Mobile Fringe

The schizophrenic iPad

Are you an extra large iPod touch? Yes I am.

But aren’t you supposed to be a whole new platform? Yes I am.

Then what are you? I am both.

Canadians, like the rest of the world have been relegated to 2^nd class citizen status.

To paraphrase, Seinfeld: No iPads for you.

Impatient to get our hands on the iPad, we drove to Buffalo during the 3^rd week of April and bought four of the 32G iPads. There were no lineups, but the Buffalo store only had five of the Wi-Fi versions left. The 3G versions had yet to be introduced.

Initial impressions?

Here’s what our number one tester had to say:

A lot has been written about the iPad, with much of the commentary touching upon the same points:

• It is heavier than you would expect.
• It’s fast, way faster than a laptop when launching apps and surfing the Net.
• The super-sized screen attracts a lot of fingerprints and smudges.
• There is an emotional attachment, a bonding that occurs between the device and the user.
• The screen is really bright.
• The extra real estate makes a huge difference.

Typical of early Apple launches, it’s missing a number of major features.

Keynote files import but with omissions and problems. Apple has posted a advisory on best practices.

There are have been early complaints about iPad apps are dramatically scaling back or even blocking their video when on the 3G-ready iPad.

A lawyer claims the iPad helped him successfully win a $300,000 lawsuit. Schools are discovering new uses. And those in healthcare are also discovering ways to implement the iPad.

Here are key findings:

• As a show and tell device this has it all
• The simplicity of it is the attraction
• easier to read articles, blogs and websites than iPhone
• it really does belong in a category of its’ own
• iPad apps that make use of new screen space can make people more productive
• taking email and notes on the device just feels right
• watching video on sites like youtube and vimeo even more enjoyable
• takes mobile computing to another level where a laptop can not.
• has the possibility of taking the web from 2.0 to 3.0
• easy for anyone to use
• opens up possibility for different usage
  - an architect at a construction site viewing blueprints
  - mechanics using it for engine diagrams and diagnostic tests
  - students carrying this one device, rather than heavy text books
  - doctors being able to grab patient data at any time any place within a hospital
  - etc…
• changes the idea of the way we use and view the internet