First Impressions of the New Apple iPad
It’s about the software, stupid. While all sorts of commentators were focusing on how much Apple’s new $499 iPad tablet computer looks like an oversized iPhone, the key to whether it can be the first multi-function tablet to win wide public acceptance probably lies in whether consumers perceive it as a suitable replacement for a laptop in key scenarios. And that, in my view, depends heavily on the software and services that flow through its handsome little body.
I have only spent a short time hands-on with the iPad–too short to fully run it through its paces and formally review it yet. But, after attending the rollout of the new device today, and trying out some of its features for myself, I have some first impressions.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs positioned the iPad as belonging to a new category of device between the smartphone and the laptop (since the netbook, in his view and mine, is really just a small, cheap laptop). But, as the demos unfolded, I kept thinking it was more like a hybrid of the two.
It uses the iPhone’s basic user interface and physical design. But, taking advantage of a 9.7″ screen and a fast Apple-designed processor, the iPad adds some user interface elements and functionality that aren’t available–or at least typical–on smart phones, but look more like computer software. For instance, its photo program works more like iPhoto on a Mac than the photo app on an iPhone, and it will be available with a touch version of Apple’s iWork productivity suite, which is Apple’s take on Microsoft Office. This is a much more powerful program than the phone-based office suites for the iPhone or BlackBerry, and Apple (AAPL) is only charging $30 for it.
Also, Apple has rewritten most of the core iPhone apps so they look more like, and have more of the features of, Mac or PC programs. But they aren’t mere clones of full computer apps. For instance, many forego standard menus for clever overlays and sidebars that work more naturally with the iPad’s multi-touch interface. Other app developers can do this, too. But, even if they don’t, the company said the iPad will run most of the current 140,000 iPhone apps, either in a small window on the screen, or in a full-screen mode. That’s a huge plus for a new device.
Mr. Jobs said after the onstage program ended that he sees the iPad’s user interface as a fuller expression of the one on the iPhone, which had been limited by screen real estate.
And, although the reported video and music streaming services were nowhere to be seen at this preview, Mr. Jobs did offer a taste of how the iPad could deliver content, beyond simply downloads from the iTunes store. He showed off a new e-book reader app with built-in online book store that, visually at least, blew away the Amazon (AMZN) Kindle, even if it seemed to lack all of the Kindle’s features and may have a smaller catalog. Representatives of the New York Times (NYT) showed an iPad digital version of their newspaper that seemed vastly more usable than the clumsy version now on the Kindle and its ilk.
So, the iPad is more than just a giant iPod Touch or iPhone, even though it looks like one. But the question is, will that be enough to get consumers to shell out for it, and make it part of their daily lives? Or will it be a niche product, like Microsoft’s (MSFT) Tablet PC or Mr. Jobs’ own Apple TV?
On the plus side, the device is handsome, feels comfortable and solid to hold, and has all that beautiful software built in. Oh, and it’s amazingly low-priced for an Apple product, with that modest $499 price tag for a base version with 16 gigabytes of memory and Wi-Fi, but no cell phone data connectivity. (A fully loaded model with 64 gigabytes, Wi-Fi and a no-contract 3G cellular data plan is $829, and there are variations in between.)
It also boasts a decent 10 hours of battery life, and Mr, Jobs told me after the event that, for some functions, like playing video and music, the battery should last even longer.
But there are minuses. First, since it’s too big to go in a pocket, people might perceive it as just another thing to carry around, despite the fact that it’s only a half inch thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds. It also lacks a common and popular laptop feature–a web cam. So, it can’t be used for video chats or for the creation of web videos.
Also, the carrier for the iPad’s 3G plan is the deeply unpopular AT&T–there were groans and boos among Mr. Jobs’ otherwise excited audience when this was announced. AT&T is offering bargain prices for iPad data service compared to what it charges laptop owners. But its network is overwhelmed in many big cities and many iPhone lovers, who are strong candidates to buy an iPad, curse the carrier daily.
Finally, while it’s too early for me to say without lots of testing, the size of the iPad’s virtual keyboard may be a liability. I found it almost too wide for thumb typing, and a colleague who’s a whiz at touch typing and tried it briefly found it awkward to type on. Apple is offering an auxiliary physical keyboard that docks with, and charges, the iPad. But you won’t want to lug that around.
