I am a massive fan of Apple. I am writing on my Apple MacBook Pro and I am connected to the web via Internet tethering on my iPhone. Apple seem to have a knack for inventing things that you never knew you needed until they showed them to you. A few years ago who could have predicted that one of their products, the iPod, would become so popular that entire waves of entertainment media would be created in the form of podcasts, a word which has found its way into everyday vocabulary as easily as googling?
With all of this in mind you may understand that I was more than a little bit excited about the much blogged about, rumour shrouded press conference given this week by Steve Jobs, Apple’s genius-in-chief. To be honest, I wasn’t entirely surprised by the look of the new device, I had suspected a large iPhone looking slab and that’s what we saw. What I was surprised at was that I ended up not really wanting one. I usually want any new gadget Apple churns out and the iPad certainly looks sleek and desirable. It has the ability to use iPad specific applications and games as well as those you can use on your iPhone. It has a multi-touch interface to manipulate the screen and any images or web pages. One version of the device comes with a built in 3G device to keep you permanently linked to the Internet.
Apple have even arranged a deal with top book publishers to create a iTunes-like online bookstore from which iPad users can download books to their device and read them on the go; a prettier and more versatile alternative to the Sony Reader. It looks to be a mid-way-point between an iPhone and a laptop and it is for this reason that I do not seem to have the enthusiasm for the iPad that I would expect. As I said, I have an iPhone and a laptop so it would appear that, for me, the iPad would be surplus to requirement. That said, only time will tell and I would not be entirely surprised to find myself in my local Mac store in a few months time, parting company with my hard earned cash after convincing myself that I really don’t now how I could have possibly survived so long without one. We shall see.
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I don't really subscribe to the Apple obsession in general, this iPad is like a blip on the radar.. It's cool, but.. Not worth it in my mind, when other things work just as well. :p
ReplyDeleteI am beginning to cave for a mac though, as windows is so bugged up and overflowing with garbage. Macs seem to be more clean and stable.
I don't really subscribe to Wii either. I miss the old days of NES and Intellivision. hehe.
Kristen, I agree that the iPad does seem rather gimmicky, although in general I find their products to be of high quality and, as you so rightly say, they tend not to break or get bugged out like PCs. As to the Wii, I own one but the only real use it gets is from my fiancee who is addicted to Wii Fit.
ReplyDeleteRegards
TGG
I'm perfectly content with my iPhone, so fortunately I won't be out on a rush to get this like some people.
ReplyDeleteIt does look like an over-sized iPhone, and while it does seem like it's intended for on-the-couch-at-home use, I can bet there will be people out on the streets with these over-sized iPhones in hand.
Which of course there's nothing wrong with that.. People do it with laptops all the time :/
I have an 80GB iPod Classic and an iPhone myself. I would love to have a MacBook Pro, and I totally don't mind using Apple products alongside those of other companies like Sony or Microsoft.
ReplyDeleteIf I had the money, I'd probably get an iPad, just for the thrill of it. I'm just one of those people.
Michael.
Do you hate it too?
"If you're going through Hell, keep going."
I think I'll wait till all the bugs are worked out of the IPad and then take a look at it...
ReplyDeleteBTW...stop by when you get a minute I presented y ou with an award...Love the reviews...they are great...
http://bendigosrage.blogspot.com/
I agree with you in this TGG. It's just a big iphone that can't make calls! Sorry I hadn't followed before. It was remiss of me.
ReplyDelete