5 Minutes with the iPad
Last weekend I headed to the Apple Store at my local mall for a few minutes of hands-on time with the new iPad. I’ll be honest, I’m very impressed. If I didn’t want one before, I do now. The device is sleek and fun to play with. My only general complaint is that the iPad is way too heavy. Holding it up in your hands for any length of time would be very uncomfortable.
Of course, I most looked forward to testing out iBooks, Apples new ebook app for the iPad. I opened up iBooks and opened a random book. The text is crystal clear on a white background and the page turns are smooth. When you swipe your finger to turn the page, you see the page turn over like on a real book. Pretty nifty!
The only problem with using the iPad as a ebook reader is the display – it’s like reading on a computer screen. I can imagine my eyes would hurt after a very short reading session. Even when I read on my iPhone (using the B&N app) I only read in short spurts because the strain on my eyes become unbearable after a while.
So while the iPad renders books beautifully, I doubt many will use it exclusively as an ebook reader. This brings me to my next point – the iPad won’t be a Kindle/Nook/Sony Reader killer. Why? Because all those other devices are for reading ebooks only. The iPad is multi-functional. People will buy the iPad for all of it’s features and potential uses, including reading ebooks. But when someone buys the Nook (for example), they buy it only to read ebooks, nothing else.
I knew when I walked into the Apple Store I would walk out wanting Apple’s latest and greatest. The same thing happened with the iPhone. I wasn’t all the interested in the iPhone at first, until I actually played with one at the store. Six months later I was back at the Apple Store buying my first generation iPhone, the one I still use today (don’t laugh).
Have you had a chance to play around with the iPad yet? If so, what do you think? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
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