Still, the software looked impressive, and that could help Steve Jobs do the one thing even he has never done in an amazing career: get the public to love not just a better version of an existing type of gadget, but a whole new category of gadget.
Comments
@Walter,
Posted by davebarnes at January 28th, 2010 at 2:22 amThe plural of scenario is scenari. The word is Italian.
,dave
With AT&T in the game, I am out of the game, no matter how sexy this thing is.
Posted by nedparks at January 28th, 2010 at 2:53 amhttp://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scenario
Not according to webster, maybe you should check your sources next time before you jump the gun grammar police.
Posted by Gogo001 at January 28th, 2010 at 3:42 amHow could Jobs not have insisted that a Web cam be included in 1st Generation?!? You're going to sit on the couch using the thing … but you can't conduct a video chat? I've assumed that it's bluetooth-enabled, even at $499 base product … but w/o web cam, maybe I shouldn't assume anything …
Posted by William J Brown at January 28th, 2010 at 4:17 amPerhaps I'm an outlier, but this perfectly fits a niche use for me—surfing the web on the sofa, reading in bed, using online recipes in the kitchen, showing videos or other cool web things to family members. My laptop is too awkward and bulky for that, my iPhone is too small. I can see a family having one or two of these lying around the house for shared use. I think the form factor and the apps are very important and that people will find many uses for this, even without leaving the house. My 13-year-old iTouch-owning son is dying for one. I only wish it supported Flash video and had a wireless charging pad.
Posted by mediagrunt at January 28th, 2010 at 4:25 amI think the fact he had to sit down to type the demo was interesting. Its size makes this a keyboard I can only use while it is in my lap or on a tabletop (not easily thumbable with petite hands like mine). It will be hard to stand and type.
Also, if it is the iPhone interface, but runs iWorks, is the print command enabled in the UI for any email attachments or photos, let alone iWorks files? I'm wondering if at this size, and with the apps demo'd, if printing might be more likely.
I also
Posted by gearheadgal at January 28th, 2010 at 4:26 amI think the fact he had to sit down to type the demo was interesting. Its size makes this a keyboard I can only use while it is in my lap or on a tabletop (not easily thumbable with petite hands like mine). It will be hard to stand and type.
Also, if it is the iPhone interface, but runs iWorks, is the print command enabled in the UI for any email attachments or photos, let alone iWorks files? I'm wondering if at this size, and with the apps demo'd, if printing might be more likely.
I also
Posted by gearheadgal at January 28th, 2010 at 4:26 amscenarii, surely, if scenario was the Latin root, but in fact that would be scenarium, which is not the current form, of which the plural is scenarios in current dictionaries.
Meanwhile why a netbook sized tablet with 16GB memory when a netbook sized laptop-tablet should cost about the same or less with 120 GB, if someone else started making it? Just be a bit thicker with the keyboard spun around on it hinge and stowed behind the screen.
Posted by textgenie at January 28th, 2010 at 5:14 amWalt,
I agree that part of the success of this is the realization of a new category. With tablets currently holding only a single digit of market share, the iPad's success remains to be seen. Nevertheless, I'm optimistic of this first version of an “in between” product, and believe that it portends the future of a computer platform. My take on it is in an article I wrote here: http://bit.ly/awqqHV
Posted by billpetro at January 28th, 2010 at 5:37 amnetbooks work great for my 12-year-old iTouch-owning son, and me
Posted by timjones17 at January 28th, 2010 at 5:53 amPerhaps the omission of the webcam enabled Apple to negotiate a lower rate for the data plan from ATT. (Less bandwidth needed.)
PS: It's forgo, not forego. (Unless you're talking about preceding.)
Posted by RogerKnights at January 28th, 2010 at 6:17 am@textgenie For me, its because of where I'll use it. I will use it on the couch, leaning back, while I watch TV. I'll use it in bed, either proped up or lying back. And the WEIGHT of it is critical. And that's what would kill a convertible for me. Plus of course virtually all of those Windows programs aren't touch enabled…
Posted by Fanfoot at January 28th, 2010 at 7:14 amIts looks perfect for mobile web surfing, readers, and compulsive bloggers.
