iPad experience for community leaders: Better with each new discovery
Having ordered my iPad to be delivered sometime after April 12th and not at all thrilled to be standing in lines, I had settled into a the comfortable state of monitoring iPad news and seeing friends and others report on the device the first day of release. I was surprised to receive a call from my friend Chris Nordyke, who was standing in our local town’s Mac Store looking at a stack of stocked iPads. There were no lines and no hassles. With a quick cancel of my apple.com order, I was on my way to the store. My Saturday turned into a fun and interactive day, talking and sharing details with other friends who had purchased the device.
Like many, I have been researching the iPad on it’s rumor filled journey to debut. As a web technology and community professional, I have been looking forward to the iPad to supplement my other productivity tools. I was not prepared for what the iPad would offer. To break it down, I use a home and office desktop pc for heavy computing. I have a 6 year old laptop that is reliable, but seriously hobbled due to a short battery life. It will soon be obsolete as Microsoft slowly pushes xp out of commission. My mobile devices are an HTC Eris and an Apple iTouch. Out of all the devices I probably use the iTouch the most to monitor and engage with the non-profit and business communities I am involved with. The apps I use handle everything I need to stay productive and connected. What it lacked was a good word processor and a media reader/viewer of decent size. Basically I was pleased with the iTouch. While traveling or away from my desk it was my device of choice. So I knew that the iPad would supply the same excellent experience as my iTouch, but I was not prepared to be as impressed as I am.
Having the same capabilities on a larger scale would have been enough for me. But it goes way beyond that. The inclusion of a built in microphone allows voice recognition software use (see my list of apps mentioned below) and phone services like Skype. On the iTouch you need the proprietary headphone and mic combo from Apple. Some have complained that it is difficult to type on the device, but I am finding it easy. In fact I am writing this blog on it. The Twitter app that I have come to love on the iTouch is even better in the iPad version. Beyond that, all the the other apps that I use are all slowly releasing iPad version that integrate it’s great functions.
Last, the iPad is just a pleasure to use. It’s rich video and built in stereo speaker make it a great mobile media device. And while games were fun on the itouch, they are mind blowing on the the iPad. It is going to take a while for many apps to catch up to releasing HD versions (there are currently 1,000), but I believe the experience will only get better. (most iPhone/iTouch apps play in a small screen version of their native resolution and can be expanded to the full screen with degraded resolution with a 2x button)
Some have said it is foolish to buy a first generation Apple device, citing the far from great first version of the first iPhone. But really this device feels like it has had a thorough testing and quality evaluation. Like I said before, Apple scored by just building off of it’s senior sibling the iTouch. Yes improvements will come with 2nd and 3rd generations, but it has taken me 6 years for my current mobile computer’s use to run it’s course.
Here is a list of a few of the outstanding apps I have found. What has been your first impressions? I’d love to hear them as well as any great apps discovered.
And yes there are a few things that are a bit annoying, but the fact that it took 3 days to bump into them I don’t think they will be deal breakers for most (no flash support, copy and past between a few apps does not seem to work, and no video camera built in).
Pages- (incredible word processor)
Twittelator Pad (power user Twitter app)
Dropbox (Syncs files with your pc and laptop)
Dragon Dictation (a surprisingly accurate dictation app)
Marvel (Visually stunning comic app)
Popularity: 7% [?]
John, good first thoughts on the iPad. I am looking forward to enjoying mine soon. (waiting for my Snow Leopard update to arrive via Amazon on Tuesday- the iPad requires it.) I was very pleased to see that the NetFlix app supports the “watch now” movies on netflix (of which I am a subscriber). So many people complaining about the lack of flash (Hulu.com), yet my guess is, Hulu is coming soon.
After handling the iPad in the MAC store, I am super excited to make it my primary mobile device. Everything you've written is consistent with my brief play time at the MAC store yesterday. Oh, and it fits quite nicely inside my Built NY camera cargo bag. (along with my Nikon D90 SLR- very excited to get the SD card reader for the iPad)
Chris that's a bummer . You can actually unlock using any itunes account on a computer then unplug. You can then add apps via iTunes account on the device. I unlocked mine on the laptop Saturday while at @redhorsecoffee and then was able to download apps I had already bought as well as new ones. Just make sure you sync once you do get the Mac update.
Netflix, WordPress, Marvel, Dragon, Rhapsody, Brushes, all excellent.
iTeleport (pricey but very cool) Remote Desktop Sharing using VNC to your Mac and PC. (I was using photoshop on my iPad)
One of the most pleasant discoveries was that I can play Air Hockey with my son on the same device. This cracks open the possibilities for the iPad as a board game replacement and for use in table top games with multiple simultaneous players.
Ryan, I'll have to check those out. I use open VPN and I know apple won't support it for some reason. Also I saw a picture of people playing the scrabble game on the iPad and interfacing it with their iPhones. There are so many possibilities! I was thinking of air hockey today as well.
What a great “real-world” review. I'm a bit of an Apple fan boy, but I bought the first-gen iPhone days after launch and I have never regretted it. I have a hunch you (and probably Chris, too) won't regret this purchase either. As early adopters, you sometimes have the pain of seeing features replaced with newer and better things, but that's part of the fun of being an early adopter, you'll eventually be one of the first to use those, too!
Glad to hear that typing isn't so bad. But with the surprising accuracy of Dragon Dictation, the need for a typing application is highly reduced. I have a hunch there are some GREAT applications on the horizon for the iPad and I can't wait to see them (Hulu might just be a killer app). The accessories yet to come seem to have real promise, too. the Camera Connection Kit and video adapter cables seem nearly essential.
Can't wait for all those “this device will fail in two months” folks to eat crow.
Good review John. I've been enjoying mine as well. I really need to find a good case for it though.
Another app you should check out is GoodReader. It has a great interface for reading pretty much any document and works great with my Dropbox account.
Thanks Tim for the suggestion. I will check GoodReader out. I am in search for a good case as well. I am probably going to go for a neoprene one for my timbuk2 bag since I can't drop for a Saddleback sleeve yet. It fits perfectly in my old Duluth Trading filed bag.
Hmmm… a Saddleback sleeve. Might have to get that one.