William Glatnik asked:




So you are drinking your coffee, reading your emails, typing up a document and designing a presentation. Then you realize that you have an appointment and can’t be tied to your computer. With three projects do the next day, what are you going to do? Well switch to mobile computing, of course. You heard about that iPad Tablet. You also heard about other devices deemed the “iPad killers”. Which one are you going to buy? This article will compare the iPad to its main competitors

The iPad. If you are reading this, chances are you already know what the specs of the iPad are. The iPad has a 9.7 inch multi-touch LCD screen; it has enough processing power to play HDTV video and is intuitive enough to allow you to make documents or presentations using iWork. There are two major criticisms however: multitasking and a closed OS. A closed OS means that you cannot install whatever you want on your iPad. The software must first be approved by Apple. While this is beneficial for security reasons, it might limit some users. The second criticisms – lack of multitasking can be both a cure and a poison. With no multitasking, you can only run one app at a time – this means that you would have no distractions. However if you are typing a report, and then need to verify some facts using Safari, you’ll have to first close iWork, start safari, close safari and then re-open iWork. A tiresome process. Although this has not been officially announced, it is rumored that iPhoneOS 4.0 will have multitasking support.

HP Slate. The HP Slate will have a release price of slightly less than the iPad. It will have an atom CPU, include Flash support, USB connectivity, a memory card reader, and a back-mounted webcam. The major complaint against the HP Slate is that it is running Windows 7 on a touch screen device. All other tablets are running software that is optimized for the touch, yet HP is running Windows 7. Expect unresponsive controls, laggy interface and buggy programs. If you are looking for raw power, then the HP Slate is to go, however you’d get more bang for the buck from a netbook. And since HP Slate isn’t optimized for touch, you’d be smarter to go for a netbook

The Notion Ink Adam. India’s entry into the Tablet market. A significantly cheaper alternative to both the HP Slate and the iPad. The Adam features a bigger screen then the iPad, It uses a Pixel-Qi sceen (color e-ink), will be powered by a Tegra2 chip (1080p output), will have a swivel camera, will have a track pad and is powered by Android. If you can’t afford the iPad, this device will give you the most bang for the buck. The touchscreen and trackpad is an intuitive combination. Apparently the explanation for the trackpad is to make surfing the web easier. One would think of the quality of the browser, if it requires a trackpad to achieve a positive experience. When I view the Notion Ink Adam, I can’t help but get the feeling that it’s software is of “cheap” quality. If you want good functionality at some GUI expense, go for the Adam. However, if you want quality software and hardware – I would recommend the iPad

The Microsoft Courier. I believe that the battle for the best Tablet device, will be fought, symbolically, between Microsoft and Apple. Right now, The Microsoft Courier is only a prototype, but a video has been leaked demonstrating its features. The courier is a dual screen concept. It measures only 5×7 when closed. Not much detail is known, only that the Courier is built on Tegra 2 and runs on Windows CE 6. Microsoft’s emphasis is on mobility. I cannot recommend this device, at this point in time, as not much detail is known. But keep an eye on this one folks, it will be a major competitor to the iPad

Should you go with Apple’s quality, yet slightly underpowered revolutionary device? HP’s powerhouse, running the wrong OS? Notion Ink’s cheaper alternative to mobile computing? Or Microsoft’s mysterious Courier? Time will tell. Or more properly speaking, the consumers will.

Edna

Troy Richards asked:




Apple products have always been known for their great design, solid construction and awesome style. The Apple iPad (16GB) is no different. Featuring a 9.7-inch capacitative touch screen the actual device measures around 8 inch by 10 inch, roughly the size of a standard magazine. In short, the iPad looks a lot like a larger iPhone. Super-slim and quite light at 1.5 pounds the tablet looks a lot nicer and more solid than other tablet computers in the same class with all the buttons, fittings and surfaces having a very high standard of quality.

As the entry-level offering the Apple iPad (16GB) is powered by an Apple A4 1GHZ processor and offers 16GB of flash memory. Instead of more common tablet operating systems the iPad adopts the same operating system as the iPhone. As such, the iPad starts up in a mere 18 seconds and is quite responsive. The iPad has a standard 30-pin dock connector along with integrated speakers but doesn’t have any integrated video camera. Other connections include 802.11n wireless wi-fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. It also has an integrated accelerometer, microphone, digital compass and mute switch. A 3G capable model with assisted GPS will be made available later in April 2010.

