It is safe to say that there was no way that Steve Jobs could live up to the hype that had built up to the launch of Apple's tablet device. So it is no surprise that the reception has been critical: sofa computer, ladycomputer, netbook without a keyboard, etc have been some of the kinder descriptions. Others ask if there really is a need for a device that fits between a laptop and a smart phone? To echo the thoughts of Stephen Fry (or at least my take on his thoughts), the iPhone received a similar reaction when it was first launched.
At that time I remember thinking to myself – why would I ever want/need to check my mail from my phone? Or surf the web? I owned a crappy handset that had a tiny screen and a crap browser. It was a pain in the ass! And now Apple launches this incredibly sexy looking phone with just one button. Yet I still could not imagine using the iPhone to check my mail, surf the web, etc.
Until I walked into a Carphone Warehouse store in London and touched it.
Within five minutes I understood why I had to have one. It suddenly made sense. Words such as intuitive, sleek, awesome, powerful, beautiful, useful were just some I used afterwards when describing the experience to friends, telling them (and myself) why the iPhone makes sense. Not long after, I bought my first iPhone. Today (and much to the annoyance of my girlfriend) it is with me all the time. Email, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, news, maps, music, apps… all accessible on the go. It has changed completely not only how I consume media and experience the world around me.
I have a feeling that it will be the same when I touch the iPad for the first time. And I am excited to see how it will change my personal habits.
What are your thoughts on the iPad?
Check out the iPad Keynote and Video on Apple's official site.
Bits and Bytes 
February 2, 2010 at 8:07 am
I’m not sure… it sure is nice and sexy and fun to play around with but is it more than mainly a gimmick? I don’t know if it has enough usability to replace a netbook for me. Seems like I can do it all with a netbook as well. And I don’t know how convenient it is to take it outside. And I do NOT like e-books!
I do NEED an iPhone, though! Got a spare one?
February 2, 2010 at 9:06 am
Hi Philipp – I guess only time will tell if its more than just a gimmick. I have a feeling that 2nd and 3rd iterations of the iPad will become better and more powerful – as with the iPhone. For me it all hinges on that hands on experience. At the moment I’m basing this all on what I’ve read on other blogs and my experience with the iPhone’s touch screen. How easy it is to write emails, surf the web, read books and watch TV/movies on the iPad… I just don’t know at the moment! 🙂
On the ebook front – I probably side with your statement on that one. Although again, I’ve never read an ebook cover to cover (so to speak). Came close with Alice in Wonderland on the iPhone app Stanza, but then a real life book proved more interesting…
January 22, 2011 at 7:12 am
IPad is not intended to replace computer in anyway.It however does a lot of things which a computer does and surprisingly it does better and faster.Ipad is an amazing invention from apple.It has many flaws and drawbacks too.Apple should consider those things.It doesnt have camera even.I usually shop on this online shopping site for ipad when i came acros with different blogs.Do check it out for many other products.Ipad and blackberry books are both the same.Blackberry book comes with many new feature while ipad lacks sum functions.