My Apple iPad review

My Apple iPad review:

Hey all hope you are fine
I just bought an iPad 64GB Wi-Fi 3 days ago and wanted to write a review about it.
Before i start,let me say that its the first Apple device that i bought(I have worked with a 27" iMac,iPod touch but I have never owned any Apple devices until now).
So let's get started

General Specifications

Display
Capacitive 9.7" scratch-resistant LED-backlit glossy widescreen LCD with 1024x768 resolution

Capacity
16GB,32GB and 64GB(64GB tested in this review)

Processor
Apple A4 1GHz CPU

Input and output
Dock connector,3.5mm audio jack,microphone and a built-in speaker

Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11(a/b/g/n)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology

Location applications
Wi-Fi
GPS
Digital compass

Battery
Built-in 25-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery with up to 10 hours of web surfing,watching movies and listening to music

Weight
0.68 kg

Finally in the box,aside from iPad,there is a Dock Connector to USB Cable,10W USB Power Adapter and of course documentation.

Design and Display
In terms of design,it looks pretty much like a iPod touch but a lot bigger.
It weights 0.68 kg and is about 9.56" tall and 0.5" thin.For me,its light and easy to carry or hold.the back side is silver with an Apple logo on it and fingerprint-resistant with oleo-phobic coating.
And there are 4 buttons on the iPad,on top there is the "on/off,sleep/wake" button.On the right side,you'll find the "volume control" along with the "screen rotation lock",and finally on the down-side,the Home button is located.
Overall i was impressed by the design and the build quality.
Here are some pictures
iPad next to(my uncle's)27" iMac


Front

Back

As for display,it looks gorgeous,a big 9.7" display with great features like IPS technology,Multi-Touch input method and more importantly scratch-resistant; furthermore, its capacitive too,which reacts to the slightest of touches and is very precise.
Typing on the on-screen keyboard was a very good experience,the keys sizes are good in both portrait and landscape mode and thanks to the capacitive display,typing was easy,fast and accurate,
On the down-side,however it attract finger print very much,so i had to clean it after each time i used it,however the good thing is that there are some screen protectors for the iPad which are anti-fingerprint,but in this review,I didn't have any screen protectors.

Operating System
The OS(Operating System)is pretty much like the iPod touch and its very user friendly and easy to use.Currently the OS version is 3.2,but it can be upgraded to OS 4.0 when its released. By default,there are two pages on the screen which you can switch between them,the first one is for searching the device and the other one is for placing the applications and games.(You can add more pages in the iTunes though).
In the home page you'll find Calender,Contacts,Notes,Google maps,Videos,Youtube,iTunes,App Store and Settings,along with Safari,Mail,Photos and iPod on the down-side.
My overall experience with the OS and User Interface was very good,its very fast and responsive(thanks to its 1GHz CPU).
On the negative side,there is a lack of multi-tasking,so you can't switch between the applications,you have to close one program and then open another one,however this will be solved with OS 4.0

Multimedia and e-book reading
Music
As mentioned,iPad has a port for 3.5mm audio devices,so you can connect headphones and earphones that have a 3.5mm port; in addition,very much like iPhone,iPad has a built in iPod,the audio quality is very good in both headset and the loud speaker,the bass was quite good too.
On the other hand,you have to go to the "settings" to set choose a equalizer setting,I would have preferred to have these options in the music player,also unlike iPod touch,cover flow is missing from the music gallery.

Video
iPad can play videos with the formats like MP4 and H.264,for this review,i played a HD video of one of Shakira's musics and it played it perfect,without any problems such as lags,slow-downs etc.
However,it doesn't support formats like DivX or WMV out of box and you have to convert videos like these in iTunes,so you can watch them in the iPad,but it seems that VideoLAN are working on a video player that can support numerous video formats.

Photos
Viewing photos on the iPad was excellent.I added about 20 high resolutions pictures(all with a resolution like 2700x1700 and up)and it opened them very fast and they looked great on the widescreen display,also when you add a folder of pictures to the iPad,it recognizes it as an album,so it gathers them all in one place in a cubic shape album and by touching it,it expands and show all the pictures.
Overall,browsing and looking at the pictures was quite fun and enjoyable.

e-book reading
As mentioned above,i was looking for an e-book reader,because i can't sit in front of my computer to read PDF files and e-books for a long time,so i needed something portable,in order that i can read my files and books anywhere i want,so this was one of the most important buying reasons for me.I didn't download iBooks,because it doesn't open PDF files,instead i installed "good reader",which is an application for reading PDF files,and i added some books in PDF formats,and i was really surprised.The experience was just amazing.First of all,there is a option which allows users to change the back-light,so its optimized for reading in day or reading in night(or in low-light),overall i was quite impressed with reading books on the iPad.

