Apple iPad (64 GB) Wi-Fi / 3G 9.7" Tablet - MC497LL/A
- Networking Type: Bluetooth Integrated Wireless LAN
- HDD Size: 64 GB
- Operating System: Apple OS (iOS)
- Processor: 1 GHz
- Weight: 1.6 lb.
- Display: 9.7 in. LED
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One Big iTouch
Pros
Popularize a new market<br>Fantastic Screen
Cons
Not a real computer - Wait for version 2
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Wait until Apple inevitably improves this product.
Very Lucky
I'm one of the lucky few with a friend at Apple, I got my hands on the 64GB version - though only for a weekend.
DIFFERENT VERSIONS
Apple will be also be selling a 16GB, 32GB capacity iPad. And they will come in two version 1) Wi-Fi and 2)Wi-Fi plus 3G from AT&T. I had the Wi-Fi only version.
COMPUTER OR NOT?
The iPad has an Apple A4 processor, but its not really a Macintosh. It's more a mega sized, super iTouch.
SCREEN
On the ouside it has an absolutely GORGEOUS (I can't emphasize that enough) 9.7-inch touch LED display. Resolution is 1024x768. Apple claims 10 hours of battery life, but after the first day of hard usage, I was going back to recharge it after 7 hours (though that did include a 2 hour movie at the loudest volume setting).
OTHER STUFF
It comes with a 30-pin dock connector, built in speaker, headphone jack, sleep button, and volume control.
FREE STUFF
Built in APPS include Safari, Mail, YouTube, iTunes, Notes, Google Maps, Calendar, Contacts and Photos. Supposedly you can run all your existing iTouch / iPhone apps at either original size or scaled - but I didn't have the time to try this feature.
BOOK READER
But my real reason for trying out the iPad is for eBooks. I've been eyeing the Kindle for some time, and for not much more, the iPad promises eBooks and a WHOLE LOT MORE!.
My loaned version came with the Da Vinci Code preloaded. This obviously isn't a review of this book, but the eBook built into the iPad and having borrowed my sisters Kindle I had a direct comparison. I will repeat that the iPad screen is STUNNING, GORGEOUS, BIG, BEAUTIFUL - but it is no Kindle.
The Kindles black & white screen is amazingly soft on the eyes - easy to read for hours on end. The iPad would really shine with monthly magazines like Home & Garden or Consumer Reports, where color will make an impact on the pictures - or maybe even kids books.
Heck, my kids have shelves filled with books and it takes forever to find the book they want because they pull them all down and mix them up - plus kids books have pictures galore. But for the SERIOUS reader, the Kindle wins hands down.
NO, NOT REALLY A COMPUTER
That said, the iPad is not an eBook reader, its a tablet with eBook capabilities. But it's not quite a computer either. For example, you can't multi-task. So if you're reading a book, you can't be surfing the web or downloading a movie at the same time.
ACCESSORIES
There are some important accessories (read extra $$$) for those who want to use the iPad as a basic computer. A keyboard that comes with a dock to charge the iPad and syncing it with your computer. And that's probably my biggest rub with the iPad, it's not quite portable for jogging or walking with, but it fails as a computer. It's literally designed to be used WITH a computer, not instead of one.
CONCLUSION
I own an iTouch v2. The screen is much smaller, but I have the eBook app. The iPad is like a really big iTouch, but you can't jog with it. For some people it may make be the perfect "do it all" product, but IMO, its not yet ready for prime time. But that screen is GORGEOUS!
I'm one of the lucky few with a friend at Apple, I got my hands on the 64GB version - though only for a weekend.
DIFFERENT VERSIONS
Apple will be also be selling a 16GB, 32GB capacity iPad. And they will come in two version 1) Wi-Fi and 2)Wi-Fi plus 3G from AT&T. I had the Wi-Fi only version.
COMPUTER OR NOT?
The iPad has an Apple A4 processor, but its not really a Macintosh. It's more a mega sized, super iTouch.
SCREEN
On the ouside it has an absolutely GORGEOUS (I can't emphasize that enough) 9.7-inch touch LED display. Resolution is 1024x768. Apple claims 10 hours of battery life, but after the first day of hard usage, I was going back to recharge it after 7 hours (though that did include a 2 hour movie at the loudest volume setting).
OTHER STUFF
It comes with a 30-pin dock connector, built in speaker, headphone jack, sleep button, and volume control.
FREE STUFF
Built in APPS include Safari, Mail, YouTube, iTunes, Notes, Google Maps, Calendar, Contacts and Photos. Supposedly you can run all your existing iTouch / iPhone apps at either original size or scaled - but I didn't have the time to try this feature.
BOOK READER
But my real reason for trying out the iPad is for eBooks. I've been eyeing the Kindle for some time, and for not much more, the iPad promises eBooks and a WHOLE LOT MORE!.
My loaned version came with the Da Vinci Code preloaded. This obviously isn't a review of this book, but the eBook built into the iPad and having borrowed my sisters Kindle I had a direct comparison. I will repeat that the iPad screen is STUNNING, GORGEOUS, BIG, BEAUTIFUL - but it is no Kindle.
The Kindles black & white screen is amazingly soft on the eyes - easy to read for hours on end. The iPad would really shine with monthly magazines like Home & Garden or Consumer Reports, where color will make an impact on the pictures - or maybe even kids books.
Heck, my kids have shelves filled with books and it takes forever to find the book they want because they pull them all down and mix them up - plus kids books have pictures galore. But for the SERIOUS reader, the Kindle wins hands down.
NO, NOT REALLY A COMPUTER
That said, the iPad is not an eBook reader, its a tablet with eBook capabilities. But it's not quite a computer either. For example, you can't multi-task. So if you're reading a book, you can't be surfing the web or downloading a movie at the same time.
ACCESSORIES
There are some important accessories (read extra $$$) for those who want to use the iPad as a basic computer. A keyboard that comes with a dock to charge the iPad and syncing it with your computer. And that's probably my biggest rub with the iPad, it's not quite portable for jogging or walking with, but it fails as a computer. It's literally designed to be used WITH a computer, not instead of one.
CONCLUSION
I own an iTouch v2. The screen is much smaller, but I have the eBook app. The iPad is like a really big iTouch, but you can't jog with it. For some people it may make be the perfect "do it all" product, but IMO, its not yet ready for prime time. But that screen is GORGEOUS!
