Why I Preordered the iPad Today
Those of you who follow me on Facebook probably noticed all of my fretting over the iPad. I teetered back and forth between the iPad and several other Windows 7 devices. Finally, this morning, I landed on the iPad side of the fence and placed my order. I thought I would take a minute to explain why I felt the iPad was going to be a good choice for me. First things first, though, I purchased the 32 GB iPad with Wi-fi only, not the 3G version.
Let me first say that unlike the Apple keynote address, I do not find the iPad to be magical. To the best of my knowledge, it will not show up on my doorstep performing card tricks or pulling rabbits out of a hat. In fact, I even think it is quite a stretch to call it revolutionary. The form factor is just a tablet, which has been around for years. Meanwhile, the operating system is essentially a large version of the iPhone/iPod Touch interface. While that does make for a very cool looking combination, I would hardly call it revolutionary.
So, if this is not a magical device, not a revolutionary device, then what was the attraction? For me, it was convenience. I ride the train every day, which makes for a long commute (the train ride is about an hour and fifteen minutes). Luckily, I have plenty to keep me occupied. I like to read eBooks on my Kindle. I like to surf the Internet and read email on my MSI Wind. I like to play games on my iPod Touch. Sometimes I even do some writing. Bottom line is that this all requires three devices, and several trips into my bag. Now, if the train is empty, this can be no big deal, but on a packed full train, it can be a real hassle to drag my computer in and out of my bag in mid-trip. If only, I thought, there were some way to do all of this from one device.
Thinking about this further, I realized that my primary focus was still on eBooks. What I wanted was something along the lines of an eBook reader with benefits. A reader which would be as good or better than the Kindle, while allowing me to surf the Internet, check email, play games, and more.
As I mentioned, I spent a considerable amount of time looking at different alternatives, including the Lenovo S10-tablet, which is a 10 inch netbook with a swivel screen that can become a tablet PC. It is a pretty slick device, and I strongly considered buying that instead of the iPad. I stopped short on that one, however, for two reasons. First, I already have a netbook. To be honest, I love my MSI Wind, and really do not need to replace it yet. So, the Lenovo was going to offer a lot of unnecessary and duplicative functions. Second, the only realistic option available for reading eBooks was the Kindle App for Windows. I downloaded that on my MSI Wind to test it out, and was thoroughly unimpressed by it. So, that would mean my primary need, reading eBooks would really not be met at all.
Which brings us back to the iPad. One of the biggest attractions for me, as you might imagine, is the iBook Store. I love the job Apple has done there, and I am really impressed by the run they are giving Amazon and Barnes and Noble in terms of content. Hopefully, the iBook Store will have plenty of new releases and other books to keep me occupied. Additionally, I am hopeful that even if the iBook Store does not have what I want, that the Kindle App, Stanza, and eReader (not to mention the Barnes and Noble eBook App) will all be available on the iPad. I do not know that to be a fact, but I am optimistic that may be the case.
As far as other features go, I have to say that I was pretty impressed by some of the screen shots of the calendar app and contacts which I saw posted. Not to mention, of course, the Internet browsing and email experience…all on a 10 inch screen. Add in the fact that it can run many of the existing iPhone games and apps, and this one is exactly what I need.
For me, the bottom line is this. I am always looking for ways to make my commute on the train leaner, lighter, and easier. The iPad will allow me to replace the iPod Touch, MSI Wind, and Kindle, all with one compact device, weighing in at under two pounds. Stay tuned after April 3, and I will be back with some first impressions and closer looks at some of the features of this possibly magical, potentially revolutionary, and definitely convenient device.
How about all of you? Did anyone else preorder the iPad today? What were the reasons behind your decision to purchase or not purchase the latest offering from Apple?
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