Internet and connectivity
Internet
Like iPod touch,iPad has a built-in web browser known as "Safari".It supports multi-touch so you can easily zoom in every part of the page(you can use double-tap as well).
One of the great things about the browser is that it shows all the open web pages in a group,with a small view of each,so you can select the pages that you want easily.
The only drawback of the browser is the lack of Adobe flash,which is a very useful feature in browsing websites.
Also iPad has a built-in Mail application,which allows users to add a variety of accounts(such as gmail,yahoo etc.)and check their e-mails.

Connectivity
Unfortunately,many connectivity features are limited in Iran and are not usable,so the only thing that i tried was the Wi-Fi.Before buying the iPad,i had read some articles that some users experience random disconnects and could use Wi-Fi in a short range.
Well i couldn't test it in long ranges but i tested it from every corner of our house(maximum range was about 12 meters) and it connected fine with maximum signal and it never got disconnected.

Applications and games
Applications
There are variety of useful applications and games available from Apple store.I tried some applications such as "good reader" for reading PDF files and "Keynote",which is great for making presentation,both were very user friendly and worked very well.

Games
I tried some games like Rally racing HD and Mirror's edge and it was a great experience,especially the Rally racing which benefits from the built in accelerometer.

Conclusion
In conclusion,i really got what i needed,i wanted a device for listening to music,watching videos,reading e-books,browsing the web etc.and i am quite satisfied with my purchases,because although it has some drawbacks,but its very good for my needs.
It's not anything that can replace my computer,its a portable and simple to use device that lets me do the tasks i want easy and quickly,first i was considering to buy a notebook(netbooks aren't widely spread here and are priceless),but since i needed something with a size of a book(height) and thin and light,i decided to get and iPad.(Also e-book readers are quite expensive in Iran and don't have all the features that i want)

I hope you enjoyed reading this review feel free to ask any questions about it.

 

thanks Maziar

I love you for it

 

one question: can i take note in ebook reader

 

to Consecrated
you are quite welcome

to GRZ530
I don't think so,i looked in both goodreader and readdledocs and couldn't find an option to take notes

 

Thanks for the review

 

you are welcome

 

The description on the kindle app says you can highlight and make notes.

 

thanks for the nice review..

still think why should i get one now!

 

I'm looking at getting one of these myself. Just waiting for the next version of the OS to come out which adds multitasking and folders. Perhaps they may add additional features.

I'm generally skittish about being an early adopter.

 

The OS update on the iPad won't be until this fall which is a bit concerning. Apple is concentrating on the iPhone update currently so its somewhat understandable. My hope is that the delay is so they can optimize the OS for the iPad and add features. Once you wait until the fall, your next delay will be wondering if you should wait for version 2.0.

 

you are welcome,glad you liked it

 

I'm generally good about when to pull the trigger. I don't mind the next best thing just around the corner. Though I do like a bit of polish which is something that is rare on the first iteration of any product.

Apple should mature the OS by that time. They really have an excellent product on their hands. Before actually seeing an iPad in person, I had my doubts. Now having played around with it, I'm deliberately finding needs for it.

 

You'll be surprised how much you'll use it. As long as you see if for what it is, rather than looking at it as a notebook replacement, you'll be fine. The iPad is my new travel system and the MBP is left sitting on the desk at home. Although even at home the MBP is getting limited use due to the iPad.

 

I was thoroughly impressed with it. It sits in the perfect niche between a notebook and PDA. Looking forward to owning one. One of the things that I am looking forward to is the iWork suite on it. Especially the word processing aspect of it.

BTW, have you seen the upcoming clamcase for it?

Apple iPad Clam Case

Looks like the perfect addition for on the go. Hope that it is reasonably priced when it comes out.

 

iWork is nice but still needs some "work". Pages is great for taking notes and doing stuff on the road but they need to give it printing abilities via wifi. The Numbers program is a little wonky in my opinion. I'm looking for a way to use my iPad bento database in numbers still. They also need to improve the conversion to Office files. As much as I prefer the iWork suite to Office, Office is still the standard used by work.

