Hail the iPad, NOT!

I've been coming across a lot of iPad articles lately and I am quite surprised at the online community dissappointment with the much hyped tablet device. Considering the fact that the internet was buzzing with rumours and excitement about the iPad, I'm sure that people over at Apple are not very happy with the community's reaction to the first unveiling of the device. Obviously, there are a number of articles out there branding the iPad the saviour of the tablet market, but these articles where mainly written by Apple affectionados, and are not supported by anything more than an Apple bias.

I came across an article on ITPro that compared the iPad to the HP Slate, which has also recieve a lot of lip service online. The author of this article was clearly a Mac user because he branded the iPad the winner, even though the points that he made about both tablets very clearly showed the the HP Slate as much more capable of meeting the needs of the consumer. For example, when comparing the operating systems on both of these devices, for some reason he brands the iPad as having the better operating system, even though it relies completely on Apple applications, while the HP Slate has a fully functioning operating system, on which virtually any PC software can be installed. How can you say that an iPhone app is better than a full fledged Windows application??? Personally, I would much rather have Microsoft Word than the dumbed-down iWorks!!!

Another feature that is lacking in the iPad is that it does not support Flash, as with all other Apple products sporting the iPhone OS. The fact that it does not have a USB drive is also a major drawback because it stops the iPad short of being a computer, but rather an oversized iPhone/iTouch. Screen resolution is also an issue, because the iPad, or as I like the call it the iPod Touch Plus, boasts 4:3 resolution, which decrease its capabilities as a multimedia platform on which one can watch movies.

More bad PR for the iPad is that the user interface for Apple's new eBook store, called iBooks, was stolen from a popular Mac app called Delicious Library. What makes matters worse is that some are saying that the iPad is actually an eBook reader, which would be a complete embarrasment if its book store's interface is stolen from another company!! I am aware that the interface was not copyrighted, but I would expect more from a company that prides itself on creating innovative and revolutionary products.

One thing I must admit though, is that the iPad has put tablets in the spotlight. If it does end up being a complete failure, it will have at least introduced tablet devices to the consumer market as a viable alternative to the laptop and netbook.