iPad revealed, underwhelms

[Comment Below]

By Philip DiStefano

As anticipated, last Wednesday Apple released their iPad, a tablet device with a name that just begs to be made fun of. Normally with a new Apple product, a bad name could be ignored, as the device would be so amazing that no one would really care what it was called.

However, it looks like the iPad isn't going to be receiving the same praise that Apple's new products normally get. The problem lies in the fact that the iPad is aimed to fill the gap between smartphones and laptops; but in Apple's case, anyone with an iPhone already has an iPad, except that the iPhone also makes phone calls, has a camera, and fits in your pocket.

That's because essentially, the iPad is just a giant iPod Touch. The device runs the iPhone OS, which unfortunately means that users can only run one application at a time and only applications that Apple approves and thus end up on the iTunes app store. Not only that, but the iPad doesn't even have support for the popular Flash plug-in, yet Apple claims it is "the best way to experience the web."

This has upset many Apple fans that have been waiting years for an Apple tablet, only to be met with a rehash of a device that does even less than what they already have. The general consensus among tech blogs and pundits seems to be that the iPad would be extremely desirable at its current price of $499 for the base model or even for far more than that if it ran Mac OS X, but in its current state, they're not even sure what the device's purpose is.

Some argue that it's an eBook reader, and others will tell you that Apple is trying to create an entirely new market, but whatever the purpose of the device is, its current incarnation just isn't striking joy into the hearts of those that have been waiting years and years for it.

A poll on CNET titled "The Apple iPad: Will you buy one?" has numbers that are hard to argue with. Of the four choices - definitely, I haven't decided yet, no way, or other - and after 26,000 votes, 52% of the votes say no way, and only 20% say definitely. Being that CNET is a well-respected technology site, this poll likely reflects the feelings of mostly techies, so if only 20% of CNET's visitors, who are already likely inclined to be interested in technology purchases, will definitely buy it, then things may not be looking so good for the iPad with the average consumer.

Only time will tell, but for now, Apple fans just don't seem very happy. If you still happen to be interested in the iTampon..err, the iPad, you can check it out at apple.com/ipad.

Originally Published: Issue 863 - February 3, 2010

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