And Finally, The iPad!
After months of fun speculation about Apple’s “new creation,” Steve Jobs announced the new iPad at an invitation only event in San Francisco yesterday. I had planned to write down my wish-list of functionality and capabilities for the device, but laziness and other activities got in the way. Now I can respond to what actually came out.
I don’t care what anyone says about how wonderful the iPad is; I suspect everyone is a little disappointed it doesn’t do more that it does. The form factor is wonderful; the battery life sounds good, the display is OK, although I had hoped for higher resolution and a more cinematographic display. And it sounds like it will be a decent e-book reader, although I had hoped to hear more about newspaper and magazine subscriptions that would be available for the device. I used to get MacWorld electronically and really liked reading it on my Mac.
Having a modified version of iWork available for the iPad is a good idea, although I still don’t see it as an input kind of device. I see it more as a media delivery device and a communication device - which leads me to its biggest fail in my opinion. Where is the front facing camera so that I can iChat with my friends and family?
A lot of commentators seem to poo-poo the idea that people actually use computer cameras to communicate with each other. I don’t know what world they live in, but my family and friends are scattered all over the world and video-camming with them has been a staple communications activity ever since iChat video became available. Actually I have been camming with friends since my PC days. Robbie and I managed a four-year remote relationship primarily with the help of regular video communications. So I think these pundits are totally wrong about the usefulness and necessity of a camera on the iPad. Until it gets one, it could never replace my MacBook.
Another piece of functionality it should really have is the ability to allow me to connect desktop-to-desktop with my iMac using back-to-my-Mac. If I could run things remotely on my desktop from the iPad, then I would truly have the best of all possible worlds. I’m not sure we will ever see this, but it sure would increase the usefulness of an iPad.
The last thing missing, from my point of view, is multi-tasking. The fact that most activities on the iPad (and iPhone/iPod Touch) are single-threaded limits the usefulness of the device as a laptop substitute. I can accept this limitation on my iPhone (although I really don’t like it!), but on a device that wants to replace my MacBook, I need the ability to do more than one thing at a time. Streaming media and doing something else at the same time in a no-brainer, but as it is, this is only possible with iTunes.
I am reminded of my feelings towards the Mac back in the 80’s and early 90’s when I was running several applications simultaneously on my Amiga (including a decent Mac emulation!) while the Mac sat there with one hand and two feet tied behind its back. The Mac and the Amiga used the same CPU and the Amiga OS ran circles around the Mac back then. It took a VERY long time for my low impression of the Mac OS to change. It only happened when OS X came along. And even now, my subjective memory is that the Amiga of that day ran multiple apps more smoothly and with less impact of each other than what happens on a Mac today. Just an my impression!
So, bottom line, would I buy an iPad? Sure, if money were no object, I would love to have one to play with. But until at least the camera issue in resolved, I can’t see getting one to replace my MacBook. Rumours abound that the next iPhone OS will offer some kind of multitasking. This would be a huge improvement, and I hope it shows up soon. Many thought it would be announced along with the iPad, but alas, not. Perhaps by the time the iPad actually arrives on the market, some of these issues will have been addressed. As it is, I suspect my next Apple purchase will be the next version of the iPhone. Looking forward to that this summer!
I don’t care what anyone says about how wonderful the iPad is; I suspect everyone is a little disappointed it doesn’t do more that it does. The form factor is wonderful; the battery life sounds good, the display is OK, although I had hoped for higher resolution and a more cinematographic display. And it sounds like it will be a decent e-book reader, although I had hoped to hear more about newspaper and magazine subscriptions that would be available for the device. I used to get MacWorld electronically and really liked reading it on my Mac.
Having a modified version of iWork available for the iPad is a good idea, although I still don’t see it as an input kind of device. I see it more as a media delivery device and a communication device - which leads me to its biggest fail in my opinion. Where is the front facing camera so that I can iChat with my friends and family?
A lot of commentators seem to poo-poo the idea that people actually use computer cameras to communicate with each other. I don’t know what world they live in, but my family and friends are scattered all over the world and video-camming with them has been a staple communications activity ever since iChat video became available. Actually I have been camming with friends since my PC days. Robbie and I managed a four-year remote relationship primarily with the help of regular video communications. So I think these pundits are totally wrong about the usefulness and necessity of a camera on the iPad. Until it gets one, it could never replace my MacBook.
Another piece of functionality it should really have is the ability to allow me to connect desktop-to-desktop with my iMac using back-to-my-Mac. If I could run things remotely on my desktop from the iPad, then I would truly have the best of all possible worlds. I’m not sure we will ever see this, but it sure would increase the usefulness of an iPad.
The last thing missing, from my point of view, is multi-tasking. The fact that most activities on the iPad (and iPhone/iPod Touch) are single-threaded limits the usefulness of the device as a laptop substitute. I can accept this limitation on my iPhone (although I really don’t like it!), but on a device that wants to replace my MacBook, I need the ability to do more than one thing at a time. Streaming media and doing something else at the same time in a no-brainer, but as it is, this is only possible with iTunes.
I am reminded of my feelings towards the Mac back in the 80’s and early 90’s when I was running several applications simultaneously on my Amiga (including a decent Mac emulation!) while the Mac sat there with one hand and two feet tied behind its back. The Mac and the Amiga used the same CPU and the Amiga OS ran circles around the Mac back then. It took a VERY long time for my low impression of the Mac OS to change. It only happened when OS X came along. And even now, my subjective memory is that the Amiga of that day ran multiple apps more smoothly and with less impact of each other than what happens on a Mac today. Just an my impression!
So, bottom line, would I buy an iPad? Sure, if money were no object, I would love to have one to play with. But until at least the camera issue in resolved, I can’t see getting one to replace my MacBook. Rumours abound that the next iPhone OS will offer some kind of multitasking. This would be a huge improvement, and I hope it shows up soon. Many thought it would be announced along with the iPad, but alas, not. Perhaps by the time the iPad actually arrives on the market, some of these issues will have been addressed. As it is, I suspect my next Apple purchase will be the next version of the iPhone. Looking forward to that this summer!