Couldn't find a thread about people who actually have their iPads yet, so here goes it with my thoughts after owning one for 5 days or so.
Size: 32gb wifi
Cost:£529 all in.
From: dvdworldusa
Initial thoughts: usual apple packaging, very high class. First thing that strikes me is the weight of the iPad, its quite a bit heavier than i thought. I don't think its 'heavy' as such, just heavier than I thought and I had a kindle too, which is a fair bit lighter than the iPad for a similar sized device.
First power on: screen brightness and clarity hit home, it's beautiful. Easy to sync up to itunes and go through the standard config options. Though not strictly related to the iPad, i also create a us iTunes account easily enough and get some ppints via maximus.
Usage: first port of call is safari, just to see if browsing is as good as stated. And it is! A joy to use and the next big surprise is the ease of use of the keyboard, its ridiculously easy to use and though to use on a desk you will need the official case to angle it, it's still comfy to use either on your lap or on the arm of your sofa.
Apps: of all the official apps, i probably use safari the most and as stated above, its a joy to use, more in that in a mo. Next is Mail. I use mail a lot for my business and the new ipad version is much better - at least to read mail on, it can still do with a few UI tweaks which will hopefully come in os4.
I have not really delved much into the other apps to deeply, but a couple of miscellaneous observations... iPod needs more features, I don't think you can even shuffle songs? I know some more updates are coming in os4. The app store needs a bit of work too as filtering searches is pretty much non-existent. YouTube the same, filtering searches is a no-no. But overall the apps do a decent job.
Now, must make a mention to the first big change in using the ipad for me - something that lifts the iPad from being 'just a big iphone' and that is the increased screen size and speed of the device has rendered some apps redundant. Namely for me, Facebook and YouTube.
Both official apps are easily surpassed now by going directly to the websites themselves rather than using the apps. I even have a link to the Facebook site on my dock bar that shows up with the F icon. Youtubes main mobile based site works fine and allows for those filtered searches that the app does not. I am sure there are more examples of this too. Safari is that good on the pad.
Day to day usage: using the device daily reveals a couple of things to note. Firstly the battery life is absolutely amazing. I have now idea how try have managed to cram a battery of this capacity in a device as large and powerful as this, it really is one of the technical marvels of the device. Secondly, it smudges like a bastard!! Looks filthy (and i am OCD clean!!) and need regular polishing.
Comfort: many people ask about the typing on the device and i must say it's my other big most pleasing thing about the iPad. I had my doubts, but within a few hours of using the iPad, i could see myself doing work on it with no problems (if only a decent web coding app would be released). The keys are spaced out just right and if you realize this isn't a mobile phone and you cannot 'thumb type' and treat it as a QWERTY, then you shouldn't notice much difference to your standard keyboard. As i mentioned above though, for longer typing, then i recommend the case which angles the board - though I am typing this laying in bed with it on my lap quite comfortably.
3rd party apps: i had an iphone and after having an iPad, i don't think I would download a standard iphone app again unless i absolutely had to. The 'hd' apps are amazing and really are worth investing in. Iphone apps scaled up are hit and miss, some look 'ok' and some just plain awful on the 2x screen.
I have already given some quick thoughts on the games i got in the gaming thread above, but some deserve mention again. Real racing HD, and nova hd really do stand out as apps that can really showcase the iPad. Air video is similarly amazing and works incredibly well. Scrabble HD (us version) is so much better for the bigger screen and the online games over Facebook work nicely and not available in the uk version of the app. Another favourite is pinball HD which is one of those games that is just made for this new device.
HD apps are a little thin on the ground in quality right now, but that will improve of course and its exciting to think where they will be in 6-12 months time.
Closing thoughts: i really do think this is a new breed of device as jobs said - i was as cynical as the next man when he said that. It is a brilliant gaming device, has great potential as a work device, can be used to view and listen to media with an amazing screen, has unbelievable battery life and is an instant pick up use internet and email browser.
It does so much more of course, but its also very portable and great just to have to hand when on the sofa, in bed, relaxing around the house etc... Its just a superb machine and i will close this thread off saying that since tuesday when it arrived, my macbook pro which got used every day, has not been out of it's cover.
That is no sleight on the mbp, but rather an indicator that everything you can do casually on a laptop, either high powered like the mbp, or a netbook, is done better on the iPad. I hope this machine is around for years to come and if it wasn't for the high price, I'd say this was the death of the netbook and possibly in a high % of cases, the notebook, its that good.
