For those who know, it might sound ungrateful that I don’t like the iPad (maybe only for now, maybe forever) especially if so many people have sought to get the gadget even at a hefty price. And mine’s in white – some sort of a victorious feeling like seeing a white lion or unicorn. But that’s just me.
Also? I got my iPad 2 3G 16GB for FREE from a local online contest. Lucky I know but I labored for my entry to win this new gadget on the block. Labor + luck = iPad 2.
Truth is, I’ve been saving up for this for Pristine since I know she will make a good use of it – heck, many schools are using the iPad as an education tool. There are plenty of educational applications and compared to our old desktop at home, this tablet will be easier on her eyes.
We got our wish – we got our iPad 2 and boy we were happy…until it was time to actually use it. My time to use it, more specifically. So, after a few days of ‘fondling’ it, though might be early to assume judgment – the tablet is not for me and here are my reasons:
1. Touchscreen – I was never a touchscreen fan that’s why until now, the iPhone doesn’t (will not) fascinate me at all.
I hate, hate touchscreen and iPad works on touchscreen technology, unless of course you buy a physical keyboard to attach to it. No thanks, I’d rather work on my netbook. Plus, it is difficult to type when the screen lies super flat on the table…unless you hold it to slant in one hand and type with only one finger (ridiculous) or buy a dock. Extra cost, no thanks again!
Browsing through your fingertips: My hands sweat so it is very difficult to slide my fingers through the screen smoothly. I get stuck. My iPad screen looks dirty.
2. Screen Sensitivity – the screen keeps shifting to vertical/horizontal view when I am using it while propped in my bed. Is there any way to lock this?
3. Safari Browser and multi-tasking – PC users that we most probably are, we are spoiled by tabbed web browsing and having multiple documents open at one time. I hate stopping what I’m doing just so another app can start. The lack of multitasking will make your teeth grind with the iPad.
4. The App Store – If all you want are the top ten or the top selling apps, then the App Store is perfect but if you want to go through the store looking for some cool little app that no one has heard of, you are in for a tedious search.
The stores only list 12 apps at a time per page, and you have to load pages one at a time. Apple has God knows how many apps (hundreds of thousands?), and you are only showed 12 at a time for browsing?
*!#*%$*%$*#@*^&*
5. No SD Card slot/USB port - The iPad was meant as a companion device to traditional computers but that doesn’t mean people aren’t using it for things they’d normally do on a computer – there are people like me who takes a lot of pictures and would want to insert my SD card on the iPad (or would want to use the USB port).
The SD card slot would allow me to quickly and efficiently preview my shots on a large screen, store files, edit them, etc. But nope, can’t do it without an adapter (Camera Connection Kit) for $29!
Instead of building in two industry standards, users are forced to buy extra items with their new iPad.
Oh iPad, iPad…a week has passed and I just can’t seem to get used to you. I try everything: iBooks (a heavy-weight book if you ask me and quite awkward to hold), email (a pain to write), browser (hard to hold it in one hand and use the other hand to ‘finger’ the screen).
Sigh.
I could write a few more but then I realized – this gadget wasn’t really for me. It’s for my seven year old and I’ve never heard her complain of anything, for now. So I’ll just shut up.
Do you have an iPad? What do you hate/love about it?
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
We do have one and I love it! I don’t use it for work but it’s where I store my ebooks, Jeolo’s interactive games and stories, movies to take with us on-the-go and for social network-ing like Twitter and FB.
Oh, you can lock your screen by going to Settings then General and you’ll find an option that says Use Side Switch To and choose Lock Rotation. This will allow you to use that side switch to lock your screen at landscape or portrait mode.
You can also multitask! I’d explain but here’s a link that you can read: http://www.switchingtomac.com/tutorials/how-to-multitask-on-the-ipad/.
Hope that helps!
CandyQ´s last [type] ..my pregnancy lifesavers
My husband is an Apple addict! He has bought just about every Apple product there is, much to my annoyance. Any how I am with you I don’t like the ipad. It’s a wonderful piece of technology I must admit but the ipad is only good for certain uses. It is good for him because he carries all of his manuals on it (over a thousand pages) so if he is looking for something, he can do a search and it pops up. which is great! no flipping of pages.
On the other hand, the ipad does not have flash player so you can’t use it for viewing certain things which is a bummer. and I agree with you the user-bility for typing etc its not comfortable. hurts my arm and neck. Great for the kids to fool around on and do school work, and play games when you need some quiet time.
Great post.
I don’t have one, but I was envious of people who didn’t… now I’m thinking that I’ll just stick with my laptop. I have a hard enough time with my iPhone sending text messages with that screen typing. =)
I agree with you about it having at least a USB port if not both USB and an SD slot.
Nope, not gonna get that one, maybe the new one coming out answers some of those questions or maybe some of the other brands like Samsung have those things. I’ll just wait until the price comes down and it has everything we need. =)
Lorie Shewbridge´s last [type] ..There’s Nothing Sexier…..
Maybe the newer version of iPad will have an SD slot..maybe and maybe not. One sure thing though is that it’ll be costlier. Let’s hold on to our netbooks and laptops for a while…
For the time being i don’t feel the need to buy an iPad, because i’m fine with my laptop, and i see it, the iPad is as a fashionable gadget and nothing more.
When the time comes, and laptops will be obsolete, I’ll probably buy something that runs on Android.
Ooh I have kind of been wanting one and you just cured me of that want. All of your complaints sound like things that would really bother me as well! Except for the touch screen….I have a touch screen phone. But I prefer my laptop to my phone any day!
Becca´s last [type] ..30 Days About Me – Day 2 – Favorite Movie
Sorry to discourage you. It has its good points and bad, like any other gadget. There are plenty of people who love it so I guess it’s a matter of getting used to it.
I prefer browsing and ‘working’ on the net in my netbook than in my phone too.
I won an iPad2, as well, in an online contest, and I’m sort of with you. It’s fun to play games, but I can’t seem to find any practical use for this…the worst part I think is that I have the Wifi, not the 3G, and I can’t seem to ever find an open connection that isn’t password protected and that I can use while out and about. If it weren’t for that, I’m sure I’d have a lot of use for it in my travels!
Camels & Chocolate´s last [type] ..Santa Fe to Memphis
Congratulations on your big win!!
The iPad can be a good company during waiting time at the hospital, bank, etc. I loaded it with ebooks but mostly spend my time playing Sudoku and Angry Birds (Urgh! why did I jump into this crazy bandwagon!!).
I also use the camera to take random pics and having fun with Instagram! I wish I have an iPhone just because of this app. I look ridiculous taking photos with a big gadget like iPad 2!
I love my iPad2. It is an amazing device which I have always been happy with.