iPad Tranche

Image via CrunchBase

So, it’s probably about time that I wrote a post about my iPad.  It seems perverse not to since a) I wrote so much about them when I wasonly thinking about buying one; and b) it’s now the most important thing in my life.

It’s probably a bit late in the day to write a full review.  You all either already know everything there is to know about them, or you don’t care.  Instead, I’ll take a look back at some of the stuff I’ve previously written about the glorious device and see where I was right and where I was wrong.

iThink iWant an iPad – 10th June 2010

I wasn’t sure at first, but I think that it would be the ideal for how I generally use the web when I’m at home: sat on the couch, reading web pages, writing e-mails and updating Twitter.  There’s even a nice WordPress app for blogging.  I really think I’d get a lot of use out of it.  The main thing that has put me off so far has been the price.

I was right, it is ideal for how I generally use the web.  It’s frightening just how freaking right I can be sometimes.  The price is still an issue, but just buy one, get it out of the way and then forget about it.  It’s a technique that’s worked really well for me.

You can guarantee that Apple will release an iPad2 in a year’s time – if not sooner, as they did with the original iPhone. I think I’d be pretty gutted to be stuck with the inferior device.

I waited. They did release an iPad 2. It’s awesome.  Facetime me, yeah?

My other reservation is that I really object to paying the £100 extra for the 3G version, but if you don’t then you lose the whole mobile aspect.  It is possible to use a “mifi” device – a small 3G dongle that provides mobile wifi – and these start at around £50.  This sounds great, but you’re still getting tied in to yet another data tariff and I don’t know that I’d get value for money out of it.

I opted for the 16 Gb, wifi-only version.  You can now create a mobile wifi hotspot using Android phones (which I have) or an iPhone.  I’m also with 3, so the tethering data comes as part of my bundle.  There doesn’t seem any point in paying extra for the 3G version.  To be honest, I’ve not even needed to try tethering it to my phone yet, so it’s not really an issue.

iThink iStill Want an iPad…Possibly – 29th June 2010

My doubts crept in when I realised the importance that portability has to the iPad concept.  The version that I used was 3G enabled and it seemed to make perfect sense.  Although, I know that I’d still use a wifi-only version a lot, it seems like a massive compromise to make.  In my previous post, I mentioned the option of buying a MiFi dongle and using this to connect when out and about.  Although it’s a slightly cheaper option – £50 for the dongle as opposed to £100 extra for the official 3G version – it also represents an awful lot of faff.  The beauty of the iPad should be its simplicity.  Would you really want to have to carry this other thing around with you all the time?  I know that it seems a trivial thing to have to do, but even thinking about it makes it seem tiresome.

As it turns out, I was worrying about a complete non-issue.

The iPad’s appeal lies in something that’s difficult to put a price on.  It is “instantly on” and has none of the annoying waiting associated with Windows.  The screen feels the perfect size for reading web pages on, whereas the experience feels cramped and awkward on a netbook – even though they are the same size.  Being able to orientate the screen really pays off in this context.  When typing an e-mail, the on-screen keyboard fills half of the screen, yet the experience feels more engaging than on a netbook.  Being able to hold the keyboard-less iPad like a book to read web sites makes it feel a lesiurely pursuit, rather than feeling cramped over a comedy mini-laptop.  How much is this usability really worth?

The usability is worth every penny, that’s how much.  Owning an iPad has only confirmed just how lovely it is to use on a day-to-day basis.

Boring Blog Stats – June 2010 – 1st July 2010

Will there be a third post on this riveting subject?

Yes. Yes, there will.

Somewhat shockingly, the post There’s a Ghost in my Caravan didn’t get into the top 3.  I thought this would be a hit generator of the highest order as it contains an exclusive photo of a ‘ghost’.  It’s one of the more convincing ghost photos that I’ve ever seen.  I mean, it’s obviously not really a ghost, but surely someone should post it onto a supernatural investigations forum and get my blog lots of visits.  Selfish.

Not iPad related, but very, very true.  Please check it out.

A Netbook? – 9th August 2010

Despite knowing that I would have absolutely loved the iPad, had I bought one, it just proved too expensive and too limited for me to take the plunge.

Oh, how young and naive I was.

There are also some real advantages over the iPad, such as vastly increased storage space and true multi-tasking of apps.  One example is when I recorded the latest episode of my podcast on Saturday.  I was able to record using the in-built mic straight into (free) Audacity editing software.  I then was able to add my tags and photo in iTunes, before FTPing the file up to Podbean, my hosting site.  I was then able to create posts for the podcast on both Podbean and WordPress simultaneously.  I was listening to Spotify as I did it all.

I won’t even mention that it is Flash enabled, but it is.  Actually, even the Express Gate OS is Flash enabled.

This is all true, but it was ultimately just so much self-justification.  Also, the multi-tasking is now pretty good on iOS.  However, I do still need my netbook for Sopcast access and podcast editing (should I ever record another), so it wasn’t completely wasted money.  Notebooks are a bit lame, though.  I would have been better with a new full size laptop as well as an iPad, to be honest.

Ten Predictions for 2011 – 29th December 2010

2.  Apple will surpass their own hype when they surprisingly release the iPad 3 several months before the launch of the iPad 2.  New features include the ability to “print” bacon from a special slot and a cup holder.

Sadly, I was incorrect. I would have loved printed bacon.  Come on, Apple, get your act together.

Conclusions

I bloody love it.

The only downside at the moment is that I’m completely addicted to using it.  I know that is good from the perspective of getting my money’s worth, but it kind of stops me from doing anything else. Primarily, it stops me from watching telly, and we all know how important that is.  Oh, iPad.  You are a cruel mistress, but I love thee.