Apple has just released iPad and lucky for us Gene has bought one for each of our locations (Edmonton, Saskatoon and Toronto). After using the iPad for a week or so, here is a short summary of our first impressions of the iPad.
Gene says
“I've been using the iPad for a couple of weeks now (to the exclusion of most of the other folks in our Edmonton office... sorry guys!) and I have a few thoughts.
I'll start with this: it's a beautiful device but I'm not sure how it fits into my life.
It's a little lightweight for work, but adding a keyboard and dock might change that. It's great for checking email, casual web browsing and watching videos. It's great as a shared screen, especially for two people.
I love Instapaper and I'm sure I'll make good use of iBooks the next time I'm travelling. But it still doesn't feel like it fills a hole.
That said, because it's beautiful inside and out--from the interaction design of the OS to the screen to the form factor. So I want to like it. I want to use it. And I'm sure I'll find a place for it simply because of that.
In terms of the market overall, I think this device is a winner. For people with simple computing needs and limited skills (I'm thinking of my parents
here) the iPad is just a feature or two short of replacing a desktop/laptop computer. Add a camera and Skype/iChat and the iPad would be the only computer required in millions of homes.
In the enterprise I can see people moving from paper/clipboards/PDAs to tablet computers in all kinds of scenarios. Health care jumps to mind, but there are dozens of other industries that could make effective use of this kind of device.
I don't expect the iPad to be leader in the enterprise. Microsoft is the only company that has a tablet OS, a development platform and existing enterprise software products that already have traction in the marketplace (SharePoint, Dynamics, HealthVault). Enterprises can expect a two-pronged tablet computing attack--from companies like HP and its Slate on the hardware front, and Microsoft on the software front.
This won't matter to Apple since the consumer tablet market is a blue ocean.
(It's ironic though that Microsoft has been pushing tablet computing for years only to have Apple make it mainstream.)
The other question I've been thinking about is: what does this mean for the web?
Apps have become the preferred way of deploying information and services to the iPhone/iTouch platform, despite the fact that those devices have a top-notch browser.
The iPad, however, is much more friendly to the browsable web. I'd even argue that reading on the iPad is better than a traditional browser-- stretch-zooming text and scrolling with your fingers make the experience more natural.
And there will surely be millions of iPads out there before the end of the year, which has a few implications:
- Safari just became a very important browser.
- It's time to get your HTML 5 on. HTML 5 on the iPad means rich, app-like experiences in the browser--but with the ease of deploying through the web.
- The quality of iPad apps sold through the app store should remain high since so much content can be delivered effectively through the browser. iBooks, for example, should help reduce the single-serving book apps that clutter the app store (a problem I wrote about earlier this year).
- The iPad is kind of an interstitial device--enough like a regular computer to use the "ordinary" web, but unique enough in form factor to be targetted as a platform for web apps. I suspect some web apps will be designed specifically for this device, but will still be functional in a regular desktop/laptop browser. That's a potentially interesting reversal."
Yvonne says:
“Approaching the iPad as “a PC” was an interesting experience. The interactions with the device itself was easy and fun enough. For the most part, my issues had little to do with the device itself, but on its usage. Ok, there were a few annoying little things too.
1. Big question. How does the device fit into my life?
- Great for kids. So far, my 6 year old loves it. She loves the interactions in the children’s books, turning the pages and finding unexpected little things along the way. And it was the unexpected little things that caused the outbursts of delight. The interactions themselves were completely intuitive to her. We also passed the iPad around among friends and had to pry it away from a 3 year old.
- Good e-Reader. I browsed around an checked out a few iBook samples. It looks good enough for what I need from an e-reader. I also downloaded the AmazonKindle app. It looks like a good deal because the wide selection between the two offers. I also downloaded a bible (with offline versions) by YouVersion and used my iPad at church. Makes it a whole lot easier to find those obscure verses.
- Great portable gaming device. So far, I have Scrabble and RealRacingHD on it. Both are amazing and fun. You can select to play Scrabble by yourself and brush up on your game, play with FB friends, select Local Network Play, and if you are with a friend -- go for the Pass ‘N Play, or if you are with many friends – select the Party Play. RealRacingHD was incredibly fun and challenging. The controls are a bit too sensitive, but I was able to get better at it quickly.
The above reasons would entice me to want my own iPad. But are these reasons enough? Basically, would I pay $500USD for a great e-Reader for me and my family, and to play games on? How quickly I spent $25 on games/apps a primary consideration too. I think it comes down to current behaviours and if we want to shell out the extra cash for things that we may or may not already engage in. A friend (naively) asked if we are replacing our laptops at work with the iPad. Answering that question brought a lot of ‘use’ questions to the surface.