Handling the Apple iPad (16GB) is as easy as using the Apple iPhone or iPod Touch. The touchscreen is extremely responsive and accurate while the interface is very intuitive. Typing on the screen is possible but not nearly as comfortable as swiping and pinching your way through it. Since the tablet uses the iPhone operating system, you can only do one thing at time. The Apple iPad comes with a number of applications including those for leisure as well as work but you can download games and other applications from the Apple app store or iTunes.

While you can read eBooks on the Apple iPad (16GB) the reflective screen makes it almost unreadable in direct sunlight. At 1.5 pounds it definitely cannot be held one-handed as it becomes quite a strain after a time. The screen is more than enough for most movies and images with a 1024 x 768 pixel resolution but HD movies are out of the question. Battery life is about 10 to 12 hours based on what you’re using it for

All in all, the Apple iPad (16GB) finally offers users with the ultimate tablet computer. While it does really well with similar iPhone-like applications it doesn’t really do typing and editing very well nor is it going to replace any e-book readers anytime soon. It does on the other hand offer users with a very fast and very easy device to use to stay connected, however if you’re looking for a netbook, smart-phone or e-book reader replacement, this isn’t the device for you. If you can’t live without your Apple iPhone and adore your Apple iPod Touch, then chances are you’ll love the Apple iPad (16GB).

Louise

Mark Barkow asked:




Here’s the true story behind the Apple iPad. Want to comprehend the beginning of the Apple iPad?

It was about ten years ago that Bill Gates made his way onto a podium at a computer show and had in the palm of his hand a computer completely alien to those in the audience. It had a flat shape, and amazingly, there was no keyboard to type on. He then started to tell everyone what appeared to be an almost entirely disbelieving audience that in a couple of years, this foreign looking computer would become a big hit.

The year was 2000. Bill Gates was showing the world to a device Microsoft called the Tablet PC. The company went to the electronics show the following year and showed it once again to a disbelieving audience.

Microsoft’s creation never became popular. For good reason, it was really just a netbookcomputer, and not something you would call particularly powerful! To make matters worst, it was lacking a keyboard.

Now Apple has come up with a similar version of Microsoft’s Tablet PC with the introduction of the iPad.

So why the big uproar?

So, what actually is the iPad?. Apple took a computer, eliminated a keyboard, and made it flat. It has respectable power with respect to its size with a central processing unit somewhere in between the power of the iPhone and a netbook computer, but way closer to the netbook. The iPad is on the thin side being only one half inch at its thickest surface. It can be considered as being light in weight, weighing just 1.5 lbs. It runs on an operating system that can be considered as a bit more efficient version as the version in the iPhone. Its displaying ability consists of an excellent touch screen that is super bright with awesome clarity which is amazing considering the screen is just 9.7 inches.

The iPad is very versatile, like being able to do web-browsing, e-mailing, photo storage, music and game playing, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and display e-books. Yes, other devices can do the same things, some even better.

The difference between the iPad and those devices it is similar to lies in what can be accomplished with the iPad and can’t with other devices.

To start with, it is very portable, meaning anyone can pick it up easily. It fits snuggly on your lap. You can give it to other people as if it were a book. You can easily rest it on a small coffee table. You can put it in a small bag. You can place it in one hand and read it on a train. I think by now, you get the picture.

So for what reason is the iPad such a big hit today compared to ten years ago when the Microsoft tablet was released? The answer can be found in Apple’s capabilities In regards to their version of the Tablet computer, Apple had the technology to make it great. It’s display technology cannot be matched by any other company. It has special expertise in low power electronic engineering that other companies are jealous of. One example is, the iPad can function for an staggering ten hours of web surfing with one charge. Besides all this, it has its patented multi-touch technology included inside the iPad. Other companies attempts to match this technology have always failed badly.

So, do you see now why the Apple iPad is such a massive success? Do you want to try out an Apple iPad?

