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Apple iPad is a Touch/Kindle DX Mashup
By Dave Peterson | January 27, 2010
It’s probably predictably human to compare a new device to attributes of existing ones we know well. As Steve Jobs introduced the Apple iPad to the world, my thought was that I was looking at a fairly compelling blend of an iPod Touch and a Kindle DX.
If you’ve ever held the larger version of Amazon’s eReader in your hands, you’ll have a pretty good sense of what it will be like to hold an iPad. The iPad is about an inch shorter than a DX, but the widths are very similar. Both have a 9.7 inch screen, although the aspect ratio is different, with the iPad screen a bit wider when both are held in portrait orientation. The iPad is just slightly thicker and a few ounces heavier. Obviously the biggest differences are the color multi-touch screen (1024 x 768) and the lack of a physical keyboard. The most stunning similarity is the price. As of today, the lowest-end iPad, at $499, is just ten dollars more than the DX. For that $10 you’ll get four times the storage (16 GB as opposed to 4), video playback ability, a rich web browsing experience, and all other features you’d find on an iPod Touch.
There are a few things missing from the iPad that are worth noting: There is no camera, forward or back facing. No Flash support, which means certain web sites and videos will not play correctly (or at all). There’s no evidence of a native chat client like iChat, although iPhone chat apps already available should run on it.
As on Touch and iPhone there’s no multitasking. I strongly believe that tablets will one day replace notebook computers in our daily lives, but multitasking is a must before that can happen. This device won’t replace your netbook if you ever do more than one thing at a time.
An interesting accessory is a keyboard dock that looks very much like an Apple Wireless Keyboard. If the virtual keyboard (an expanded version of what’s used on the Touch and iPhone) doesn’t work for you, plug the iPad into the dock and start typing on physical keys.
The iPad will come in six different price points and configurations: WiFi-only in 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB sizes for $499, $599, and $699, or with 3G added to those capacities at $629, $729, and $829.
I’ll have hands on reviews of both the Wi-Fi and 3G models when they ship in two and three months, respectively. Tomorrow I’ll be back with a more in-depth look specifically at the positives and negatives of the iPad as an eReader.
Topics: Gadgets, ereaders | No Comments »