Techno-Nirvana Has Arrived: Introducing the Apple iPad, Part I
The Apple iPad isn't the perfect portable entertainment device, but it's as close as anyone has come so far
Unless you've been living in a cave lately, you've at least heard about the Apple iPad, the must-have item of the 21st century so far. The talented lovechild of a laptop and a smartphone, Apple's neat little hybrid debuted on April 3, 2010, selling more than 300,000 copies on the first day.
As of this writing, sales figures are pushing a million: that alone ought to tell you something about the iPad's appeal. Despite its hefty price (the least expensive model goes for $499), it's shaping up to be the ideal holiday gift for 2010. And I'm not just talking about Christmas and Hanukkah here. Any holiday will do.
While some observers have sneered at the iPad's simple interface and the fact that it's not good for much except having fun (at least as far as they can tell), the fact is, everyone else loves it to pieces. And why shouldn't they? It's compact, sturdy, appealing to the eye, and absurdly easy to use.
You see, the iPad combines all the best features of a tablet computer and an iPhone. Like a tablet, it's easy to handle and the screen is big enough to avoid eyestrain. As with an iPhone, all the icons are touch sensitive, and to move from one group to another you just sweep your finger across the screen.
Add in an e-reader interface that's better than anything else on the market, a nifty virtual keyboard, top-notch graphics, Wi-Fi capacity, and wonderful video software, and, well, Apple's basically done with the tablet computer market what they did with the mp3 player market when they introduced the iPod.
They've demolished it.
Basically, Apple has created the ideal platform for on-the-go entertainment. Whether you want to read a book, watch a movie, or browse Amazon, this is the way to do it.
The iPad is so small and light that you can sit back in your chair or lie back on your bed with it in hand, and you'll barely notice it's there. Visibility is rarely an issue due to the size of the unit, and in part because (unlike most e-readers and gaming platforms such as the PSP), the screen is self-lit.
In a word, it's awesome. Well done, Steve Jobs and Co.
Tune in to Part II of this article for a discussion of the reactions (and, yes, the criticisms) the Apple iPad has received thus far.