slice of koh

The Apple iPad is a novelty.  Everyone around the globe was waiting for Steve Jobs to unveil the rumored “tablet” that would change the computing world as we know it.  I was a little cautious because most first generation Apple products are subpar.  After the press conference on the 26th, the iPad clearly does not truly differentiate itself from a netbook, smartphone, or iPod Touch.

In terms of hardware, the iPad does not look terrible.  The custom 1 Ghz A4 SOC processor seems fast and very responsive.  The display is 9.7″ LED backlit screen with capactive touch and oleophobic coating.  The storage comes in 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB variations.  Wireless capabilities include Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1.  3G connectivity is optional (AT&T, bleh). It also has a digital compass, accelerometers, and ambient light sensor.

The iPad is running a modified version of iPhone OS.  There is no phone or SMS functionality. It’s clear that they want to make the transition easy from the mobile Apple devices (iPhone and iPod Touch) to the iPad.  There are some nifty accessories such as the keyboard dock, but otherwise, the overall package seems mediocre.  There is still no multi-tasking, boring use of screen real estate (Where did the widgets go?), and hardware omissions (front-facing webcam for video calls?).  As much as Adobe Flash is filled with bugs, I would rather turn off Flash support on my own than having no compatibility all together.  AT&T 3G connectivity is laughable, so I’m not going to count the 3G. There are still two months left before the official launch, so I hope Apple puts some finishing touches and upgrades to the current device.  iPad seems to have potential, but it’s still a glorified iPod touch at this point in the game.