iPad 2 Impressions

I have finally gone and done it....

After years of disparging Apple and holding firm against the cult of Apple, I have given in. Actually, I am only willing to partially to offer a mea culpa. My mother in law has an iPad and my daughter immediately confiscated the device on site. I knew it was just a matter of time before I caved in. This weekend we purchased an iPad 2.

What I like:The interface is simply stunning. Books, magazines and multi-media are available at a touch. The apps interface make accessing information so much easier. The games are cute, colorful and lite. The size is about the same as a legal pad. To me, this is the future of user interfaces. There are apps to do almost anything you want to do. Granted programming and heavy media editing won't be done on the iPad, but that is not its purpose.

What I don't like:Apple has a very tight ecosystem. It is easy to notice which companies Apple does not get along with. There is no Zune, Adobe Acrobat, MS Office, Flash, Bing Maps or anything else related to Microsoft or Adobe. I understand the MacBooks allow these applications but not iPhones or iPads. I want to import and export files but that is not possible unless there is an associated application. I am waiting for more complex games. Shenandoah Studio is going to fill that gap. They are converting some of my favorite board games.

Cool Apps: I have only had the iPad for a few days but I have found a few apps I really like. The DirecTV app is a great remote control. I played a great trick on the family when I started discretley started changing channeles with the iPad. I had to stop when my wife was ready to call the DirectTV repairman. The Civil War Today app is remarkable. I am following the Civil War day by day through diaries, newspapers, photos and maps. Wired Magazine is a treat as well. My paper copies were starting to pile up in the office. For some reason, reading on the iPad is so much more interactive and fun.

I really like the iPad. I like it so much that I have found myself wanting more applications for the iPad. This is the future of user interface and should be a model for all developers.

 

Comments

[mobile spy]

The iPad 1 is probably enough for 90 percent of folks out there. Just ask yourself is you play games and need to make videos on the go. But, anyway, the overview is of interest, since it is always challenging to keep track of latest Applers. Thanks!