iPad Review

So here is my review of the iPad. I wanted to wait at least a week of using the device before I actually reviewed it so that I could give an actual review after real usage. So I am going to break this review into two parts as I see the iPad being used in a variety of places but mostly split between personal use and business use. And I am writing this post from the iPad as well to show that long things can be written on the iPad without much effort.

Overall the device gets an A in my book as I have found that I spend more time with it than i do my MacBook Air. But let me describe how I use it. First I use it to read websites followed by reading email. That is what I bought the device for but have found that after a week I use it for more than that. The absence of Flash is a tad annoying but I figure someone has to give. I doubt it will be Apple and so I except a lot of sites to begin to phase out Flash in favor of HTML5 but that will probably be a ways off.

I also find that not having tabs is a bit of a loss as I like to cross-reference sites quite a bit when browsing. But overall the browsing has been great.

For business I was a little skeptical at first because I was not sure how the iPad would fit. But I have discovered where eMonarch will be using it. Up until now when we make a call on a prospect we have never used a presentation as pulling out the laptop and a projector was just too cumbersome. Printing the slides also seemed a little low-tech for a technology company so we just did not use them. Even though I feel that a good presentation would make it a little easier to describe our services.

But here is where the iPad will shine for us. Now with Keynote for the iPad, we can open and start the presentation in less than 30 seconds and also get a little of a Wow factor for using the device. The orientation and the simple navigation will make going through a few slides a very effective tool.

Another place in business I see the iPad being a big win will be in the medical community. Up till now, battery life for laptops has been a real limiting factor as well as having this clunky laptop getting in the way. But now with a true 'slate' device, I think that medical professionals will feel more comfortable using the technology as this is no bigger than a notepad or legal pad to take notes.

One of the key things is that it will all come down to the apps though. So far the apps i have seen for business have been OK but not great as of yet. But it has been only a week. So as the apps come out, the iPad will probably become a staple in many business environments.

For personal use the iPad has lots of pluses. One the key things that gauges how successful a piece of technology will be is how it is received by my wife. If she embraces it then I know it is a winner. So I got her and iPad as well and shee took to it right away! We both took our iPads to church on Easter Sunday as our Bibles. It worked! I was a little nervous as to how it would go as I did not want the technology to get in the way of spending time worshipping God. And it didn't. My wife and I were actually able to both read from the Bible easily and even take notes.

Another very cool usage is in the kitchen. For years i have struggled trying to figure out how to have all the recipes we have in cookbooks readily available and use an electronic version while actually cooking. Having a laptop in kitchen could work but the iPad ended up being a much more elegant solution. We found a great app, Epicurious, that has a lot of great recipes and when in landscape mode makes it a viable electronic cookbook.

Watching movies on the iPad works as promised and provides a great experience using Netflix. I watched two separate movies and am going to watch another tonight after I finish this post.

So overall is the ipad worth it, I think so. I have decided to stick with just the wifi version and not get the 3G version. I figure any place that I am going to be at will have wifi. I am considering getting one of those mifi type devices to use with my existing data card. I just could not see paying for yet another data plan. This is where tethering would have been a great feature to have.

An often asked question so far has been will the iPad replace a laptop. I do not think so just as I do not think it was ever intended to do that. There are probably folks that could replace their laptops with the device but not me.

Battery life has been right on. I use it everyday and have had to charge it once. And I charged it when it had 30% left so I could have gone much farther.

A thing I do dislike is having to clean the screen every other day! I am looking forward to the OS upgrade that the iPad will get this fall with the addition of multitasking and a consolidated inbox. Those will be nice features for sure.

But back to to business use. So far - yeah apps are not there yet or if they are I have not seen them. So far I think we will end up sticking with the "presentation mode" for the iPad at work. However I do expect this to change in the near term as developers get going with creating rich business applications for the iPad.

Oh forgot, I have had NO issues with the wireless connection issues that others have commented on. Does not mean those issues do not exist but with the wireless routers I use, no issues here.

So go out take a look at one or if you are in Tulsa and want to have some coffee and discuss what it can do, give me a buzz and I will be more than happy to meet you and show you how I use it. You just have to buy the coffee!

Comments

[Elaine]

I've been looking forward to your review. I agree, that the apps will be what will make this stand out from anything else. You mentioned the medical field as being a useful tool. As an educator, I see education from elementary all the way up to higher ed as being a fabulous tool. Not sure how cost effective it will be vs paper, because it does require cost to purchase maintain and run. But ooooh! The ways in which it can enhance learning is phenomenal. Also I have been encouraging my 88 yr old mother who uses our Macbook to get one. I think she would love it. She is an avid reader, likes movies, checks her email and surfs the web, she looses lists and notes, this way she can keep it all together. . It is extremely easy to use for those blessed with many years in their lives. I use my itouch as my Bible in church and take notes on it. So glad to hear you and your beautiful wife found it to work for you all.

[Michael Cloin]

Thanks for the review, Sean. I looked forward to hearing you feedback after having implemented it.

The presentation mode does sound really exciting for business. Great explanation of the dilemma between paper and projector.

Thanks again...will let you know if the Cloins take the plunge.

[GPS tracker]

Hello, after reading your review, I wanna buy an iPad right now.

[Air Jordan]

It was when I was happiest that I longed most...The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing...to find the place where all the beauty came from. Do you agree?

[air max]

wait to see how the 5.0 stock bottom end holds up to boost. From everything I've read, the rods are already maxed out at 415. If I can reach 600hp at 7lbs, safely, then that's the way to go.

[Coach outlet]

Thank you very much for your very thoughtful and considered comment. I approach the journey in very much the same way as you've described yours.