That clam case looks interesting but at that point I would be wondering "why not just take my MBP". I really like the Apple case since it let's me use it as a stand or incline it for typing. I don't see a need for an external keyboard as once you get used to it the iPad's keyboard is awesome. External keyboards are only for people who cannot adapt to change.

 

I'm pretty sure I'd rather shoot myself in the head rather than try to take lecture notes on an iPad touch screen.

yep...pretty sure.

 

A pen and paper is easier and much more rapid for me. anyways, great review. The ipad is surely the most popular gadget of lust atm. That thing is a mobile computer.Btw, can the 3g antenna be used for voice calls? May be apple will implement this in a future update.

 

Perhaps via VOIP app but otherwise I don't believe so.

 

I have a tablet that I sometimes use with the on screen soft keyboard. I imagine the iPad's multitouch would make that a better experience.

But I'm so old school that I still have a typewriter. Well in a display case. But the point is... *head scratch*... I suppose I'll have to learn to adapt.

Well, When I first heard about the iPad I was hoping it would come with a stylus as I am used to inking notes on a tablet with Onenote. But unlike the iPhone, the OSD keyboard is larger especially in landscape mode. Perfect size for fingertips. My mind would have to get used to the loss of tactile feedback before I become as proficient as with it.

 

You never know, you might enjoy it. Just like a regular keyboard it takes time to get good at it.

Wow! You must write really fast.

The 3g cannot be used for calls currently but maybe with a jailbreak?

They do make stylus for the iPad just not the traditional type you are thinking of with the point. I use one with sketchpad to placy around and it works pretty well. I spend my work days typing away on a regular keyboard and while I consider my style to be a modified hunt and peck I type pretty quickly. I find that I can type faster on the iPad than a regular keyboard except for two issues: 1. typing numbers and symbols 2. When spell check thinks it's smarter than me and puts in the wrong word.

In the end the touch keyboard isn't for everyone as some people just cant get over the need to feel the key press.

 

lack of tactile feedback and non-standard placement of certain keys would make an iPad very difficult to use in a lecture setting, where speed is key (lest you miss points being made in real time). just typing on web forums with an iPad can sometimes be a frustrating experience. and on a forum, you have plenty of time to fix errors.

I would not want to use an iPad for live note taking without a bluetooth keyboard. glad I have one of those too.

ymmv. I also find that some people have are more masochistic than others. I prefer to not have to constantly look down at my hands when typing. things that take away from my ability to focus on the matter at hand are no good to me.

 

cygdubersexggxchgvgruual

 

I find using my iPad for reading and viewing videos 95% of the time and typing 5% of the time (usually small searches on google).

I have a keyboard dock though to use if I ever need to type a whole paper.

 

See what happens when you touch type.

 

lol

basically.

 

So I was in Best Buy again this morning playing around with the iPad.

Jervis is right. The soft keyboard is easy to get used to. Typed two moderate sized paragraphs in notes, in landscape mode, at about the same speed I normally type with no problems. Even numbers and special punctuation wasn't difficult to deal with. The touch responsiveness is ideal.

 

If you need to download, access your MacBook (Pro) or pull something up from home, the logmein app works great. I use it all the time and love it.

And then for streaming ANY type of video (Divx, MKV, etc) to the iPad, I use Stream to Me. Works great

 

I keep everything I need access to in Dropbox... can share URLs to it for other people.. can get access in any web browser... and there is a Dropbox app i use on my iPhone to access everything. Don't have to log into any computers, or have remote computers on or anything.

 

Ok um.. while using the ipad, the lack of flash is an absolute fail. Being unable to get flash sucks.

 

I just picked up my ipad a few days ago and i love it. sure its a little less useful than my macbook pro was but i was just looking for something light i could use around my house. typing this post up on it right now and at first thr keyboard was a bit to get used to but now i type almost as fast on it as i do a regular keyboard with minimal errors. overall im happy with my purchase.

 

+1 for Dropbox. What a great (and free) utility. A must have for ipad users IMO.

 

Better no Flash than the promise of flash that fails. Do you OWN an iPad or basing your opinion on what you've heard or read and two playing with one in a store?

 

Tried one out in Best Buy today, typing is really easy on the iPad, I don't think I would have trouble typing notes on it if I was still in school. Have to say I was impressed... Leaning more towards getting one now that I have actually seen it.

 

To be fair, there are times that I prefer to type on the MBP. It's not due to a fault in the keyboard but rather the ability to swap between browser windows a little quicker while typing responses here.

 

The big nice 27 inch imac you had behind the ipad made me want to take the money i would spend on the ipad to go buy the imac lol.

