Computers

Goodbye, iPad [Update]

By Peter Ha | May 17, 2010 | +

Update: My original post was lacking depth so I’ve updated with a few more thoughts sprinkled throughout.

Today marks the second time that I’ve returned an iPad. I honestly thought I was going to keep this one, but I woke up this morning and realized that a device I spent over $800 on has been sitting on my couch untouched for days. I don’t have the luxury of spending that much money without thinking twice about it.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the iPad is a great device, but the apps just aren’t doing much for me. And inputting my wireless network password every 20-30 minutes can get aggravating. (I tried all the fixes. No dice.) A Geek Squad agent pointed out that it wasn’t charging properly either. I purchased the iPad at Best Buy and returning one to BB requires an inspection from a Geek Squad agent.

(More on Techland: Gallery: Hits and Misses from Apple So Far)

Tablet devices have a place in today’s market and the iPad is evidence of that. You don’t sell over 1 million devices just because people are curious. Will Android tablets be adopted at the same rate? And what about webOS tablets? That all depends on how heavily invested users are in each respective app store. Aside from a full-fledged web browser, the key differentiator for each platform is the apps. Android is picking up steam with the influx of mobile devices and apps will increase accordingly. The future of webOS is up in the air until HP finalizes the deal later this year.

I’m not entirely sure why I’m sharing this bit of info with all of you. I didn’t have a revelation about why the iPad sucks or doesn’t suck. Lack of support for Flash definitely weighed heavily on my decision and until all the sites I frequent are optimized for HTML5 I have no real use for the iPad. (Sidenote: Flash on a mobile device is wicked awesome, but I’ve said too much already.) I can play Plants vs Zombies on my iPhone. I am, however, going to miss the Netflix app.

A few other things worth noting in case you really care to know. I never once activated AT&T service on my iPad and I’ve heard from several others that it’s just as horrendous as it is on the iPhone. Why did I pay the extra $130? I have no idea. Like I mentioned earlier, the apps just aren’t that mind-blowing. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, the iPad App Store needs 3 to 6 months to mature and developers haven’t been able to harness the full potential of the hardware. It’ll happen but not anytime soon.

And I’m honestly disappointed that the iPad is running iPhone OS. A file management system would be boss, but the likelihood of it happening anytime in the near future is nothing more than a pipedream.

Reading books on the iPad just seems weird. I love paper. The entire publishing industry will some day convert to digital, but current generations will all have an affinity for paper. Until devices like the iPad and Kindle are made available in school we won’t rid ourselves of paper periodicals for decades. Apps like ComicZeal 4, TIME and Pop Mech haven’t stopped me from picking up the paper versions. Am I the only one that feels this way?

The chances of me picking up a third iPad before the next generation are pretty slim. The first generation iPhone sat in my desk drawer for an entire year. Go figure.

More on Techland:

Hands-on With the Apple iPad

Two Minute Video: Ten iPad Apps To Grab On Launch Day

Related Topics: Best Buy, geek squad, ipad, Apple, Computers, Gadgets
  • stephenhope

    Still happy with my iPad. With ComicZeal 4, I carry all my favorite comics wherever I go! I also love Sketchbook Pro.

    Once Mixr is released, as well as an iPad optimized version of i4e, I will be set.

  • richardsrussell

    OK, I’ll bite. What does the stlll photo from The Sound of Music have to do with an iPad? Climbing mountains? Edelweiss? Do re mi? Lonely goatherd?

  • sunnyguy53

    Close, but no cigar. Try … So long. Farewell. Auf Wiedersehen. Good bye.
    This was actually one of the clues in today’s NY Times crossword.
    I got it there too. :-)

    Sunny Guy

  • http://youtube.com/churchhatestucker Church

    I’m shocked. SHOCKED! That Peter returned his iPad.

    He’ll rue this day once he realizes it can be jailbroken and run Android.

  • http://manchildapocalypse.wordpress.com gvcatullus

    Is there more to this article? I love the ipad as a reader and web browser, plus Netflix is a win. It needs tv out for apps (like netflix) an itunes based video subscription service and use of an iphone as a remote and it would be the perfect media device.

  • http://twitter.com/thepeterha Peter Ha

    @stephenhope I only had CZ4 for a day or two, but I’ll miss that one too.
    @richard what sunnyguy said.
    @church I’ll wait for an Android tablet once Flash support is rolled out.
    @gvc I’m actually updating now.

  • http://asshataward.wordpress.com asshataward

    I had the same reaction: we got one at work and I was all over the thing. Now? Meh. Nice toy. It doesn’t really do anything, really. And I always feel like I’m going to drop it and break it. I am TERRIFIED of being the one to drop it, so much so that I’m afraid of handling it.

    I am, however, interested in the book reading ability…it is a more book like experience, but I would rather pay $800 in real paper, thank you very much, and enjoy going to a bookstore.

