Apple’s new iPad came out this Wednesday, and many were expecting a revolutionary device. Except for some features like iWorks, and a larger screen size, the iPad is not too different from the iPod touch.
Many were expecting a high price, but then again we were expecting a better device. Granit it is the first generation, however Apple should have enough experience with the iPad’s brother the iPod. Overlooking the similarities of Apple’s previous devices, the iPad doesn’t include many essential features that we would expect from a device of similar price. It doesn’t include multitasking, which would be helpful in a netbook replacement.
Also another cool feature would be a camera which would allow for teleconferencing and other video applications. One of the biggest things missing, however, is Flash support. Flash makes up a very large part of web content and a device that is suppose to give you, “the best web experience”, does not deliver. There is a lot brewing up on the web about the Flash support and Adobe themselves, the makers of Flash, respond to the no Flash iPad in a blog post. Stating on the Adobe blog, Adrian Luidwig said, “It looks like Apple is continuing to impose restrictions on their devices that limit both content publishers and consumers.” It is clear that Apple should rethink the web experience and hopeful come out with an update that includes Flash support.
Apple’s new book store, iBooks, was bound to come. Considering the expanding market for e-books and e-readers, it was clear that Apple had to get in. Although the iPad has nice 9.7 inch, LED backlit display, it does not mean it is a good reading device. I have not got a chance to try the device out for myself, but from what I have seen there is no way it could replace the quality of e-ink devices (or a real book). Because of this, the iPad will not cut away too much at the Amazon Kindle market, and other markets. The iPad is made much more for reading textbooks and business documents, not full novels.
It is clear that this is not a device that could replace the laptop. Despite that it is light and carries features like a stripped down version of iWorks and the Apple Appstore, does not mean it is a replacement for a netbook, let alone a laptop. It is clear that the iPad (1st gen.) may go the way of the Newton, but I hope that Apple can make a better 2nd gen. tablet that is more like a netbook or even a laptop replacement.
