I was very excited to see the release of the iPad and have been reading some reviews and people are being such naysayers about it. I think for $499 at 16GB, it’s a better deal than a Netbook. Why?
Let’s start with it’s built better and will have the longevity that a netbook does not have. (Provided you don’t smash the iPad with a hammer.) I don’t know anyone who owns a working PC that is more than 5 years old. My father owns a Mac from 1994 and it still runs with all it’s glory of a 256MB Hard Drive. Apple products are built to last.
You have just as many functions on the iPad as you do a Netbook. What were netbooks designed for? Light and easy to travel for easy internet access and maybe some word processing. Well are you strong enough to carry something that is 1.5 lbs? Yes. Can you go online? Yes. Can you word process? Yes. If you can get over having a physical keyboard and trust the touch screen keyboard, it will work for you.
Regarding the lack of a camera. Why does everyone want a camera on every damn piece of technology these days? There are enough amateur photographers out there as it is and I don’t believe that putting an iSight camera on the iPad improves it. If you need to conference use your laptop. A lot of this technology is stilling being developed and frankly the critics expectations are too high.
Regarding comments such as the “iPad is a glorified iPod Touch or iPhone” is hilarious. Well if the iPad had came out first there would be a whole lot more ooohs and aaahs, but it didn’t. This touch technology is becoming even more important and giving us more at the touch of our finger tips. I think that the first generation iPad is good for what it is and Apple is smart to leave room to grow, improve, and invent. The iPhone was starting small.
The possibilities of this gadget and improved versions of it in the near future are endless. It is very forward thinking for as much as people may not be impressed. Think of the uses for schools and specifically text books, “Everyone pull out your iPad.” Less clutter, less crap for kids to haul around in their backpacks. In many ways I look at the iPad as a new multi-tasking notepad or journal. And with WiFi it’s even more amazing, “Please turn on your Bluetooth and upload your assignments to the main computer.”
The iPad is magical and for someone to think it’s not, it just shows your lack of creativity and forward thinking. If you do need a clunky keyboard and a cd burner and whole bunch of ports… Save your money and just buy a regular laptop. Why on earth would you buy a netbook? Just get a laptop and may I recommend not buying Dell. I personally would buy a Mac. Of course everything comes down to price with people and that is the battle of Mac vs. PC. But let’s forget netbooks altogether they remind me of mini-cds: small and easier to forget about.
Research yourself on Apple.
Tech Specs
Pricing
Design and Accessories
After Thoughts: iPad vs. Kindle.
My brief thoughts on this matter. Up until now I thought the Kindle was neat, but I still prefer to buy a physical book that I can hold in my hands and feel the pages. But if you are considering a Kindle I would say try out the iPad in March before you go blowing $259 on a really expensive digital book that you can read. The iPad does more than the Kindle. I would feel happier spending $499 on something that at least does more than reads books and Word Documents. Seriously in that case you are just better off buying one book at a time.
