooks application is cool enough. Not enough to be the only reason I would buy the thing. But there is an option to select text and highlight it. You can highlight in multiple colors. Seems like that would be great for school. Not sure if text is searchable in iBooks.
- You have to connect the iPad to a computer after unboxing to get started (I know this not because I bought one – I didn’t – but because I read it on MacRumors). If this is supposed to be a potential replacement for some people’s primary computer, I’m not sure how they’re going to make that work after unboxing.
- Did I mention yet that HTML5 will kill Flash video? Not Flash, but Flash video. Yeah, it will.
- Touching this thing, and interacting with it, just feels so natural. Once I had my iPhone for a while, I would find myself using my laptop or friends’ cell phones and wanting to touch the screen to interact (and being perturbed when it didn’t react). Using the iPad and touching to interact with everything just feel right. I have no doubt at all that this will be Apple’s entry into bringing more devices to the market with touch interface.
- After using the iPad for about 10 minutes, going back to my iPhone seemed quaint and small.
My dad came with me to check the thing out. Actually, he was sitting on the couch, looking drowsy after we had played a few holes of golf midday. Basically, my dad was about two minutes away from nap time. I asked if he wanted to go with me. ”Sure, otherwise I’m going to fall asleep.” My dad likes tech stuff, but he also likes naps. I was kind of surprised that he joined me.
After checking the thing out, my dad was totally excited about the iPad. ”The ads don’t do it justice. You have to use it to really get it.” I think that’s one of the reasons that Apple is so successful, and why people love Apple. How many products exist where you see the ad, and the company totally overplays the product, and then you use it and you’re underwhelmed. A lot. But to come in, and know pretty much all there is to know about the product, and use it and still have your expectations exceeded? That’s the special sauce.
