   The Ultimate Apple iPad Review
PrefaceLet me just start out by saying that I'm totally unbaised in my opinion and review on this product.  When forking out over $1,300 in all for the Apple Wifi + 3G iPad 64gb, there's certain things that you expect and even being a Mac fanboy(which I'm most certainly not, and despise many things that Apple does including limitations) doesn't change the fact.  This review is being written about 10 hours after being opened out of the box so that there's no "growing on me" feelings displayed within the article.The Initial ImpressionAfter waiting for over a week for the iPad to arrive, it finally made it's way to Iraq(and in one piece!).  The first thing that it wanted me to do when turned on is plug it into iTunes, so you might as well make sure you're at a computer when/if you decide to get one.  Once plugged in, the load up and installation process was an absolute breeze.  Having been an iPhone 2G/3G/3GS owner, there's a considerable difference in load times between the iPhone and iPad.  iPad's loadup is almost instant, and the installation process and syncing took no more than 2-3 minutes. From the box the iPad's crystal clear screen and slim, beautiful look is almost too real.  If you've used an iPhone or iPod Touch then it will feel as though it's just a bigger version of either at first.  With the same bottom USB hookup, right-side volume controls, top-right locking button, the home button, and the headphone jack all being in the same place.  There IS however, a few changes from the iPhone/Touch.  Instead of having a vibrate/mute to volume on a slider switch up above the volume keys it's now a screen rotation lock.  This will lock the screen from rotating as you turn the iPad, so unfortunately the only way I know to mute the device is to just turn the volume all the way down, a bit of a pain if I may add.  The second change is the SIM-card placement(I'm going to go out on a limb and say this compartment is only found in the 3G iPad version).  Unlike the iPhone/Touch where the SIM-card is held at the top of the device, the compartment is now on the left bottom side of the device. This really holds no significant change to operations obviously.While the initial impression of this device is like I stated "almost too real", we'll need to look more in-depth at each part of the device to really get a good glimpse at the overall performance and operation of Apple's iPad.The DisplayWhat can I say, it's big, it's sleak, it's...glary? Yup, having this big of a screen does come with some drawbacks -- The screen is prone to glaring, while this doesn't make a considerable difference in the quality it is still there.  Apple states that the screen is made to be glare-free by the way.  The quality of the display doesn't change due to angle, and the quality itself is crystal clear. Youtube has never looked better.If you thought that the precision of the iPhone/Touch screen was precise, this feels even better.  I don't know what it is but being this big of a screen, it seems anywhere I "mean" to touch, is where it does.  The built in keyboard on the device is also easy to use, and with the added auto-correction it almost feels like you're typing on a regular keyboard based on precision. **Please note I have small fingers, so this may be easier for me than some.**The biggest, most annoying thing about the display, and my biggest annoyance about the whole iPad period is the fact that it doesn't come with a non-static cleaning cloth. What the?! Why Apple? Why do you have a screen, and a TOUCH screen at this, that doesn't come with one of these cloths? It's very suseptible to finger prints and by the first hour I found myself scrubbing it with one of the many non-static cleaning cloths that I fortunately had sitting around for my Kindle and iPhone.  Thankfully the iPad has a 1-inch black border around the screen so that constant holding of the device doesn't smudge up the actual display itself -- a little less smudge, still no cloth no deal!The PerformanceFor it just coming out, I've had no problems performance or bug wise with the device within the first 24 hours.  Applications load successfully and without much delay at all.  I HAVE had problems when syncing it with iTunes, that iTunes tends to become Non-responsive(especially when shopping the AppStore) and will freeze up to the point of having to manually end the task through the task manager.  Based on the applications I've loaded onto the iPad, this is a developers dream and gives much to be imagined in the coming months as to how developers will fill the AppStore out with inventive applications.  I can't say much more about the performance, it does everything it's supposed to and so far everything I've thrown at it, it's performed without much effort.The ApplicationsUnfortunately, this is where the iPad starts going downhill.  I'm not sure why, but the lack of applications in certain fields and the overall quality of these applications is sub-par.  I felt like I was digging for gold trying to find good applications, especially utility and business applications, for this device.  