Vincent

John E Lincoln asked:




The Apple iPad has just been released. Looks like a cool device, right? Like an iPhone, the screen adjusts to the phones positioning. It has crystal clear viewing capabilities for video and photos. And the touch screen… I mean wow! We’ve never really see navigation quite like this.

While this all may be true, the question is buzzing around, who is the iPad really meant for? Is there a consumer demand driving this product supply or is Apple looking to create a new demand, like they did with the iPod.

There has also been speculation that this device is simply a business move by Apple to simulate another Apple store. Hey, if you were Apple you’d probably want to have two Apple stores, right? Who wouldn’t want 50 hosted VoIP developers rushing to create the next hosted VoIP PBX app: especially if you make a small commission off each sale?

Granted, it does have a touch screen keyboard so you can at least type. But what it all comes down to is that the flashy navigation, emphasis on apps, use as a reader and major push as a multimedia device makes it seem more like a toy than a piece of machinery intended to help a professional get work done.

Now, this very may well be what Apple was going for with the iPad. Maybe they wanted to create a more superfluous device. But why create something that seems so expendable in the wake of an economic recovery?

Don’t get me wrong, I love the iPad. I love what Apple is doing with the device and the way their technology is progressing. Also, I like that the iPad has speakers and a microphone so it could potentially run a softphone or other http://www.freedomiq.com applications. But who is the iPad really meant for? Is it meant for you? Tell us what you think below.

Douglas

Jules A Lloyd asked:




Is there anyone who doesn’t want to have an iPad touch?

Apple has once again produced a fruit of genius—the iPad touch. The fresh product of Apple, iPad touch, is one of the most coveted multi-purpose devices that allow users to peruse the Web, use email, play music and games, store pictures and watch videos, TV and movies. The iPad touch looks very like a bigger iPhone, but is not simply an iPhone. It also features a portable or a netbook but it is smaller in comparison to that. In fact, iPad is a new, exciting technology that works as a full laptop and an iPhone yet is a class all its own.

In addition, the device is 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds – lighter than any netbook and includes a 9.7-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology. It also includes a 1GHz Apple-built A4 processor which incorporates the CPU and graphics. It’s got a 178-degree viewing angle and sports a 1024768 pixel resolution display at 132 pixels per in.. That implies iPad permits you to execute things you can’t do on any other machine. Plus it has the following features for such a sleek and light device:

Safari
The large multi-touch screen on iPad lets you see webpages as they were intended to be seen – one full page at a time.

Mail
by using a split-screen view, you can see both an opened email and all the messages in your mail.

Photographs
iPad is an extraordinary way to enjoy and share stills. For instance, you can collect and display your stills in an album like they’re in a stack. You can flip through your photos, zoom in or out, watch a slideshow, or even use iPad like a digital photo frame. One of the other good features of iPad is easily importing and synchronizing stills from your personal computer.

Video
any sort of video can simply be observed on the big and high-resolution screen on the iPad. IPad has a huge screen with no buttons and no other distracting features. So you can watch your HD movies, television shows or any videos by feeling completely immersed.

iPad is integrated with iPod apps.

iTunes
To skim and buy podcasts, TV shows or music, just tap on the iTunes Store icon. You will quickly find thousands of television shows, movies, songs and podcasts. iPad also enables you to preview songs before you purchase them.

App Store
iPad is virtually integrated with 140.000 apps from the App Store. By drumming the App Store icon on the screen, apps can be perused, bought, and downloaded wirelessly without delay to the iPad.

iBooks
iPad offers us another a great way to read or buy books.?t is even possible to see topography with the new terrain view. But there’s more: you may also search for a close-by business type and tap the business to see the route and directions from where you are.

Notes
iPad uses an expansive display and large, onscreen keyboard to make jotting down notes straightforward for you.

Calendar
iPad supplies the calendar you need by showing Day, Week, Month or List perspectives. In this fashion, iPad allows for a top level view of a whole month, or the details of a single day.

Spotlight Search
you can search your mail, contacts, calendar, iPod, and notes across iPad. Its spotlight Search feature even permits you to search apps you have downloaded from the App Store. This allows you to quickly find what you’re trying to find. I mean, just imagine how such a light contraption could carry a large amount of hi-tech features in its body; you certainly won’t expect it to be as inexpensive as you want it to be. Or certainly you could not expect Apple to create such a device only to give away free iPad touch to us, right?

