The iPad is a mini-laptop, not a phone
Earlier today, Steve Jobs announced the new Apple toy of the year, the tablet-like iPad.
It might look like an iPhone on steroids, but it’s actually a mini-laptop.
It’s nearly the same screen size as a MacBook (the iPad screen is 9.5″ x 7.5″ while the MacBook screen is 9″ x 13″), one third the weight, and one half the thickness. The last stat is key because what makes the iPad a mini-lapto is that the iPad has the keyboard and monitor in the same space.
Similar to the iPhone, you can type via a QWERTY touchscreen keyboard but of course the keyboard is bigger, and Apple is offering accessories that will allow you to dock the iPad with an Apple keyboard in case all that touching is too much for you.
You can surf the Internet, watch movies or TV shows (Netflix anyone?), listen to music, play with photos and play iPhone games. Because of the iPhone network already in play, iPad users will have access to over 140,000 apps (and growing). The only downside is that it doesn’t come with flash.
Anyone who already owns an iPhone, will easily know how to use this device and that’s what Steve Jobs says will work for sales. For e-book readers, this device may be tempting because not only does it do more than most tablet PCs, but Apple is going live with their own “iBookstore” offering a place for publishers to sell their e-wares, just like it does for musicians (on record labels) and for iPhone game developers. Jobs says that they already have five of the largest book publishers on board already.
Canadians can expect the iPad to arrive in short supply this March.
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Great post!
I was talking a look at the ipad on Apple.com and I noticed that the Applecare section for the ipad only said it runs for 2 years. Does anyone know why is not lasting 3 years like every other Apple product? Ok, well the iphone/ipods now says it is 2 years too on the Applecare. When did they all change to 2 years and not 3?