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My verdict

I like it.

It seems to me that most mobile computer users are consumers of information. They want to surf the web, check their email, watch/listen/read media, or give a presentation. Very few actually create much content (with the exception of emails, which are generally pretty short). Consequently the iPad is exactly the type of mobile computer these users need.

This however assumes that an individual’s mobile computer is a 2nd computer. For techie people like me this is a non-issue. I have no issues owning a desktop and a portable computer, and in fact create enough content that I couldn’t get by with just a portable computer (regardless of the form factor), as a full-size keyboard, mouse and large screen are important to me. But many casual computer users want one device to do it all, and for them I don’t think the iPad is the solution—instead they’ll most likely opt for a notebook.

So will I get one? Probably not (for me). I think I use my notebook for more content creation and heavy lifting than many mobile users. I take it to work every day, and use it for many tasks for which my own software is better suited than what is available on the corporate network; for storage of all of my work-related content; and like the multi-tasking capability when I’m using it effectively as my main computer. Plus, when I travel I like to be able to edit my photos and video, as well as being able to video-chat to home.

For Deearne though, the iPad is probably the perfect computer. Her computer use consists almost exclusively of surfing the web (mostly facebook), email, and playing the odd game. As a consequence she rarely uses our desktop, and instead tries to do it all on her iPhone, especially as her casual usage means she wants to do these things from the lounge or bed, instead of having to go to the study. Plus the media capabilities of the iPad mean she’ll likely extend her computer use to the consumption of eBooks and more video.

Which Model?

The question for us then is which model: the Wi-Fi version or the Wi-Fi+3G version?

Being that the primary uses of a device like the iPad involve accessing the Internet, the 3G option seems highly desirable as it offers that connectivity everywhere. But the 3G option also adds the additional cost of a data plan, which in reality won’t get a huge amount of use when Deearne would largely use the device at home, especially given she already has an iPhone. But although she won’t take the iPad to work, she would want to take it when she visits her parents, and possibly when we go on holidays.

In addition to cost (extra for the 3G functionality and the data plan) the other issue with 3G on the iPad is that in regional areas of Australia it will only work with Telstra. 3G connectivity on the iPad supports 850/1900/2100MHz. With Telstra this is fine as their NextG network uses the 850MHz band everywhere, but both Optus and Vodafone use 2100MHz in metropolitan areas and 900MHz in regional areas. So for many places we visit, including Deearne’s parents, 3G would only be available with Telstra, who historically aren’t particularly cheap.

That being the case—unless Telstra offer a really competitive pre-paid data plan for the iPad—the Wi-Fi version looks like it will likely be the best option for us. Especially as I already have a pre-paid USB modem for my notebook, and also have a 3G/WiFi router I can connect it to for use in locations where we are likely to stop, like hotels or Deearne’s parents’ place. Plus, the option of devices like the MiFi make the Wi-Fi-only version more widely connectable.

For those without a smartphone though, I think the 3G model would be more compelling.

eBooks

There are still a range of things we don’t know about the iPad, but the ones I’m most interested in have to do with eBooks.

I’ve been a reader of eBooks for a while, mostly with Palm Reader/eReader on Palm, Windows Mobile and iPhone OS devices, but also with Microsoft Reader from when I briefly owned an iPaq (I tried Adobe’s offering in the early days, but found it clunky and never went back). eBooks are great in that you can buy them without having to travel to the bookshop, meaning you can get them anytime, but lack one of the great advantages of paper books—the ability to lend them to other people.

No doubt Apple’s eBook implementation will have some form of DRM attached, but hopefully they will consider this and provide the ability to loan books to other iPad users. For me, this functionality is critical to garner wider acceptance of eBooks, and providing it could also be a driver to encourage more people to buy iPads.

I’m also hoping, given I probably won’t get an iPad myself, that the iBooks app finds its way to the iPone as well.

What’s Missing

In the end, the iPad is more like an up-sized iPod touch than a cut-down notebook. Accepting that, and realising the device is aimed at consumption rather than creation, it is a pretty full-featured device.

Still, there are a couple of features I think would have made it more compelling, especially to users like me. Of these the two most desirable would have been a front-facing camera for video-chat support and multi-tasking.

No doubt Apple’s decision not to support multi-tasking is based on the same reasoning the iPhone doesn’t (performance and power consumption). For most users of the device this doesn’t pose a major issue, especially given the usage model and work-arounds like push notification, but the lack of multi-tasking is what hobbles effective instant messaging, and in turn limits the value of a front facing camera.

The current device though is still pretty awesome, and I’m sure will sell amazingly well.