However, there are sites that offer to offer you free iPad touch if you complete their offers and if you are actually prepared to have one, you can check for free iPad touch offers in the net; Or if you can afford to purchase one, why not? Either way, the iPad touch will not give you any regrets for purchasing it. I suspect those wonderful features, fascinating and classy design is reason enough as to the reasons why you should buy one right now!

Justin

Lucas Clark asked:




Why you should NOT get an Apple iPad

The new Apple iPad tablet style computer is finally here and if you get one it will be easier than ever to access the internet. These days there are many advertising agencies sponsoring Get Free iPad programs for almost anyone who can qualify.

The reason I’m advising you not to get one is because after you realize how easy it is to use and how revolutionary this product really is, you’ll probably want to toss your old computer out the window. Although most computer geeks like me can not live without going online at least 30 times a day now that the new iPad is soon to be available, most of us will never ever get off the internet now. This tablet-style computer will amaze you and probably keep you on line for hours at a time.

Apple has announced they will finally put the new iPad on the shelves by March or April of this year. It will be available with a touch screen much like the iPhone but much cooler. Even if you are inexperienced; dealing with this new computer could even have your grandmother surfing the web in no time. The iPad is so user friendly anyone who uses it will have their computer confidence increase to the point that they’ll be happy to call themselves computer nerds.

The thing you’re gonna love about this new computer is that the features come standard on even the basic model. Both models come with audio playback features, television /video support, language and dictionary features and much more. I’m told the iPad also has a number of “Green” features too. It’s made with recyclable aluminum and has a mercury and an arsenic free LCD display too.

I’m warning you – don’t take advantage of the free iPad offer!

Chances are if you and everyone else on-line get a free iPad then how many will be left for me and my friends? I’m not ready to spend $600 or $800 for my iPad even though that is an awesome price and way lower than most of us thought the price would be. I still want to get mine for free.

Currently there are too many of you finding out about the “Get a Free iPad” offers and I figure if I ask you guys not to get involved with these offers my friends and I will have a better chance of getting ours before the offer disappears. In case you’re wondering, these offers are actually legit. There are companies out there willing to let us try their products free and keep them as long as we qualify by referring some of our friends or by taking part in a few trial offers. The price of the iPad is covered by third party sponsors, so it’s a win-win situation for all.

Tim

Frank Shepard asked:




Now that the apple tablet iPad has been revealed to the public and the initial industry buzz has subsided, should consumers start planning on purchasing Apple’s latest toy? The general public still has to wait two months for the opportunity to buy the apple tablet and the big question is will the iPad become another iPod or iPhone and change the technology game or will it disappear into oblivion like the Apple Pippin? The professional reviews are in, and what they uncovered with their initial impressions might surprise you.

The Good

Familiarity is the key selling point for the Apple Tablet. The iPad runs a modified version of the current operating system used in the iPhone and iPod Touch. The tablet will synch all your iTunes files, charge and connect using the firmly established white 30 pin connection cord, allow you to purchase applications from the pre existing app store you are used to and the iPad will even transfer the songs, videos, games and helpful apps that you already legally bought (avoiding a “double dip” of a dual purchase for the same content).

The screen resolution is beautiful. Every apple tablet review gushes about the 1024 x 768 high resolution display of the iPad’s 9.7 inch touch screen. The majority of the other technological specs are designed to impress. The CPU clocks in at 1 GHz and provides plenty of lightning quick power for a handheld device. The built in wireless devices on the tablet, WiFi and Bluetooth, will connect and run just as seamlessly as the current generation iPhones and iPods.

The Bad

Get ready for the bad, because there is plenty to complain about with the new iPad. Storage comes in three dainty sizes, 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB. Regardless of how Apple tries to spin the size of the internal hard drives, these are tiny for a product intended to compete in the netbook market. USB drives come in comparable sizes for a fraction of the cost (another issue with the iPad, but this is true of most apple products). Enjoy watching TV shows and movies on the go? With the minimal hard drive space the apple tablet can barely hold a dozen movies and a single season of the average television show. This won’t truly be a problem though as the battery life is expected to last less than 10 hours under heavy use. Basically, it won’t last a full day under consistent usage with a full charge.

