By Jeff RiceiLife, iWork, iTubes, iPod, iPhone, iBooks, … iCarumba!
Regardless of your fascination or your distain for Apple products, there can be no argument that Apple has brought forth fantastic devices, whose hallowed existence was once reserved for the paradisiacal pages of science fiction and the humble halls of geekdom. They have, in fact, brought them into fashionable society.
Phenomenal, revolutionary, incredible, wonderful, awesome, and magical; these are not just the words that describe my wife, but is the language that Steve Jobs and the Apple marketing mechanism use to describe their newest product: the iPad. Combining the features of an iPod Touch, a netbook, and a tablet PC with Apple's signature style and sleek user interface, Apple proudly announced their newest "i" product this past January.
Reminiscent of devices seen only on Star Trek, the iPad is a small, lightweight portable computer that more resembles a clipboard than a laptop. Weighing about a pound-and-a-half and measuring at a fraction of an inch thick, the iPad is sure to attract both the pocket-protected techies and the fashionably elite. But, let's talk turkey.
WARNING: Geek Speak Alert!!!
This section is for we, technological enthusiasts, who have surpassed the common nerd, who live in the glorious land of the geek and who speak its native tongue. A translation will be provided in the following section.
The iPad has screen real-estate to boast. It sports a 9.7 inch IPS, full capacitive multi-touch display with a max resolution of 1064x768. While it has a built in sensor for ambient light, its accelerometer sensor is most impressive. It allows the content of the screen to be viewed no matter how it is rotated or flipped.
The silicon is a custom job by Apple, designated the A4. This single chip, which Apple touts as the "most advanced chip we've ever done" also contains the GMCH (graphics memory controller hub), I/O controller and a 1GHz processor. Unfortunately, it’s rumored lack of multitasking support seems poorly thought-out.
Most impressive (although Dell has a netbook with it already) is the solid state drive (SSD). No moving parts in this baby. You'll have the options of 16, 32, or 64GB, which will be enough for your music and maybe a few ISOs. Inherent with SSD technology is the battery life. According to the specs (although no indication of load is given) the iPad will run up to 10 hours, which will be long enough for a few movies. Your movies, however, will have to be in MP4 or MOV files as there is no support for flash.
The lack support is evident in Steve Jobs' keynote introduction of the iPad. While showing the New York Times on the iPad the symbolic "no flash installed" lego icon is clearly visible where a flash video should have been.
The iPad will have Wi-Fi natively and upgrade options for 3G are available, and yes, to most of our consternation, it will first be released on AT&T. If however, you are a proponent of AT&T, you will be eager to learn that Apple has negotiated a delightful deal with them to provide subscribers with a 250MB/month data plan for $14.99 and an unlimited data plan at $29.99. There are no contracts to sign with either option! However with the immanent end of the AT&T/iPhone contract in a few months, there may yet be hope it could be offered on other networks.
In addition to the lack of flash and multitasking, there is no on-board camera. It had been rumored that the iPad would make video calling commonplace. The lack of a camera spells the end to that myth, and I believe, is a major mistake. Also, be cautious that the operating system is not OSX.
The Non-Geek Translation
The iPhone changed the way phones were made and change the way people used them. While, no argument that the iPhone was a technological wonder, it's small screen size hampered its usability. Not so with the iPad. Apple has made it with an extraordinary large screen that can be seen clearly from multiple angles. It also supports a multi-touch technology, where users can interact on the screen using more the one finger simultaneously.
In addition the screen will detect how you're holding it and automatically adjust to your best viewing angle. You can and turn it left, right, all around, or even upside down. This makes it perfect for watching movies, playing games, or using it as an e-book reader.
To accomplish this technological marvel, Apple had to develop its own processor, known as the A4. The iPad also uses a technology called solid state drives. A normal computer uses a mechanical drive. The motor in these drives consume a significant amount of power. Solid state drives have no motor and thus use less energy. This, in turn, increases battery, which on the iPad will last up to 10 hours.
The iPad will work on standard wireless and only on AT&T's network. Apple has negotiated a great deal for its users. For a meek $14.99 every month, you can download up to 250MB of data, which should be enough for a majority of the owners. If you are a heavy user, you can purchase an unlimited data plan for $29.99 a month.
While iPad definitely has the "cool factor," its internal components may have more to be desired. It has no support for flash, a video component used on hundreds of thousands of Web sites. It also has no ability to run more than one program at a time. Furthermore, it lacks a built-in camera.
Denouement
The iPad is a fantastic device. It has the potential to change the way people use mobile computers. Apple has intentionally confronted the netbook and e-reader market with an easy-to-use and stylish device, though competition is quick upon their heels. HP recently announced the Slate, its riposte to Apple.
Will the iPad's fashion factor seal it success? Undoubtedly style will play an ample role. However I think the iPad will leave its owners asking, "Where's the beef?"
The iPad will have Wi-Fi natively and upgrade options for 3G are available, and yes, to most of our consternation, it will first be released on AT&T. If however, you are a proponent of AT&T, you will be eager to learn that Apple has negotiated a delightful deal with them to provide subscribers with a 250MB/month data plan for $14.99 and an unlimited data plan at $29.99. There are no contracts to sign with either option! However with the immanent end of the AT&T/iPhone contract in a few months, there may yet be hope it could be offered on other networks.
In addition to the lack of flash and multitasking, there is no on-board camera. It had been rumored that the iPad would make video calling commonplace. The lack of a camera spells the end to that myth, and I believe, is a major mistake. Also, be cautious that the operating system is not OSX.