 

Exactly, I don't doubt the iPad is a good toy, but thats just it, an $800 toy. Its not portable enough for me to carry it with me, at least any farther than I'd carry my notebook. Plus it offers little more productivity than my phone, which is far more portable and even has a couple more features like multitasking and a camera.

The novelty of it would be worth about $100 to me, as its less portable than an iPod touch. But for $800 I'm half way to a 15inch Macbook pro... BTW I have used one extensively in the Apple store, and have played with my friend's, he feels the same way about it. Crazy cool at first, but after the initial novelty wore off he never found a real use for it that wasn't covered by his phone and notebook.

Plus theres the whole issue of Applications being only available from the iTunes store, which is expensive. I would be much more useful to me if it support some of the free Flash based web services. Or if the software was freely distributed on the web (apple didn't take a cut). This is what keeps it from being as useful as a netbook, at least in my eyes. I know some people probably feel different and if you can find a use for it I'm sure its worth the money.

 

Its not for everyone. Its easy to dismiss it when you are biased to begin with. Its $499 for the base model and $829 for the highest priced model. It would be more accurate to say you are half way to the cost of a 13 inch Macbook. To say that a notebook is just as portable and a cell phone is almost as functional is a stretch. I would't consider playing around on a friend's iPad or using one at the Apple store "extensive" use. Did you know that there are a ton of free apps available on iTunes? I wouldn't consider that expensive. Just like with a computer, if you don't want to pay for software just find something that does it for free.

 

I purchased one about a month ago and I love it.
I find myself using it more than my regular laptop for entertainment purposes I will have to say getting NetFlix is well worth the money.
Yeah it's not for everyone but it does what it does really well only complaint I do have about it are that good quality games are very few and that I might be addicted to it...lol
I've been watching LOST and I forgot how awesome the first season was.

 

How much memory did you get? And if it's not 64 you you feel that you need more?

 

Erm. I own one. Any more questions?
Lack of flash still fails imo.

 

Actually, yes. Your location is showing as Australia which just got the iPad this week. The news about lack of flash has been out for a while now. If flash is so important to you, that the product is a fail without it, why do you have an iPad.

I enjoy how people complain about lack of flash on Apple mobile products when there are NO mobile products (anything less than a netbook) that have full flash capability.

 

Why? Because I can afford it. Thought I'd see what all the hype was about. You all get so defensive.. just take the criticism ffs, its not like I'm an anti-apple hatter who has vowed never to buy apple products...

And thats not true, there are 'phones' with Flash. Infact ALL major phone platforms support flash.. except.. you guessed it Apple. Pretty much soon all new phones will come with flash on board, cept the iphone till Uncle Steve decides to fix that.

 

which ones?

 

Dunno now I just went to the adobe website and it gave some names.

 

well they have some flash lite versions they are testing.. that isn't full flash... but there is no phone out there that can run full flash as of yet. Its something adobe claims to be working on.. and have been for years.

 

Here is a little background on Adobe's Mobile flash.

Abobe talks about bringing flash to mobile phones in 2006.

About 2 1/2 years later Adobe is still working on mobile flash and decides that flash lite isn't the way to go. In November of 2008, Adobe announces that flash 10 will be ported for mobile devices.

In January of 2009 Adobe's CEO talks to Bloomberg about Flash on the iPhone starting at about 3 minutes and 26 seconds into the video. He talks about howApple is working with Adobe on bringing Flash to the iPhone but the ball is in Adobe's court to make Flash work properly.

<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V1jUDNqENbI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V1jUDNqENbI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width='640' height="385"></embed></object>

In October of 2009 Adobe announces Flash 10.1 is coming to mobile devices. Adobe announced that there would be betas late in 2009 for windows mobile and web OS but neither ever surfaced. To this date Android has the only released beta for flash.

 

Well I guess I stand corrected then. Fail Adobe.

 

I'm getting an iPad very soon and I already have a spare Apple wireless (Bluetooth) keyboard - the small metal one with white keys. I've heard that I can use that KB with the iPad over BT, is that true? And if so, when the BT KB is in use, does the iPad on-screen KB disappear when using apps that use KB - like Mail, Pages etc....?

 

ACT, my understanding is that the BT Apple keyboard that has the number pad on the side *will not work*. the others should.

YMMV.

 

Mine is the small one w/o the NUM pad. It looks identical to the one now being bundled with the new iMacs but it may not be exactly the same - bought it a couple of years ago. It looks like this.