Gadgetman: Apple iPad – Second Opinion

Well, what a difference a few days can make!

After my initial reaction and comments about the iPad, I investigated its capabilities and features more, and surprisingly I liked what I saw!  A lot!

Originally I interpreted the iPad to just be a larger version of the iPod touch, however watching the iPad video shows that it offers far more functionality.  The availability of a keyboard dock and applications such as iWork turn the iPad into more of a true computer than just an ‘output’ device that plays video and audio.  iWork for the iPad allows creation of documents, spreadsheets and presentations, and I am sure the keyboard will work in other applications too such as notes.  Plus with the combination of a full email application, iWork, plus a full Web Browser (well, full if you don’t need Flash), and the camera connection kit, I would be confident in saying this would cover most computer users needs.  Unless your a developer, graphic artist or power user, the iPad should easily cover most daily tasks.

However, there in one flaw in this plan, the (supposed) requirement that the iPad requires a ‘real’ computer to be activated through iTunes.  If you can get away without activation and just use it as is, especially the Wifi versions, then you are set.

And with a keen price the iPad is sure to make inroads into the Netbook market.  Apart from the Sony Vaio P series (which I reviewed for Tone, go read the review!) I don’t think there are are good looking netbooks, and none that take form as being as important as function.  Except the iPad.

So now, on a second look, would I buy it.  Dick Smith already have a page, and apparently according to @DickSmith on Twitter, the iPad should be in NZ in about 60 days from the beginning of Feb, which makes it about a April release, at least for the Wifi version.  Given that, yes, I would buy it.