The Non-Geek Translation
The iPhone changed the way phones were made and change the way people used them. While, no argument that the iPhone was a technological wonder, it's small screen size hampered its usability. Not so with the iPad. Apple has made it with an extraordinary large screen that can be seen clearly from multiple angles. It also supports a multi-touch technology, where users can interact on the screen using more the one finger simultaneously.
In addition the screen will detect how you're holding it and automatically adjust to your best viewing angle. You can and turn it left, right, all around, or even upside down. This makes it perfect for watching movies, playing games, or using it as an e-book reader.
To accomplish this technological marvel, Apple had to develop its own processor, known as the A4. The iPad also uses a technology called solid state drives. A normal computer uses a mechanical drive. The motor in these drives consume a significant amount of power. Solid state drives have no motor and thus use less energy. This, in turn, increases battery, which on the iPad will last up to 10 hours.
The iPad will work on standard wireless and only on AT&T's network. Apple has negotiated a great deal for its users. For a meek $14.99 every month, you can download up to 250MB of data, which should be enough for a majority of the owners. If you are a heavy user, you can purchase an unlimited data plan for $29.99 a month.
While iPad definitely has the "cool factor," its internal components may have more to be desired. It has no support for flash, a video component used on hundreds of thousands of Web sites. It also has no ability to run more than one program at a time. Furthermore, it lacks a built-in camera.
Denouement
The iPad is a fantastic device. It has the potential to change the way people use mobile computers. Apple has intentionally confronted the netbook and e-reader market with an easy-to-use and stylish device, though competition is quick upon their heels. HP recently announced the Slate, its riposte to Apple.
Will the iPad's fashion factor seal it success? Undoubtedly style will play an ample role. However I think the iPad will leave its owners asking, "Where's the beef?"
Jeffrey Rice was born at a very young age. Shortly afterwards, he graduated from Olivet with a BA in Biology and later with a Masters in Business Administration. Jeff's mirthful constitution is enduringly tolerated by his beautiful wife Sheila and their peppy pup, Lady. Jeff currently serves as a Network and Telecommunications Analyst for the University.
Two quick corrections, Jeff:
ReplyDelete1. It's not the silicon or processor that "lacks multitasking support." It's the software / operating system.
2. As far as I know, the iPad uses standard flash memory, just like the iPhone and iPod touch, not an actual SSD. While an SSD uses flash memory, it also emulates a normal hard drive in terms of its interface with the rest of the system. There's been no hint (that I've heard) that Apple is using an SSD in the iPad. Unless Apple speaks up about it, we'll probably have to wait until the units are available and one of the tech websites disassembles theirs. :)
Thanks for this, Jeff! As a regular joe who loves Apple products but doesn't do techno-speak (really, I'm in awe of you and Rich here), your analysis was helpful. We've been talking about the possibility of buying an iPad to replace our old iBook when it bites the dust, and you've answered some questions. What do you think will be improved/changed for 2nd generation?
ReplyDeleteRich,
ReplyDeleteMultitasking:
Thanks for the catch. A true multitasking system needs the coherent interaction of two components to function properly: the processor and the operating system. The A4 (which really isn't a true processor, but that's another discussion) is rumored to be based off ARM's Cortex A9 and is multitasking unit capable. The real hitch in the iPad is the programming of the OS. It's apparent lack of hooks to effectively enable multitasking is, I believe, an attempt to get product to market as fast as possible.
Solid State Drives
(TERM DISCLAIMER: for those of you reading this geek-speak section, we are not referring to iPad's lack of video flash support, but rather nuances of how files and programs are stored in it.)
Now we're getting into a hairy subject. The descriptor "Solid State Drive" (SSD) is a conceptual umbrella for many data storage devices that do not contain moving parts. Hence, a solid state device, such as a USB stick vs. a dynamic state device such as a spinning hard drive. SSD's can take many forms. Typically the SSD's referred to as "flash memory" are lower performing than those installed in high performance computer systems. Flash memory will characteristically have higher latency and be able to perform fewer I/O operations per second than its big brother. Performance, however, is not the sole contrast. From a profit perspective, (and the reason why they are in the iPad) flash memory is cheap. Simply put, SSD flash memory is produced much more inexpensively. This lowers the cost to manufacture the iPad and thus attracts a larger consumer base.
Thanks for the note, Christine:
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that the iPad will make an excellent replacement for your aging ebook reader. Apple will make it fairly simple to update the iPad with the latest books for your reading pleasure, and in fact, has a slew of publishers signing up.
You're obviously tech savvy enough to know there will most likely be a 2nd generation of the iPad (granted Apple can sell enough of these first generation gizmos). There are many shortcomings to the initial version of the iPad, and internet-lists of these are plentiful. But, if I had to list my top 3 predictions:
1) First, I think they will need to add a camera. I just makes sense. Every other new mobile device on the planet comes with one. Why not this?
2) Second, I think they'll add video flash support. Steve Jobs wants to give you the best internet surfing experience you've ever had. Candidly, that's hard to do if the iPad can't show 100% of the content on hundreds of thousands of websites. This, I think, is more a matter of economics than technological capability, since Apple will have to pay Adobe licensing fees for supporting video flash.
3) Finally, I think they will have to tackle their lack of multitasking support. Who doesn't want to IM while surfing the net, or listen to soothing music while reading a delightful new novel?
Thanks again for the note!