I held off prognosticating on the iPad. I was not even planning on buying the first generation. That changed when someone demoed my own product to me over lunch. I love this thing and, if you aren’t bored of hearing about the iPad, you can read below for my reasons why:
Sales: a laptop is a horrible thing during a 1-on-1 meeting. A laptop is bulky, difficult to casually control, difficult for you both to see the screen, and acts more like a separator. Demoing your website on an iPad feels completely different — much more fluid, casual and organic. Of course your site has to perform adequately on Safari, but I’m a real fan of how this device brings technology into a human conversation without getting in the way.
Book Reading: I have never been a fan of the Kindle (my wife owns one), but I love reading on the iPad. I love the iBook interface right down to how you turn the pages. Their app store overlord tendencies bother me, but how can you not love Apple’s attention to detail? The Kindle iPad app also works well, if not quite as slick, which is a good thing since that’s how my wife and I share books across our two devices (right now that means we *have* to buy through Amazon).
Media Reading: I love the New York Times and Wired iPad apps. It comes down to design. The layout of physical newspapers and magazines evolved to their present states for a reason, and the Web was a big step backwards for design, if a step forward with hyperlinking. The Wired app is impressive with its browsing method and interactive exhibits. The advertisements, unlike Web display ads, are beautiful and there is a greater chance I actually want to pay attention to them. All this said, I don’t want to see an “all apps” world. We need a good implementation of HTML 5 by all the major browsers, although I’ve been told not to hold my breath.
Commute and Couch: Some folks compare the Wired app to CD-ROMs, but that’s ridiculously wrong. The iPad is in another dimension, not just in terms of speed and crispness, but in terms of physical form factor. I can read blogs, a book, or flip through an app magazine while standing up on the train, sitting on the couch, or lying in bed. I enjoyed watching part of a Netflix video the other night before falling asleep. The device doesn’t roast my lap, its weight doesn’t bother me, and the screen is great.
On the Go: I have taken to leaving the laptop at the office and using the iPad for my commute home (where I have a desktop). Dropbox, Instapaper, Evernote and Google Docs (with Office2 HD) help me keep things in sync. When I am running around the city for meetings, I usually just take the iPad with me as well. I can read and write email, get on the Web and work effectively between meetings. Typing is slower on the iPad, unquestionably, but it’s not bad and I am getting faster. It is not a full computer replacement but it is an excellent computer complement, especially for anyone who is on the move a fair amount.
Web browsing: Safari isn’t perfect. My big annoyances are Google Analytics, Slideshare, and Disqus do not work well. However, it handles most things adequately. I don’t have time to watch much online video, so the lack of Flash support hasn’t been a showstopper.
Cooking: I am a food geek, and this weekend was the first time I tried using it to display blog and Epicurious recipes while I doodled in the kitchen. It’s a great use case and so much better than printing out blog posts or propping a laptop open on the counter.
Final notes: I don’t know why you would get the iPad without 3G. The lack of multitasking has not been an issue for me yet, and if I want to stream music I can always use my smartphone. You need a case — ideally one that helps you get a slight tilt in landscape mode (by far the fastest typing position). And a final caveat: I have not even attempted to do any serious “office suite” work on the iPad (although I can’t stand MS Office on the Mac either — Microsoft should be shot for their Mac implementation of Excel).