Apple iPad overview: The good, the bad and the ugly

January 27th, 2010

Mobile computers

You might be aware that Apple just announced a certain little (or not so little depending how you look at it) gadget called the Apple iPad. One only needs a quick glance to realize that it looks like a vastly oversized iPod Touch but what are its main strengths and its greatest disadvantages? Here is the way I see it:

Key features

• Magnificent 9.7” capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity
• Optional 3G connectivity (data only)
• 1 GHz Apple A4 CPU
• iPhone OS 3.2
• 16/32/64 GB of onboard storage
• Weight of 680 grams (730 grams for the 3G version)
• Very slim 12.7mm waistline
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• 10 hours battery life and 1 month of stand-by
• Accelerometer and compass
• Compatible with every iPhone app without any modifications
• The cheapest version costs less than an unlocked iPhone
• iBook application
• The keyboard dock (purchased separately) easily converts the iPad into a nettop

Main disadvantages

• It’s not a computer but a big iPod Touch
• No Flash support for the web browser
• No multitasking
• No camera
• No standard USB port (you can get USB connectivity with an accessory but you need to pay extra)
• 130 US dollars (90 euro) for a 3G modem seems pricey
• iTunes required
• No kickstand – it cannot stand on a table without the dock
• Looks pretty easy to drop