Remember there are a lot of consumers that the iPad will be all the computer that they need.
…a little more capability than offered by an iPhone, and
for those who don't need all the capability of a laptop.
Posted by hardmanb at January 28th, 2010 at 7:28 amMeh. Underpowered. No tablet, in many cases. No touch. Close but not quite. …
Posted by mediagrunt at January 28th, 2010 at 7:45 amMeh. Underpowered. No tablet, in many cases. No touch. Close but not quite. …
Posted by mediagrunt at January 28th, 2010 at 7:49 amWill Apple iPad kill Amazon Kindle?
Posted by QualityPoint Technologies at January 28th, 2010 at 1:52 pmHow is the search function on the iPad? I own an iPod Touch and the search is beyond inferior. I don't understand how a company of Apple's caliber could blow something so fundamental. I would love to know if the iPad has improved on search. Thanks.
Posted by Nancy Miller at January 28th, 2010 at 1:59 pmRemember this is flash memory, not HDD.
Of all the things people seem to have taken for granted, the fact that the iPad turns on instantly and all apps open instantly is a really big deal.
16GB Dell Mini-9 SSD is around $70, and off-the-shelf 64GB SSD is going to set you back over $200. Then there's the caveat that no OS to make the most of flash storage better than iPhone OS… they still operate with scratch disks and clumsy file systems (which people are adept at cluttering up over time).
Posted by retroblue at January 28th, 2010 at 2:00 pmThere are elements in the 3.2 SDK (which is exclusively for iPad, not iPhone) which mention a camera, so I guess it was pulled pretty late in the day.
The same is widely believed to have happened with the lastest generation of iPod Touch. If the touch gets a camera in June, then I guess we can expect one in iPad 2.0 next year.
Personally I blame the roll-out mentality: Hold off on key features to get buyers to dig into their pockets again later on.
Posted by retroblue at January 28th, 2010 at 2:25 pmhttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scenari#Italian
Posted by davebarnes at January 28th, 2010 at 2:26 pmNo.
Posted by davebarnes at January 28th, 2010 at 2:26 pmhttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scenarii
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scenario
The plural of the ENGLISH word scenario is scenarios.
Posted by Gogo001 at January 28th, 2010 at 2:38 pmEveryone seems so surprised at the lack of a camera. Obviously Apple is just trying to placate AT&T by giving them another year to get their lame network in order enough to handle millions of people videoconferencing.
Posted by live2travel at January 28th, 2010 at 2:55 pmStill incorrect. You should learn to read more carefully. Click the discuss button on the link you sent, and you'll see that scenarios is the proper usage for most applications.
Posted by streever at January 28th, 2010 at 3:39 pmCall me arrogant but You can not read with this device more than one hour or so because of the backlight, it is not an e-ink device and does not suit the reading experience well.
Posted by robertjakobson at January 28th, 2010 at 4:49 pmI happen to spend many hours on my laptop and I find Apple do well at tempering the light with surrounding lights.
Posted by Patmania at January 28th, 2010 at 5:27 pmI don't think this would be an issue, but let's wait and see…
..apparently you've never played the vast majority of games or tried to accomplish anything that requires more than the most rudimentary of gestures — yes, some interactions can be simplified to a gesture of a finger or two, but many (most) are much more productive with a more efficient input mechanism (touch interfaces in these cases can often be more of a gimmick / trick / work around).
For the case of doing anything serious (which I would expect to be the case on something larger than the phone), touch can be a nice enhancement to another input mechanism, but it is in addition to something that doesn't require me to obscure a large portion of the screen while I interact with it or something that I can use while holding a phone or something else in my other hand. Not to mention folk with fingers too big for how an iphone records touches or other accessibility issues…
Posted by mualexander at January 28th, 2010 at 5:56 pmIntelligent point.
Posted by retroblue at January 28th, 2010 at 6:13 pmThis is why you have to rely on a standard like Websters or OED — instead of an open-source site like wiktionary where anyone could add or edit an entry.
Scenarios is plural of scenario in ENGLISH. Scenarii is plural if you are speaking ITALIAN.
Posted by johnmeister at January 28th, 2010 at 6:47 pmthey could have limited the cam use over 3g. i can see plenty of people using it through wifi, or using a photobooth like app for the device. my little siblings go nuts for that. easy entertainment while cooking dinner or the like.