I'm sure that this will only get better with time, but the feeling of this being an Andriod is really apparent in this department.When it comes to games though, the developers have pulled no stops -- there's an absolute plethora of games for the iPad and some good ones at that, like Plants vs. Zombies!AudioThank God the audio is better than that of the iPhone/Touch, with most of my music I found that the audio on the iPhone/Touch became scratchy and was no were near loud enough.  Not anymore, the iPad's speakers are clear and "music" to the ears.  ConnectivityBeing in Iraq I was worried that I wouldn't be able to use the 3G portion of it till I was able to get back home, not so.  I can connect to the local cellular provider, pay 30 bucks a month unlimited, and have full 3G access wherever I can find it.  This is pretty awesome seeing as I'm in a 3rd-world country.  From what I've read the iPad is unlocked for international use with any cellular provider that offers 3G access.**BIG NOTE: Flash is still disabled on this device and trying to access flash only websites is impossible, blame Apple for their stubborness and constant limitations.**OverallBased on it's total performance and feel overall the iPad definitely has the needed hardware and software to become a phenomena, not that it isn't already.  While I still feel that the applications department needs some polishing, and that it REALLY needs a non-static cloth with it, it performs and was worth every bit of the money I spent on it.I recommend it for anyone that lives in a good Wi-Fi or 3G area that has way too much going on with their life that a regular notepad can't handle.  My life is hectic, both military wise and in my civilian life and this is the perfect median to draw everything in together and organize what seems as being an impossible information cyclone that I live in.I hope that you've enjoyed this review and any questions, comments, or suggestions would be much appreciated!   
  We got one at work for testing and development. I spent about 2 hours working with the thing -- testing a few of our web apps, writing a few work-related emails, and filling out my time sheet -- to get a sense of what "real" use would be like (rather than just poking around and typing "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" in the note editor 20 times).I found the keyboard overly twitchy and the auto-correction disconcerting. The auto-correction doesn't feel like it is there to *assist* me, it feels like it is there to make up for the deficiencies of the keyboard. I found myself accidentally brushing the Enter key quite frequently. Additionally, I never found a comfortable way to type on it, the least painful way seemed to be to lay the iPad on a desk and stand over the desk to type.Also on the keyboard, check out the F and J keys. They drew the home-row nubs on them!Form factor-wise, it's too big to put in my pocket and it's too small to do work. This isn't a device that you're going to automatically have on you like you would your smartphone. If I have to remember to pack a bag to carry a computer, I don't see why I wouldn't pack a laptop instead of an iPad. Something like the Sony VAIO X Series  or the  heavier-but-cheaper W Series would be more comfortable and more featureful.   ;Quote:Original post by capn_midnightWe got one at work for testing and development. I spent about 2 hours working with the thing -- testing a few of our web apps, writing a few work-related emails, and filling out my time sheet -- to get a sense of what "real" use would be like (rather than just poking around and typing "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" in the note editor 20 times).I found the keyboard overly twitchy and the auto-correction disconcerting. The auto-correction doesn't feel like it is there to *assist* me, it feels like it is there to make up for the deficiencies of the keyboard. I found myself accidentally brushing the Enter key quite frequently. Additionally, I never found a comfortable way to type on it, the least painful way seemed to be to lay the iPad on a desk and stand over the desk to type.Also on the keyboard, check out the F and J keys. They drew the home-row nubs on them!Form factor-wise, it's too big to put in my pocket and it's too small to do work. This isn't a device that you're going to automatically have on you like you would your smartphone. If I have to remember to pack a bag to carry a computer, I don't see why I wouldn't pack a laptop instead of an iPad. Something like the Sony VAIO X Series  or the  heavier-but-cheaper W Series would be more comfortable and more featureful.I guess I've learned to type on something so small with my iPhone, I thought it was going to be a hassle at first but the auto-correction feature is very nice when texting, etc.  I actually went to the expense of buying the keyboard dock for this and it also works great. As far as carrying it, I carry a backpack with me everywhere I go -- being an electronics technician -- that's automatically filled with various tools, toys, and the what not.  While I don't mind carrying my laptop, no netbook that's as small as the iPad performs so well and the fact that I would need to carry a laptop power cable along with it is cumbersome - laptops have a bad habit of killing battery power and quickly.  