iPad: My First Impressions

I picked up an iPad Saturday at our Waitsfield store, and eagerly ripped open the box to start exploring. At first glance the iPad really seems like little more than a giant iPod Touch, but a few hours of use later the differences became apparent. I spent some time watching customers pick up the device and just start using it; the intuitive interface appeals to most everyone regardless of experience. One customer had never used a Mac or an iPhone and was able to browse the web, view and email photos, and even search for books on the iBooks store without assistance. I only learned of her inexperience after she was done playing with it. It seems difficult to not buy one once one is in your hands.

I was initially frustrated at how long it took to prepare my iPhoto library for iPad. This processing took well over an hour on my top-of-the-line MacBook Pro, but I do have about 4,500 ten megapixel images to process. The photo album preview animation was the first feature I really thought of as magical, and the very fast processor makes browsing through a collection of photos a breeze; there truly is no comparison to flipping through a traditional “analog” photo album.

Had it not been 80 degree outside, I probably would’ve spent the entire afternoon playing with it. I realized by Sunday night that I had only used my MacBook Pro once since picking up the iPad. The battery is still on its original charge today.

Typing is very satisfying on the iPad, particularly in landscape mode. I found myself typing about 45 words per minute this morning according to an online speed test; after years of using an iPod touch I can barely reach 30 words per minute on the smaller screen.

Browsing the web truly is more immersive and satisfying on the iPad than on any other device. I don’t miss the flash-based websites – in fact, the lack of flash support seems to mean less ads are displayed. The one flash-intensive site I thought I’d miss is YouTube, but it has its own dedicated app that is a better way to consume the content anyway.

David Pogue of The New York Times probably put it best: “…[T]he iPad is not a laptop. It’s not nearly as good for creating stuff. On the other hand, it’s infinitely more convenient for consuming it — books, music, video, photos, Web, e-mail and so on. For most people, manipulating these digital materials directly by touching them is a completely new experience — and a deeply satisfying one.”

That said, Apple has done a terrific job with the iWork apps. MobileMe integration is perfect and the iwork.com concept makes much more sense now that the iPad exists.

I cannot wait to see how this platform develops, and how the App Store and developer ecosystem evolves. It’s an exciting time.

Now, if only the iBooks store had more titles!