The Ugly

Deal breaker time, and there are plenty. No built in USB ports, no flash support for web pages, no webcam, no SMS text messaging, no Skype video conferences or calls and monthly fees to access the exclusive AT&T 3G network are just a few. But nothing pales in comparison to the lack of multi-tasking. To put it simply, the touch screen miniature apple tablet with the power of a netbook, same size as a netbook, costing twice as a much as the average netbook, designed to bridge the gap between cell phones (iPhones) and laptops (Macbooks) CANNOT RUN MORE THAN ONE APPLICATION AT A TIME! For a product designed as mobile device, the inability to run multiple applications at the same time is without a doubt its greatest flaw.

Wasted Potential versus Crushing Reality

Every apple tablet review speaks of the potential of the iPad. It has the potential to be apple’s next big game changer, but its apparent shortcomings and suspiciously missing norm applications and hardware specs also leave the door open for a major flop. The best analogy I’ve come across compares the Apple iPad to a concept car. Similar to a pre-production concept car, the apple tablet iPad introduces plenty of new technology, great ideas, sleek and modern design but its implementation aims at lofty goals while ignoring the current market and reality. It’s lacking in basic functionality and there are simply too many faults in the iPad’s initial version. Essentially, wait until the multi-tasking is ironed out and for the iPad apple tablet version 2.

Claudia

Amy Ou Yang asked:




“If iPad has a built-in camera then we can Skype the whole day.” – Anonymous

Undoubtedly, many people have been saying on how cool the new iPad is. Apple is indeed a very genius company for giving birth to their revolutionary invention wherein you can do almost everything with your fingertips. The Apple iPad is a tablet computer that was announced late January this year, 2010. Although it is has a similar function to the iPod touch, it has never gotten this better.

Even though it is often compared to iPod, we strongly disagree because we find it as good as a laptop only you cannot type longer messages. The iPad has a larger 25 cm LED-backlit, Multi-touch display with a high resolution of 1024×768, 16 to 64gb of flash memory, 1GHz Apple A4 processor, Bluetooth 2.1 and a 30-pin dock connector. All these things make iPad a must-have gadget for the year.

How this thing does works?

1. You are in control

The large Multi-Touch screen of this newest gadget from Apple lets you see web pages clearly. You got the same view from the ones you see from your laptop only you have more vibrant color and sharper text. It makes navigating so easy because you can take in control using your finger. It is hard to believe but with the iPad, you can let your fingertips do everything. You can simply zoom in or out any photo, you can even scroll up the pages and you can move from one page to another. Certainly, this gadget gives your fingertips the power over it.

2. Productivity is the Key

Although it is not the same with the features of your laptop or personal computer, you can still be productive. The iPad can let you create everything you need. It has the ‘pages’ feature wherein you can start doing your presentations, beautiful documents using the Apple-designed templates and straightforward formatting tools. It has indeed the power to let your creative words become a unique work art. Also, the ‘numbers’ feature will let you take in charge of creating appealing spreadsheets in minutes. With over 250 comprehensible functions, an intelligent keyboard, flexible tables, and attention-grabbing charts, all the solutions are at your fingertips. Each of these apps has been designed specifically for iPad, with all-new features. Plus, you can check your email anytime, anywhere provided it is a WI-FI hotspot.

3. It is not your ordinary thing

It can be your music player, video buddy, e-book partner, working pal and one-stop-store or just about anything. It is the say it, you have it thing. You can be able to listen to your music with the powerful built-in speaker or Bluetooth wireless headphones. You can even watch the latest videos posted on YouTube and post comments too. Also, the best feature we have seen was the ‘accessibility.’ This feature makes iPad easier to use for people who have vision impairment or have a physical or learning disability.

However, Apple have not released in the market just yet because they are still manufacturing for the high demand of their eager consumers and it has not yet been authorized by the Federal Communications Commission. It is a policy of the state that the device may not be offered for sale or lease until the authorization from the higher sector has been obtained. So for those who are waiting patiently, extend it even more.

Denise