iThink iPad iGood and iBad

With Apple’s big announcement of the iPad, Steve Jobs said that in order for it to be successful it had to be “far better” at browsing, Email, photos, videos, music, games and eBooks than both the iPhone and a laptop.

In my opinion, the iPad is a “tweener” device. It is between an iPhone and a MacBook. It’s too big to fit in your pocket and too small to be a useful computer. This device will not be a far better experience at a minimum for email, and music. During the key-note, there were a total of five words typed on the iPad’s keyboard. Though the keyboard is substantially better than the iPhone’s keyboard, it is not comparable to a laptop keyboard. A lack of tactile feedback and smaller keys are going to make typing on the iPad an interesting experience. Also, music may look and sound great on the big screen of the iPad, but since the iPad is not a portable device, i’m not going to take it out with me for a run along the lake.

That’s not to say the iPad is all iBad. I think the huge success of the iPhone as a gaming device will make the Sony’s and the Nintendo’s of the world very nervous. The iPad should be the best in class eReader when it comes out. And, in time, the business and medical community will jump on board the iPad. Anyone that has had a doctor’s visit where the doctor is spending more time typing into a computer than looking or talking to you will understand that a great medical system can use the iPad for data entry. Also, a 1.5 pound iPad plus a 0.5 pound pico projector makes a great solution for any road-warrior.

In summary, iThink i’m going to wait on purchasing the iPad.