Apple iPad – the tablet computer?
Feb 02
Well again I fell a little underwhelm by an Apple product that I hoped would be right up my street. I currently use a Powerbook 12″ which is now in it’s 6th year (and still going strong), but I would like to upgrade to something a little more modern.
What I originally wanted is something about the same size and the same power (ie bottom of the pro range), firewire port & a matt screen. In the run up to the launch of the Air, the rumours where pointing to something right up my street. But when it finally was revealed I was a dissappointed – no optical drive & 1 usb port; it was all about weight. At that point in time the only options where the MacBook (glossy screen & no Firewire) or the MacBook Pro 15″ (too big).
Currently my best option is the MacBook Pro 13″, the only negative is the glossy screen. Now I work on a iMac 24″ and the only negative is the glossy screen and this is set up with it’s back to a windows and never moves and the reflections still get on my wick. I was getting to the point where I would just bite the bullet and get the the MBP13″ but I decide to get a Mac Mini so that I can bring work home and continue to use the PB12″ for email/web when sat on the sofa.
So in the run up to the launch on the iPad the rumours again where drawing a picture of a tablet that sat between the iPhone and the laptop with a new os sitting between the iPhone os and osX. Also a new form factor would be nice. The iPad, to me and many others, is just a BIG iPod Touch. It’s a shame that the os does support multitasking, I might like to listen to iTunes while browsing, reading a book or writing, for example. I would like to have access to file system – even if it’s just a basic user directory. I would like the machine to be a stand alone computer and not have to sync it with another computer. Shame the apps are locked into the App Store, shame it’s a locked system. Bigger hard drive – my 5 year old iPod video has 30GB.
Why do I need to have 10.5.8 when a PC user can get away with the 9 year old XP, even the SP3 is 20 months old, 10.5.8 is only 6 months old. It syncs via iTunes 9.0 which only needs 10.4.11. which even the iPhone/Touch can get away with.
Obviously my opinion may change once I get to play with one, here hopes. But it’s not the device that I was hoping for – although now that I have a new desktop – having something to sit on the sofa with to do casual surfing and emails this would work perfectly. And if Apple made the MBP13″ with a matt screen option like it does with the 15″ & 17″ that would be great too.
