Breaking the Silence:)

I have waited for almost three weeks ... I cannot hold back any longer. I have been soaking up everything I can find about the new Apple iPad. I have observed that people are either REALLY excited about the iPad, or they are really turned off by it.  There doesn't seem to be many people in the middle. The jokes about the name are funny, although they seem to be slowing down. I will share a few of my observations and opinions. I need to start this by commenting on one of my favorite gadgets: the Amazon Kindle.  I own one of the first 2nd generation devices sold. I have had it for over a year. I love this gadget. I read the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Financial Times on it. I also consume several magazines on it. If they were available, I would consume all the magazines that I read on it. I like the E Ink technology. It is easy to read. I can read it for hours without eye strain. And if I manage it, I can run it for a couple weeks on a charge. It is light, travels well - it's a great gadget.

Now, back to the iPad. If I purchase one, a primary use of the device would be as an e-reader. I am not sure that I will be able to read on the iPad like I currently do on the Kindle. I know that when I read on a laptop for a long time it tries my eyes.

My second concern: Battery life. Ten hours may seem like a long time, but that is not really a long time.  I already have to think about how to stretch my iPhone battery - this may be too much.

I am intrigued by the idea of filling the gap between the smart phone and the lap top. I agree that most, if not all, netbooks have missed the mark. While flying to the west coast last week, I set beside someone that was using a netbook. This particular device could only run two to three before shutting down. My laptop? I can run about 6 to 7 hours easy. Even my new Mac can run longer than that Netbook.

There has been a lot written and said about this. Search the web ... it's very interesting. A couple interesting links:

- Three Questions for Steve Jobs (Forbes, by Lee Gomes): I don't agree with his logic at all .. but I carry several gadgets. - Huffington Post: 9 Worst things about the Apple Tablet (that's direct) Many different viewpoints .. enough said. - Clayton Morris (Of Fox News): I find all of his comments tend to agree with my thinking - but he is a gadget guy and also a big Apple user. - A good technical reviews: Engadget - cnet: Apple's latest creation: It's an iPad!

So what about me? I want one, but I will wait until the 2nd generation. My name is Rick, and I am a gadget addict.

Rick

Photo: www.apple.com