I know that it’s kind of predictable to write something about the iPad, but those who know me, know that I am hooked on all new Apple gadgets. iPad is Apple’s newest gadget, a must-have for an addict such as myself. It is a multi touch tablet apparatus that’s used for… well, we’ll get back to that later. There’s only one problem with it, but because the problem is related to it’s usage, I’ll get into that later as well. First a brief history how I became addicted to Apple.

It all started in 2003 when I started my course in Audio Engineering at SAE Institute in Amsterdam. All studios in school were equipped with PowerMac G5s and I learned to use OS X quite fast. Then I discovered the iPod (then already the third generation iPod, I must’ve been asleep for years!) around 2004. I bought one as soon as I got the money and got rid of my Sony MiniDisc player. I graduated in 2005 and wanted to have my own Mac. Lucky as I was, Apple just came out with those € 500 Mac Mini’s, I bought one and yet again I abandoned its predecessor. The same goes for my good old Nokia, which I tossed away the second I got hold of my brand new iPhone. I really like their products. I might even say I love them. Most of them, that is…

Then came the iPad. Everybody was already talking about it before it came out and the internet got flooded with sneak peaks, teasers and so-called leaked photographs (which, as always, turned out to be all false). Now that it’s finally been released, Apple sold over 300.000 pieces in the first day and reviews in general are positive about it (if we for now ignore the comments on it’s lack of multi-tasking). Even here in the Netherlands we all have an opinion about it, even though it’s not even released here, nor will it be for quite some time, because Apple decided the UK, Australia and some other countries are first.

As I mentioned before, I have a problem with the iPad. Since it’s a great looking (and according to the reviews great feeling as well) product, obviously, I want one, as I am always in dying need of Apples latest gadgets. But that’s not the problem, because there’s always a way to get stuff, even if it’s not supposed to be here yet.

No, my problem goes somewhat further and is very simple: What can I replace with the iPad? Since it can’t make any phone calls, it’s not a phone and for that reason solely it is not going to replace my iPhone. It’s also not really a computer and my new MacBook Pro has a FullHD screen, so it’s not going to be my new lay-back-and-watch-a-movie device either. Its small 1024x768 screen, 1 GHz processor and 256 MB of RAM make it totally unsuitable for audio editing so it’s not going to replace anything within my newly built home studio. It doesn’t even have a camera, let alone a camera on the front side so there’s no ability for video chatting as well.

I really can’t make up my mind about this device. It’s shiny and looks good, but I can’t think of any unique use for it. It’s basically an iPhone without the phone with a larger screen, an iPod Touch XL if you will. All those functions such as calendar, contacts, e-mail, built-in iPod, my iPhone already has those so there’s no gain there either. There is however an application called Pages, which turns iPad into a word processor. It might just be the perfect device for working on the road, since it’s lighter and smaller than my laptop but much larger than the iPhone. And starting at $ 500 (Dutch prices aren’t officially known yet) I think it’s just going to be the most expensive notepad I will ever buy.

Still I think it’s a nifty toy, and even though I really do not need this thing whatsoever I really can’t wait until I have it. I will probably carry it with me everywhere I go. I think I will have it with me every time I’ll leave my house and go to work. Maybe I could write on my way to work as well. Too bad I was planning on buying a car as soon as I graduate.

tagged with: ipod, ipad, apple, iphone

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