RSSFirst Impressions iPad 3G
May 03 10
My iPad 3G came in on Friday and I got a chance to play with it over the weekend. When I unboxed it I admit to being a little let down – it was like a really big iPhone. Only after I got it activated and had a chance to play did I start appreciating the iPad as a really cool device.
Why I bought it.
At home I rely heavily on my Macbook laptop. I wanted something (cheaper) and lighter like a Netbook to carry around with me to coffee houses, meetings and the like. Indeed I had a Linux netbook that was fairly new but that bricked itself a few months ago. I had found it irritatingly slow so I did not try to repair it, because by that time the iPad had been announced. The iPad is not cheap but it still costs less than a new Macbook if I spill coffee on it. I waited for the 3G iPad because – during the summer I want the freedom to not worry about wifi hot spots. I want to work in a park, or from the lake shore or from a motel room if I take a trip.
The iPad is right in there with the netbook but more expensive, since it is faster and a convergence device combining ebook reader, netbook/tablet, media player all in one I did not mind paying a bit more.
You will want to order a book cover of some sort with the iPad because it just makes it easier to grip. I ordered the Apple iPad Case which is very handy although feels and looks kind of rubbery. I think, when it starts showing wear I will replace it with the Incase Convertible Book Jacket.
The hardware is great on the iPad, but what really matters is the software. Apps lets you extend the iPad ad infinitum, the hardware is just a form factor or in techie-speak a platform. The single most powerful app in the iPad is the Safari browser – not because it is the worlds best browser, but because it give access to the whole Web.
I was surprised how fast the iPad is. Much faster than my iPhone, not as fast as my MacBook. But Fast enough.
I spent a lot of time upgrading iPhone apps to the iPad versions. Maybe there is a better way but I didn’t find it. Not complaining it was fun puttering.
Must Have iPad Apps:
Evernote (free): I love Evernote on my iPhone and the iPad app is good too.
iBooks – Apple’s ebookstore and reader. Slick. Love the page turning action. I got a free copy of Winnie the Pooh with it and it is beautiful.
Kindle App – You don’t have to have a Kindle to have a Kindle.
(I’ll have more about ereaders in a separate post.)
BBC – this app rocks!
France 24 – another multimedia news app that is stunning.
WordPress App – if you blog you will want the iPad app, which lets you manage all your WordPress blogs from the iPad.
TwitterFeed – slick Ipad version of the social media app.
(All the above are free.)
I really want an Opera browser app for the iPad. I find myself missing Opera when browsing, although the default Safari is not bad.
The New York Times “Editors Choice” App did, not impress me. Seems too limited like it is a teaser for paid subscriptions. Ditto the Time Magazine app. I switched back to the iPhone NYTimes app which I think is better.
Web pages are interesting: the screen is big enough so that most normal web pages are perfectly readable and navigable just as they are. However, this is a touch screen and I have big fingers, so I have found that some websites work better for me in their iPhone (touchscreen) versions. Bloglines.com is like that – the touchscreen optimized version works better for me on the iPad. Your mileage may vary.
3G
Sunday I signed up for 3G from AT&T mobile. Very strong signal. While not as fast as WiFi it was plenty fast for surfing the web and even playing a few videos on YouTube. I think the iPad has a very good antenna. 3G is $30 for 30 days. You can start it and cancel it at any time – no contract. Nice for traveling.
Those are my first impressions. I like it. I think I will like it even more when more apps are available but there are plenty for everyone right now. Battery life seems good. Screen is stunning. It is pretty fast.
Next Moves.
I will probably order a Bluetooth keyboard. The virtual keyboard is fine for quick emails and short things but for blog posts and real longer it will be faster with a real keyboard. The Bluetooth keyboard also works with other computers and will give me more freedom than the iPad keyboard with dock.
I will also look into a season parking pass of some sort for the State Park as a place to work online this summer. Woohoo!
I’ll post more thoughts as I field test it and try new software.
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May 03, 2010 @ 15:57:05
Thanks for your initial impressions. I have made up my mind that I am going to hold off for the next gen and see what Apple does. I already have a Macbook, iPhone, Kindle, and a separate location for internet access away from my home in case I lose service in one or the other. I decided there was another piece of equipment I would rather have. A new camera.
May 03, 2010 @ 19:19:17
Yeah you are pretty well set. The big thing I want it for is eBooks but if you already have a kindle that is different. I am finishing up a paperback and then I am going to try both the iBooks app and the Kindle app for ipad for reading.
Also Barnes and Noble has promised an ebook app for ipad so I’m looking forward to that.
I think you will enjoy a good camera.
May 07, 2010 @ 13:51:33
We desperately need Opera for the iPad. While I keep hearing how fast the iPad is, I definitely notice slow loading of pages in Safari on some websites. This is my biggest issue w/ the iPad actually. And running the iPhone version of Opera doesn’t take advantage of the large iPad screen.
Anyone know of plans for an iPad version? I don’t find any information on that topic at Opera’s site.
May 07, 2010 @ 14:50:14
Josh, thanks for stopping by.
I have heard no plans for Opera on the iPad, however I would not be surprised if Opera has an iPad version in the works. I’ve become addicted to Speed Dial on Opera and I would love to have it on my iPad browser.
I have not encountered slow loading with iPad Safari, but then I have not had my iPad very long.