2. Now for the little annoying things:
- The App Store is great and I prefer to any day over the iTunes store on the web (even the iTunes store has a much better interface on the iPad). The one thing I wish would be available is the price of a game or app that I have already purchased to be visible. Right now, it just says “Installed” where the price used to be. Having bought something, I really REALLY want to remember how much I paid for it. It would help me decide on purchasing other items and have a quick way to compare between what I have and what I want.
- My 6 year old had only one question for me after playing around with it. “Where is the camera?”
- I found it a bit more sensitive to wireless network connections than the regular laptop. Wondering if anyone else had the same experience? I had some network interruptions while watching vids on YouTube at various locations. Interestingly, the connection was superb just outside the Apple store at Yorkdale Mall. “
Dennis says :
“For me, the jury is still out on whether or not iPad can find a niche in my life. The device itself is wonderful. I love to how it looks and how it feels. It's a pleasure to interact with on so many levels. But I've yet to find any killer uses for it, because everything hinges on what you can find to consume.
Sadly, the thing I was most interested in consuming - books - is presently a DRM nightmare. I was particularly excited about the prospect of digital books for my work-related library. Having all my reference books in one small, easily searchable device sounded fantastic. But then I tried buying a few. Let's just say that getting iPad-ready books isn't as easy as clicking "buy" unless you're in the iBooks store.
So far, iPad doesn't replace any of my other devices. And some of the things it can do well - games and video - I don't really want more of in my life. Books could be the killer app, but the current state of the publishing industry is a big barrier. I want to love it, but, as I said – the jury is still out. “
Ammneh says:
“I’ve used iPad breifly but had a great experience! May be I’m a bit biased since I’m a regular user of an exising Apple product; iPhone. Here are a few of my thoughts about iPad:
- Design: Apple has invested a good amount of time reworking a few of the existing applications such as the calendar and email applications. The calendar UI is way much better than the iPhone. It mimics the outlook calenar that makes it ideal for the group of people who are used to outlook experience. I’ve also liked watching videos and reading books on it, as the screen size is perfect for these kinds of activities.
- Environment: I can see using iPad casually at home while watching T.V or when I don’t want to drag a heavy lap top around. So in short, it enables the casual environment that one might find at home.
- Audience: I think iPad will attract elementary school kids. Why? It’s so because the majority of functionality currently on iPad is suited for that age group; such as use of web for learning, playing games, watching shows, listening to music etc. This will work very well with Education’s vision of integrating technology in schools. Also, many kids are used to the iPod touch and iPad could be an enhancement to iPod touch for that age group.
- Comparison to other devices: if I compare iPad to my iPhone, I’m still going to use my iPhone more than the iPad. iPhone lets me to do everything I can do on iPad and use the phone functionality as well. iPhone’s portability allows me to carry it from first thing I get up in the morning to when I go to bed. It kind of builds a bond with you, which I don’t think can be replaced by iPad.
In summary, I think iPad is a great tool for casual daily functions and for kids, but it won’t still replace my work laptop or my iPhone. It’s only use for me is that I would put it on my coffee table and use it with my family. So may be iPad is replacing our T.V or board games for family night! “
Matt says:
“Overall, it's a great device. The physical object is beautiful and feels great to use. In my opinion, this is the biggest win for the iPad. It allows you to use it where a computer would be awkward, and in a much more intimate way. I can sit on the couch and read, or write, or watch something, in a much more relaxed pose.. more like holding a book or magazine. This means I'm more likely to use the iPad while sitting around and relaxing.
The larger screen means I can use it for things that the iPhone is too small for. Reading on the iPad is much more comfortable than the iPhone, for instance. The other huge advantage with the screen size is gaming. I never found a game immersive on my iPhone, but on the iPad gaming is very engrossing. It feels like a cross between a traditional video game and a board game. It will take a little while to figure out what types of games are best for this platform, but it has great potential.
I don't think it's ready to replace books or magazines for a few reasons. The first is that a lot of books have very broken layouts on the iPad.. it looks like the publisher didn't think about how it would translate to the screen/page size. The other reason is social. I tend to read in cafes, on the subway, or in other places like that. I've felt self-concious using the iPad in these places. Maybe that will change if they become more common, but right now it stops me from using it where I would normally use a book or magazine.
As a creative device I'm not sure where it fits right now. There's no gap in my design process that it fills.. I thought it might be good for sketching, potentially replacing the need to always carry a sketchbook and pens, but it isn't good enough for that, paper is still better and more convenient. I think it, or something like it, has potential as a creative tool, but I don't know what that is yet. “
Heather says:
Where a Cellphone Is Still Cutting Edge. “What if, globally speaking, the iPad is not the next big thing? What if the next big thing is small, cheap and not American?” A little perspective for those of us thinking globally about people and technology. “
Posted in on April 28, 2010
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