Size: 32gb wifi
Cost:£529 all in.
From: dvdworldusa
Initial thoughts: usual apple packaging, very high class. First thing that strikes me is the weight of the iPad, its quite a bit heavier than i thought. I don't think its 'heavy' as such, just heavier than I thought and I had a kindle too, which is a fair bit lighter than the iPad for a similar sized device.
First power on: screen brightness and clarity hit home, it's beautiful. Easy to sync up to itunes and go through the standard config options. Though not strictly related to the iPad, i also create a us iTunes account easily enough and get some ppints via maximus.
Usage: first port of call is safari, just to see if browsing is as good as stated. And it is! A joy to use and the next big surprise is the ease of use of the keyboard, its ridiculously easy to use and though to use on a desk you will need the official case to angle it, it's still comfy to use either on your lap or on the arm of your sofa.
Apps: of all the official apps, i probably use safari the most and as stated above, its a joy to use, more in that in a mo. Next is Mail. I use mail a lot for my business and the new ipad version is much better - at least to read mail on, it can still do with a few UI tweaks which will hopefully come in os4.
I have not really delved much into the other apps to deeply, but a couple of miscellaneous observations... iPod needs more features, I don't think you can even shuffle songs? I know some more updates are coming in os4. The app store needs a bit of work too as filtering searches is pretty much non-existent. YouTube the same, filtering searches is a no-no. But overall the apps do a decent job.
Now, must make a mention to the first big change in using the ipad for me - something that lifts the iPad from being 'just a big iphone' and that is the increased screen size and speed of the device has rendered some apps redundant. Namely for me, Facebook and YouTube.
Both official apps are easily surpassed now by going directly to the websites themselves rather than using the apps. I even have a link to the Facebook site on my dock bar that shows up with the F icon. Youtubes main mobile based site works fine and allows for those filtered searches that the app does not. I am sure there are more examples of this too. Safari is that good on the pad.
Day to day usage: using the device daily reveals a couple of things to note. Firstly the battery life is absolutely amazing. I have now idea how try have managed to cram a battery of this capacity in a device as large and powerful as this, it really is one of the technical marvels of the device. Secondly, it smudges like a bastard!! Looks filthy (and i am OCD clean!!) and need regular polishing.
Comfort: many people ask about the typing on the device and i must say it's my other big most pleasing thing about the iPad. I had my doubts, but within a few hours of using the iPad, i could see myself doing work on it with no problems (if only a decent web coding app would be released). The keys are spaced out just right and if you realize this isn't a mobile phone and you cannot 'thumb type' and treat it as a QWERTY, then you shouldn't notice much difference to your standard keyboard. As i mentioned above though, for longer typing, then i recommend the case which angles the board - though I am typing this laying in bed with it on my lap quite comfortably.
3rd party apps: i had an iphone and after having an iPad, i don't think I would download a standard iphone app again unless i absolutely had to. The 'hd' apps are amazing and really are worth investing in. Iphone apps scaled up are hit and miss, some look 'ok' and some just plain awful on the 2x screen.
I have already given some quick thoughts on the games i got in the gaming thread above, but some deserve mention again. Real racing HD, and nova hd really do stand out as apps that can really showcase the iPad. Air video is similarly amazing and works incredibly well. Scrabble HD (us version) is so much better for the bigger screen and the online games over Facebook work nicely and not available in the uk version of the app. Another favourite is pinball HD which is one of those games that is just made for this new device.
HD apps are a little thin on the ground in quality right now, but that will improve of course and its exciting to think where they will be in 6-12 months time.
Closing thoughts: i really do think this is a new breed of device as jobs said - i was as cynical as the next man when he said that. It is a brilliant gaming device, has great potential as a work device, can be used to view and listen to media with an amazing screen, has unbelievable battery life and is an instant pick up use internet and email browser.
It does so much more of course, but its also very portable and great just to have to hand when on the sofa, in bed, relaxing around the house etc... Its just a superb machine and i will close this thread off saying that since tuesday when it arrived, my macbook pro which got used every day, has not been out of it's cover.
That is no sleight on the mbp, but rather an indicator that everything you can do casually on a laptop, either high powered like the mbp, or a netbook, is done better on the iPad. I hope this machine is around for years to come and if it wasn't for the high price, I'd say this was the death of the netbook and possibly in a high % of cases, the notebook, its that good.