Apple Announces iPad

On January 27th, 2010, Apple Inc. announced their newest device, the iPad. The iPad is a casual, mobile computing device that some say will revolutionize the way that we surf the internet, read books, and the way that we think of computers in general. While this sounds exciting, how accurate is it? Ingenux cuts through the hype for you.

So what does it do? The iPad is a casual computing device capable of reading eBooks, checking email, surfing the internet, and more depending on the applications you load onto it. It has a multi-touch screen, like the iPhone. The screen is 9.7", in full color. It has a 10-hour battery life, and uses a solid-state hard drive instead of a hard disk. Its functionality should be expanded by access to Apple's much-lauded App Store.

eBooks
While not specifically designed for it, the iPad will work as an eBook reader. This puts it into direct competition with Amazon's Kindle Device, Sony's eBook Reader, and Barnes and Noble's Nook Device. Of these three competitors, only the Nook has a color screen. The Kindle and Sony eBook reader devices employ a technology called eInk, which goes to great pains to simulate the look and contrast of actual black ink on white paper. Apple has eschewed this concept in favor of a full color backlit screen.

The iPad is loaded with features compared to other eBook readers. It comes standard with a color screen, speakers, headphone jack, microphone, support for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ambient Light Sensor, Accelerometer, and a SIM card slot for wireless broadband access. Not to mention, the iPad supports a long list of file formats that its competition in the eBook market simply doesn't address. Further, Apple is applying the lessons learned through its iTunes online music store to an online iBook store.

Internet
The iPad won't come with free wireless connectivity, like Amazon's Kindle device. However, it will come with a SIM card slot for wireless, mobile internet access. This makes the iPad a credible competitor for netbooks like Dell's Inspiron Mini and Asus' EEE PC. Also, the 10-hour battery life of the iPad wipes the floor with most netbooks. The iPad also features a multi-touch interface, weighs 1.5 pounds, and can be used in either landscape or portrait format. The accelerometer in the device automatically registers the position in which it is being held, and adjusts the screen accordingly.

Still, netbooks are full-fledged (if tiny) computers, with full Operating Systems. You can load programs onto most netbooks yourself, as you wish, unlike the iPad. Which brings us to the next point.

App Store
If all the iPad did was read books and surf the Internet, it wouldn't be quite so interesting. But you can also expand its usefulness by downloading applications from the App Store, which makes the iPad not only more entertaining, but more useful as well. The problem is, you can only download applications from the App store. There's no other way to load programs onto the device, limiting its utility significantly.

Casual Computing
What is casual computing? Think of it as computing from the couch. The iPad seems like a natural fit for this style of computing. The iPad weighs about the same as a hefty paperback with the outside dimensions of a magazine.

Drawbacks
The iPad isn't perfection. Some have pointed to the lack of a phone in the device as a serious flaw. Others have mentioned that the iPad does not support Flash, rendering a large parts of the Internet unusable. Some critics have also mentioned the lack of a camera as being a puzzling deal breaker.

More seriously, the iPad does not support multitasking. This means that you can't listen to music while surfing the internet, for example.

Conclusion
The iPad looks devastating as competition for eBook Readers and netbooks. Apple is saying that the future of computing is about portability and ease of use. To some, that lack of flexibility is a hindrance, but to others, it's the entire reason that they are looking forward to the iPad.

After all, sometimes all you want is to check the news, read a book, or listen to some music. And it doesn't necessarily require a decked out desktop computer or a massive laptop to do it.

The iPad begins shipping in March, with prices starting at $499.