Quick Thoughts on the iPad

So, like many of the other Mac Fan Boys, I ordered an iPad when the pre-orders opened up less than a month ago. My iPad came today and I must say I’m more impressed than expected. I’ve had an iPhone for two years now, during which time it has helped me be more productive compared to the Treos I had had for many years prior. With that said, here are my quick thoughts on the iPad:

• Feels great in my hands and lighter than expected
• Will replace my laptop for 80% of my computer usage at home
• Still requires a computer, at least to get started (when you turn on the iPad it requires a connection to a computer with iTunes before you can do anything, which is annoying)
• The Free Books app is great and has access to over 24,000 public domain books, like Alice in Wonderland, available for free in a nice format
• The NY Times app is well done and is the perfect format for reading as part of my morning routine
• Typing on the keyboard is sub-par, due to the fact that the screen and keyboard are on the same surface and there isn’t any tactile feedback, causing you to have to hunch over, unlike a laptop. With that said, I can still type fast enough to compose most emails I send.
• Battery life is outstanding — I expect to only charge it a couple times per week

For $499, the iPad is a great deal and I recommend it.