Posted by Gary C at January 28th, 2010 at 7:47 pmIt's not necessarily simply a choice of buying something you had no intention of owning before.
If you were in the market for a 15″ MacBook Pro – you now have a choice of
Posted by grega at January 28th, 2010 at 10:54 pma) 15″ MacBook Pro, OR
b) 22″ iMac + iPad
Maybe that pricing is not a coincidence. But it makes me wonder about what I'll do when I replace my 15″ MBP.
I would agree, but for me, the price point is low enough that I'll certainly acquire one.
Posted by Cityhues at January 29th, 2010 at 11:41 amSir, you make a very good point.
Posted by Andy at January 29th, 2010 at 10:31 pmYou were on the Audio/Video squad in High School, weren't you?
Posted by inverse137 at January 30th, 2010 at 1:22 pmThat is the plural in the Italian language and that version of the plural has not been adopted for the English use. Dave is correct
Posted by Spaceflightengineer at January 30th, 2010 at 8:24 pmYes, really, why would you need 3G? Why pay a monthly fee? Just download and have every fully loaded via your wifi at home or work, or a coffee shop, and here you go!
Posted by thyname at January 31st, 2010 at 6:53 pmThe Wikipedia page you refer us to says it's non-standard:
scenarii pl
(nonstandard, rare)
This is off-topic, and it's unfair to people whose first language is not English, like Americans.
Posted by JohnDoey at February 2nd, 2010 at 6:04 pmInteresting. I didn't know the mac mini could run a standard PC (i.e. cheap) keyboard, mouse and monitor. That changes my view somewhat.
I had previously dismissed it because it's a pretty modest box in PC terms for the money, and I was mentally adding on the cost of a monitor, keyboard and mouse.
Hmmmm….
Posted by megaresp at February 3rd, 2010 at 4:03 amThanks for your response. I completely understand your position. It is just not mine. I have a mac book air, a max book pro and cinema screens for all computers. Mac's are special because of design – both functional and aesthetic. People are willing as the market has demonstrated to pay a premium for those qualities and Apple has always understood that they reaped a premium in profit for those characteristics. The iPhone was incredibly expensive when it first arrived on the market – as was the ipod. But these were game changing devices that disrupted the marketplace.
My point is simply that they have changed their model. I am certain that you are right that part of the reason is the kindle – so unlike previous entries Apple is not first to market.
With regard to your camera comment. I misspoke – I meant a camera in front like a cinema screen so you can do video conference. Yes it will be an easy add-on to buy – but isn't that an anathema to the Apple design principle?
Finally, if iBookstore were NOT exclusive then why did Apple need to sign all these deals with publishers. The content is already out there and there are many apps for reading books. Apple is courting the publishers because they are pushing the smaller folks out – reverting to a more closed system. That stifles innovation and ultimately hurts Apple.
The one place where the market is wide open is in specialty publications with strong graphics requirements (magazines, comics, even text books). This is also the area where the iPad will ultimately flourish and where kindle et al are woefully inadequate.
Thanks for the dialogue.
Posted by WillForbes39 at February 3rd, 2010 at 6:56 amWill
1. AT&T is not the only US carrier that uses GSM, T Mobile also is GSM network and I'm sure there are others.
Posted by rmr_nyc at February 3rd, 2010 at 7:06 amIn fact, my Sprint phone does both CDMA and GSM and I know for a fact that Verizon also has phones that do the same thing.
2. Apple has an EXCLUSIVE contract with AT&T in the USA, that is a matter of simple fact.
3. In metropolitan areas in the USA CDMA is simply a better technology, in my apartment (which is 2 blocks from a GSM cell tower) I get no signal on GSM phones and 3-4 bars on a CDMA phone.
In my office, Verizon and Sprint users get signal, AT&T and T-Mobile customers literally have to go outside in order to make calls.
4. Verizon and Sprint have a far greater number of subscribers than AT&T probably for the above mentioned reasons.
Supposedly both Verizon and Sprint will have IPhones by April, and you will see AT&T's market share plummet as people move to carriers that provide more reliable service and far better network coverage.
