So I finally got my hands on the iPad so here are some of my thoughts.
Some people say, “it’s just a large iPhone”. People that say that as a negative have never used the device. The bigger screen resolution enables UI and design that simply were not possible on the iPhone. It’s like saying that a 27″ iMac is just a large netbook or that a 55″ tv with a PS3 is just a large Sony PSP. It’s a completely different experience is all I’m trying to say.
Keyboard is surprisingly useable but not that comfortable. I’m writing this post on it right now but I’d rather do it on a real keyboard or on the iPhone (which I actually find quite nice). The iPad keyboard is just too large to thumb fast like the iPhone and the fact you can’t rest your fingers on it make it somewhat uncomfortable to “home row” type.
The screen is really beautiful and so are the iPad native apps that are made for the new resolution. From the developer standpoint, the new controls they added are really cool.
iPhone apps that are pixel-doubled are a mixed bag. If they are very text heavy, they look like shit. Games and apps that have less text and more pictures/web views look decent enough, though the controls are always gonna look comically big.
Video is gonna be BIG. The YouTube, Netflix, and ABC apps all work great (at least over wifi) and with sites like vimeo.com starting to add support for html5 video, video looks and plays great on the newer, better looking screen.
I’m not much of a comic book fan but the Marvel app is pretty fucking slick.
The “killer app” is Safari. Browsing the web is something we all do but the iPad manages to do it in a way that is more intuitive and natural than any other device, including the iPhone.
