Not too long ago, all we had was email and the internet. We’d log into AOL and send an email to Uncle Fred in Florida, or to an old friend across the country. If you had two computers, it was comparable to owning two television sets in the 1950’s! It was almost unheard of! I paid $1700 for my first “post college” computer in 1998. It was loaded with 32mb of memory, a 2 gig hard drive and a monstrous 17 inch CRT monitor that weighed 75 pounds. I retired that computer many, many years ago.
Time flies and it’s interesting to reflect back and see how much computer technology has evolved over the past 10-15 years. Now all the hype surrounds the iPad, Apple’s new tablet computer which is a morph between a laptop and a smartphone. I don’t own one…yet. I own an iPod Touch, and from what I can see so far, the iPad is the much bigger brother to the iPod Touch. The iPad runs a modified version of the iPhone Operating System and features include email, internet, music, a book reader, ability to watch videos, play games… and I mean literally board games from what I was told. The game Monopoly is just too difficult to play on the iPod Touch, but with the iPad’s larger multi-touch, LED backlight screen, it looks like the possibilities are endless.
A friend of mine said he is getting the iPad for his wife because she is home and in bed recovering from an operation. A laptop is too difficult for her to manuever. The iPad seems like a practical solution in many cases. My only concern is the virtual keyboard. I’d really have to test it out, but on the iPod Touch, it is easy to make mistakes while typing. Also, popular software programs and suites such as Microsoft Office will not run on the iPad. Microsoft has no plans to develop a version of Office for the iPad, at least as of now.
The iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone all have the ability to download apps, some are free, and some cost a few bucks. Needless to say, most are really cool! While in Arizona two weeks ago, the thermostat in the apartment was displaying in Celsius, not Fahrenheit! I had no idea what 15C was, but I knew it was freezing so I used a free and handy Temperature Converter app on my iPod Touch. It will work on any operating system because this app is actually a web app, not an app that needs to be installed. As expected, I quickly discovered that 15C was 59F!
Apple launched the iPad Tablet Computer with great fanfare at the end of January. But should you get one?
First of all let’s look at the features of the new iPad tablet. It allows you to browse the internet using Apple’s Safari browser. It allows you to create documents, spreadsheets and presentations using Apple’s iWork 2010 Office Software (which is currently used on Macs). It has an eReader, allowing you to read books on the iPad, and Apple have launched the iBooks store which allows you to buy eBooks directly from Apple for your iPad. It allows you to watch videos, and play games. And you should be able to read newspapers on it as well – the New York Times has already developed an app to allow their newspaper to be downloaded to the iPad.
Essentially Apple have made a single all-purpose one stop tablet computer in a handy size that is portable. Whether you should buy one depends on what your own needs are.
Book readers were disappointed to learn that the iPad did not use the iInk technology that is incorporated in the Amazon Kindle and Sony Digital reader. (iInk technology is kind to the eyes and allows you to read for hours without strain). However, Apple pointed out that their device was backlit and allowed you to read in bed. If you are a book-lover who only wants an eBook reader you might want to try the Sony Digital reader or Amazon’s 6″ Kindle, both of which are cheaper than the iPad (because both only read books and don’t have the other functions of the iPad).
If you are a business person who spends a lot of time travelling, an iPad might be ideal for you. It will allow you to create documents, contact your office via the internet and read newspapers such as the Financial Times, all on the go, on a single tablet. And the size of the iPad (9.7″ screen and weighing 1.5 pounds) makes it less cumbersome to carry than a portable laptop. The iPad doesn’t have a USB port – but Apple sell dongles that attach to the iPad which do have ports and which you can use to transfer documents to and from your PC.
Gamers might also be interested in the iPad – but note that Sony are also releasing the Sony Dash, which allows you to play games, listen to music, watch video and browse the internet, and is cheaper than the iPad (because it doesn’t have the eReader functions or the office functions). However, if you are a gamer who also wants to be able to write essays, do work and surf the net, then the iPad is a better solution.
If you simply like gadgets and want a handy sized tablet computer to use while in the garden or while lying on the sofa, then the iPad is a must-have. It’s simply the most advanced tablet device on the market right now. Apple have released a software developers kit so that software houses can develop apps for the iPad. As with the iPhone, it is the apps that will make or break the device, and it is likely that the quality and breath of the apps mean that you should go ahead and buy the Apple iPad tablet.
There’s a new buzz in town. A product so hot it has become an overnight sensation. Long before its release, people are queuing in their minds to get their own piece. The technology market can’t wait to get their hands on this new gadget.
Blogs, YouTube videos, product reviews, articles, and forums are rich with comments, feedback, and insights about this tablet computer also viewed as a supersized iPhone with its 9.7-inch screen. Apple fans have mixed emotions of love and hate for this newest addition to the Apple portfolio. However, I would be quick to say that people who exclaim, “I want it now!” outnumber those whose expectations were not met.
So, what is this latest craze? Welcome the Apple iPad.
Luckily for you who are probably salivating (in a good way) for an iPad, you don’t have to wait for another month when it goes on sale. You can be an iPad tester now and forgo the crazy lines come its release date. More importantly, forget about spending your cash. You can get a free iPad just for being an iPad tester.
Some companies are giving out free iPads as promotional items or prizes. But come on, your odds of winning against millions of other participants is not so good. You would have to rely on pure luck. Testing the iPad on the other hand, would give you a much better chance. True, you have to exert more effort like providing feedback, making sure the applications work correctly on all of Apple devices, and even thinking of suggestions for improvement for the product and its marketing. That’s the work of a product tester.
Think of the end game though and that would be motivation enough. You don’t need to burn a hole in your pocket just to have your own tablet computer. Plus, you get to use an iPad before the rest of the world.
Think about it. This is your chance to get an iPad for the cost of not a single penny. Moreover, the fun of testing such an anticipated product is priceless. Go ahead…puff out your chest now like a proud mother hen.