All that said…. the IPad is a lemon, it's too big to carry easily, too fragile to not need a case and too awkward to use while mobile. If Apple had been really on the ball they would have simply added reliable wireless capability to the Air. The IPad is roughly the same size and has far greater capabilities.
Seems to be similiar to the older but larger version of the Palm PDR. My older PDR is still useful, just too small for web surfing. The “pad” could be useful if it would have enough features to replace all the other devices we need to carry around. As a teacher, I would love to see this device incorporated into the classroom for note-taking vs. the bulk of a laptop. I think I like it very much; just don't want another “gadget” to carry with me. The Kindle and Sony's reader seem outdated already.
Posted by lboylesusa at February 4th, 2010 at 3:42 pmI am already in line to get mine. Also as a book publisher and avid reader, I am happy that now I can read in a full size screen.
Posted by jpintobks at February 5th, 2010 at 7:26 amI agree that the iPad is the killer of the Kindle since it shows now it obsolescence and side by side how mediocre Kindle became.
It's oh so fashionable to dump on AT&T's service and/or coverage area…funny I have used my iPhone all over the US with very few problems. In addition, AT&T is feverishly upgrading the networks. Whine about something else.
Posted by RobtELee at February 6th, 2010 at 8:22 amHere is what i wrote in my article on my Disney and more blog about the lack of webcam: There is no webcam on the IPad and this is really an unforgivable mistake. Why? Here is why: when the first IPhone appeared, back in 2007, with his new multi touch interface, suddenly it was “the future in the present”. A kind of Star Trek device which would have been teleported to the 21st century. Of course, now we don't have this feeling anymore but back three years ago this “future in the present” effect was one of the big reasons of the huge IPhone hype.
Do we have this feeling with the IPad? No we don't. And what enrages me is that it could have been the case. Think: you're sit on a bench in a park, or in a remote place 10000 miles from your home and you want to call AND see your girl/boy friend or anyone you wish. Then, instead to take out of your bag a laptop that you need to unfold, etc… what you have is something that looks, virtually, like a piece of glass. And thanks to it – and Skype! – your girl/boy friend would magically appear even if you're up in the mountain or lost in the jungle as long as there is a 3G connection. Wouldn't it be great? Do you remember the sequence in Stanley kubrick's “2001, a Space Odyssey” when the scientist on a space station use a videophone to call on Earth his little daughter for her birthday? In the movie they were in 2001 and we are in 2010! Okay, i'm kidding, but frankly what the hell was the problem to put a web cam on the top of the IPad? It would have changed everything.
If Steve has to learn a lesson in all this, it's this one: ALWAYS BRING THE FUTURE IN THE PRESENT, that the key of the success. And Steve better don't tell me that Apple don't have new innovations! Just go to the excellent PatentlyApple web site , a great site tracking all Apple new patents, and read the three parts article called The Tablet Prophecies HERE, HERE and HERE where you'll discover all the great inventions that Apple researchers created for a tablet device. Sure they'll come in the future, and sure, Apple keep some bullets for the IPad V2, but honestly i'm sick to have to wait for the next version, specially when what i am asking for – a webcam – is so simple…
Posted by alain55 at February 6th, 2010 at 8:46 amI hope there is an iPhoto type app from Apple for the iPad. Oh and an adapter for CF cards.
Posted by terrywbreedlove at February 7th, 2010 at 12:37 pmIt's even better then I expected. I wasn't sure if Apple will go with Mac OSX or prefer iPhone OS. It was a tough choice to make but now looking at the result I agree with using iPhone OS as a platform for the apps. We will see lots of apps made specifically for the iPad. No doubts about it.
Posted by Artyom at February 12th, 2010 at 3:23 amScenario or scenari, the Notion Ink Adam PC Tablet is by far the better IPad:
http://www.notionink.in/index.php
Posted by Pallkrin at March 2nd, 2010 at 12:58 pmScenario or scenari, the Notion Ink Adam PC Tablet is by far the better IPad:
http://www.notionink.in/index.php
Posted by Pallkrin at March 2nd, 2010 at 8:58 pmBring on the iPad! Can't wait!
Posted by Free iPad at March 31st, 2010 at 1:34 pmThe best bit is I won't have to pay for it – YAY!
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Posted by Wicker Bench Storage at July 6th, 2010 at 9:52 am