I picked up a 32gb model in person today, like a real man. My impressions so far:
The iPad itself:
- Box design and packaging uninspired for a big important apple product. The spare Macbook batteries come in nicer packaging.
- Having to pair it up with a Mac before you can use it isn't cool. Opening it in the car only results in failure.
- Once up and running, its like the iPhone was on launch day..there's like 7 apps installed.
- It really is a huge iPhone w/o the phone. Even the buttons are all the same and in the same spots (almost).
- The screen is bigger than your hand and is gorgeous, but it collects fingerprints like the FBI.
- The built in keyboard is awesome. Apple has been weaning us off of real keyboards for years now with the chicklets. This is probably why.
- The screen is sometimes frighteningly large with apps like Google Maps, and can give you a slight dizzying sensation.
- Its fast. It'll keep up with everything your digits can throw at it.
- Battery life after owning it for nearly 12 hours is pretty great. I've gone from 88% to 61% with heavy usage (as you'd expect).
- Buying something sight-unseen is cool; I didn't know it was a picture frame too.
- Day one apps are a mixed bag. Lots of confused developers out there, but this will improved quickly I'm sure.
- The YouTube app has rudely refused to connect for me all day.
- The iBooks app is great, and the Kindle app is great too. Books wont be a problem on this thing.
- Its heavy enough to be an issue. You'll have to find a place to perch it while you use it or your arms will fall off.
- Safari in landscape mode feels like browsing on a real desktop.
- The Mail app is slightly clunky. It does everything the iPhone version does and nothing more. Unified inbox please?
- The photo app is great but the video app is essentially like the iPhone YouTube player. No big deal.
- iTunes doesn't seem like an improvement on the desktop version but I like it anyway.
- Did I mention how fast it it?
- The speed makes you wish for an OS that would allow switching between apps. Having to load Safari from Mail gets old after all this time.
- The built in speaker is decent but not stereo, which I know would be hard on a device you can rotate and use in 4 orientations.
Accessories:
- The Apple case is kind of an oddball. Great functionality, but those sharp edges get old fast. Otherwise, I like it.
- I'd have liked a cutout for the front button; its slightly obstructed by the case.
- You cant dock the iPad with the case on, and its such a bitch to get out of the case that the dock is going back.
- As I'm sure you've heard, you cant really charge it with anything but the included charger. Forget USB charging on most ports.
- The Apple Bluetooth keyboard works as advertised, but you end up longing for a mouse once its all set up.
So there you have it. My 12 hour review. My verdict so far?
The iPad is awesomely game changing. Anyone who says otherwise is just trolling. From a UI standpoint alone it must be appreciated.
Posted via email from tuf stuff