I found that the iPad's battery, even when working on it and connected to 3G far exceeds that of a laptops battery.While this device works for me, and my life, I can see how it wouldn't be right for everyone, I just seem to have a perfect affinity for this device and my lifestyle :)   ;Quote:this is a developers dreamProvided that you dream in C, C++, ObjC or &#106avascript, that is.Quote:Original post by Christopher LoydI guess I've learned to type on something so small with my iPhone, I thought it was going to be a hassle at first but the auto-correction feature is very nice when texting, etc.  I actually went to the expense of buying the keyboard dock for this and it also works great. As far as carrying it, I carry a backpack with me everywhere I go -- being an electronics technician -- that's automatically filled with various tools, toys, and the what not.  While I don't mind carrying my laptop, no netbook that's as small as the iPad performs so well and the fact that I would need to carry a laptop power cable along with it is cumbersome - laptops have a bad habit of killing battery power and quickly.  I found that the iPad's battery, even when working on it and connected to 3G far exceeds that of a laptops battery.While this device works for me, and my life, I can see how it wouldn't be right for everyone, I just seem to have a perfect affinity for this device and my lifestyle :)How much battery life does it give you? My ~300 USD 11" netbook with specs that beat the pants off the iPad gives me about seven hours of wifi connected battery life if I'm constantly recompiling stuff.I have a hard time seeing any use for a device that big without a keyboard or multitasking. Heck, even my phone has a real keyboard and proper multitasking!   ;Quote:Original post by ValdermanProvided that you dream in C, C++, ObjC or &#106avascript, that is.Unfortunately QBasic isn't a very used language these days :)Quote:How much battery life does it give you? My ~300 USD 11" netbook with specs that beat the pants off the iPad gives me about seven hours of wifi connected battery life if I'm constantly recompiling stuff.Netbooks are absolutely crap, seeing as though I've dealt with my fair share of them because it seems like everyone I've deployed with HAS to have one, then they realize that it's about as useful as a calculator.While offline today, I worked about a 12 hour shift and the battery was down to 82%% when I got to my room.Since I have to go outside to actually get 3G in this country, and basing it off of the time I've spent outside using the 3G, it's probably a good 14-15 hours battery life with 3G going.  As far as Wi-Fi I couldn't tell you, that's a luxury they don't serve too kindly here in Iraq.   ;Quote:Original post by Christopher LoydWhile offline today, I worked about a 12 hour shift and the battery was down to 82%% when I got to my room.Was that 12 hours of it being mostly in standby mode?As for languages, Python, Haskel, Java, LISP. All great languages that I apparently can't use on the IPad.[Edited by - Talroth on May 20, 2010 1:43:09 PM];Quote:Was that 12 hours of it being mostly in standby mode?As for languages, Python, Haskel, Java, LISP. All great languages that I apparently can't use on the IPad.Actuall no, everyone around the office decided they wanted to play with it and see how it worked. So it was mostly being used all day, and when it was not I was putting my project draft into it in the iThoughts application I got last night.As far as languages, no one should be set to programming on one language, I do not intend to just learn C# and be done with it myself.   ;Quote:Original post by Christopher LoydAs far as languages, no one should be set to programming on one language, I do not intend to just learn C# and be done with it myself.But that really isn't Apple's outlook at the moment.  They have it locked down to the languages they specify.   ;Quote:Original post by TalrothAs for languages, Python, Haskel, Java, LISP. All great languages that I apparently can't use on the IPad.And I can't use C or C++ to program on Windows Mobile.There are no great languages.There are only right tools for the job.And there are always other tablets, the market is flooded with them, so it's not really a problem.Fashion is an interesting phenomenon. It has no material value, yet awakens desire. Why isn't anyone upset over Microsoft doing the same thing?   ;Quote:Original post by RattrapQuote:Original post by Christopher LoydAs far as languages, no one should be set to programming on one language, I do not intend to just learn C# and be done with it myself.But that really isn't Apple's outlook at the moment.  They have it locked down to the languages they specify.I hate XBox, I can only develop on it with XNAI hate Apple, I can only develop on it with their SDKhmmm....The same can be said with MANY products on the market.  When dealing with any type of hardware, there are always restrictions, being versatile and and non-tunnel-visioned is what technology is all about.  If I'm a Java programmer, and I can't program on the Apple with Java, then to me -- as a man that loves learning new things and strives to know a little of everything -- this would give me a basis to learn Cocoa, fiddle with the iPhone/iPad's unique SDK, and ultimately motivation to progress as a technical engineer.   