  • wolson999

    With a nice leather case only $5 more than the one from Apple, My iPad has become the computer of choice in the house for most of the simple tasks, even the over the iPod touch. Movie times, maps, reading, browsing, and email are very convenient. I have the wireless version and the connections at various locations have been stellar. What has been the most interesting experience has been watching Netflix, Surfing the net and Reading books in a big comfortable chair in the dark with no keyboard or mouse to hassle with. After using it daily for six weeks, it has met all expectations that my preliminary reading had indicated. What surprises me the most is how often throughout the day I grab it to look something up and how fast it gets online or starts the app. Sorry to hear of your problems and I hope my enthusiasm holds up as time goes by. AT&T is not my carrier and that is one of the reasons I didn’t wait for the 3G version.

  • http://twincitiesphotography.com Michael Mingo

    Your post makes no sense to me – you state that reading on the ipad book reader just seems odd but you offer no other details about how you find it odd – I actually find it quite nice – either via the iPad book reader or the Amazon book reader app – it works great.

    And the part about entering yoru wi-fi password every 30 minutes – again – not sure I understand what the problem is there – it should remember the password for you and auto-connect each time.

    And you didn’t even try the AT&T data plan – you are just going by what other people say – hmmmm…..I live in Minneapolis and I have zero complaints – I actually get 2-3 mbps download speed – which is faster than the wi-fi speed in some coffee shops I visit.

  • gum0nshoe

    Can’t say I’m too surprised. The reason you like your i-phone: It’s a digital swiss army knife. Would you carry a swiss army knife you couldn’t keep in your pocket? Probably not.

    Slates won’t replace anything until they are as versatile as a piece of paper. That’s coming soon, but it involves more than just a touch screen. Have you ever used a wacom tablet or tablet laptop? When a slate can do that on top of having a touch screen, people might start buying into it. When it folds up to fit in your pocket, you might like it better too. And beyond that, pretty soon there will be a standardized way to transfer files wirelessly in a point and shoot camera fashion.

    When all of that gets merged into a system that allows you to openly do what you want with it (program/store files/write files/create content/manage your daily life), then the slate will have a home in the market and probably replace even some hand held devices.

    Until then, its an intermediary product which leaves you wondering why you aren’t using the product you already have that’s better at what you want to do. As a browsing device for the internet, it’s probably fine, but as you said, why pay 600 or 800 for a device that does what your computer or laptop does.

  • billintoo

    Fair enough – no device is everyone, so this post is no knock against Peter. My own personal experience with the iPad has been incredibly positive. It has become my primary go-to computer when I’m hanging around at home on the couch. Of course, I go to my desktop computer when doing heavy-duty tasks like coding or Photoshop or video editing. But for the rest, like browsing the web, checking e-mail, checking the weather, playing casual games, etc., I pick up my iPad. I don’t have to boot it up, I don’t have to wake it from sleep – I just press the home button and it’s instantly on, ready to go. And, unlike my laptop, I can leave it unplugged for long periods of time without worrying about the battery dying. I love reading books on it, both from iBooks and Kindle (which works better at nighttime due to its white text on black setting) as well as comic books from the Marvel app. People say that staring a LED produces eyestrain, but I haven’t found that to be the case at all. Of course, I stare at a computer LED already for 8 hours a day at my job, so maybe I’m just used to it. And on those occasions when I want to write, I throw my slim bluetooth keyboard in my pack with the iPad and off I go. I paid the extra $130 for the 3G as well, and though I haven’t used it yet, I can easily envision being on a longer-term trip where it’d be useful to just have a single month of cellular Internet access while on the go – and since the AT&T service is contract-free, I can just pay for those months that I need it. Plus, unlike the WiFi-only model, the iPad 3G has GPS, which is great when using the Maps application, which I do a lot, given my defective sense of geography. And since it’s so slim, it’s easy to take the iPad with me most everywhere. Aside from the weight, it’s really just like bringing a notepad.

    Which brings me to my only gripe with the iPad, its weight. You can’t hold it comfortably in one hand for long periods of time like you would with a book or a Kindle. You can cradle it in the crook of your arm, like a notepad and prop it against your knee or on your lap, but just holding it up with one hand for reading is tiresome.

    Otherwise, I have to say I’m wild about my iPad, which has completely replaced my Dell Mini 9.

  • focher

    You lost me when you mentioned that 1) this is the second one you bought and 2) you bought it at Best Buy.

    The part I just plain don’t understand is your claim that “Flash on a mobile device is wicked awesome” when Flash doesn’t run on ANY mobile devices. Perhaps you are referring to Flash Lite, which is essentially Flash 6. Or maybe you were referring to the recent tech demos of Flash running on an Android-based phone. And it crashed. Twice.

    Flash is dead, and I won’t miss it. Thank you, Apple.

  • bob3905

    A lot of people got real wordy here so I won’t. I think you can some it up like this…

    The iPad is not for everyone. Those in love with Apple will find reasons to love iPad. The rest will judge it, like Peter, on it’s merits and how well it’s fits his (or her) needs.

  • doubleang

    @Michael: makes sense to me… How would you describe not liking the mona lisa? if something doesnt really click for you, it doesnt click. I dont think Peter was saying he had a particular gripe with the technology, just the ambiance.
    @focher: re: Flash: read between the lines dude. Peter was obviously hinting that he has seen it in action

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