Tech Tuesday: The iPad

It is official. I now own an iPad.

There was a ton of speculation before the iPad came out and since then, there have been numerous reviews, both positive and negative. Tim Challies, a web developer and blogger, went from disappointed to simply underwhelmed, while others like Daring Fireball’s John Gruber were more impressed by Apple’s newest product.

Before I join the sea of voices, I have several caveats. First, I did not purchase the iPad. It was a generous gift from a family member. I think my impressions might be different if I had spent the cash myself to obtain it.

Secondly, I will admit that I can be a pretty big Apple fanboy. I played with Linux for a number of years, but just got tired of building kernels, choosing window managers and generally just tinkering with the OS just to get some apps to work. I also have been a systems administrator for Windows networks for a number of years. But, I just like Apple. I like how my iPhone talks to my MacBook Pro. I like how I don’t have to think about dependencies and I like how I do not (for the most part) need to worry about viruses. So for personal computers and devices, I am biased to like Apple. I admit it upfront.

With that awkwardness out of the way, I have to say that the iPad is more impressive than I thought it would be. At first, I thought it would be one of those devices that executives get that are shiny and new, but mostly just a pain for the IT department that has to support it, kind of like Sony Vaio laptops (I was disillusioned when I could not easily upgrade the RAM and hard drive for one). But I warmed up to the iPad when I heard some official details like the low price wifi version and the fact that iWork’s Papers would be available for it (Apple did not leave us with Notes).

But what really convinced me was just holding and operating one.

The Outside

The iPad is has a very sleek, clean design. In keeping with the updated MacBook Pro line, the aluminum and glass combination is extremely appealing. The display has a black edge, again, similar to the MacBook Pro line. The device is thin but feels solid in your hands. This is the kind of visual appeal that one comes to expect from Apple.

The User Interface

Apple prides itself on its user interfaces. The iPhone was revolutionary in its touch screen approach to the cellphone. The iPad user interface is similar though adapted for a bigger screen. With a home button, a power button, and two volume buttons, the iPad is very simple. It switches between applications quickly and smoothly, though some applications do lag when starting up (like Korg’s iELECTRIBE app).

Apple has been consistent with the iPhone, providing a similar “desktop” experience with the iPad. The only main difference here is that the higher screen resolution allows more apps to exist on a single page, and the app dock can support up to six apps as opposed to the iPhone’s four.

The only real challenging aspect of the iPad’s interface has been using the touch screen keyboard. Initially, I was not used to the touch screen. I kept accidentally grazing keys. Thankfully, the autocorrect usually fixes these problems, unless you are entering atypical strings (usernames, passwords, URLs). But as I have continued to work with the keyboard, I am adapting to it. I imagine that after a week or so with the device, I will get used to it as I did with the iPhone.

Overall Impression

I am very excited about this device. It’s much lighter and thinner than my MacBook Pro, and still is capable of handling a bulk of the tasks I do, while offering more screen space than my iPhone, which is great, especially for reading and writing. I wrote most of this article on my iPad. In the end, the iPad will become a constant tool for me, especially when I’m away from the office.

Published by Eddy Barnes

Eddy Barnes a husband, father, and the youth pastor at Grace Covenant Church.

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