The Chriso's News Blog

Apple today revealed the iPad tablet PC in the latest grab at the consumer and business market.

The 1/2 inch thin device with a 9.7 inch screen is the latest offering from Apple to lure customer towards their successful iTunes and iStore.

On the surface it seem to be an overgrown iPhone but one of the revealing features is the new iBook. The iBook is aimed at Amazon Kindle market and of course you need to purchase your books through iTunes with an iTune account.  Apple has aligned itself with several well known publishers to supply online book purchases through an bookcase type interface.

Pricing for the new device starts a $499us for an 16gbto $699us for a 64gb. To add WiFi and GSM (Accessed through AT&T) capability you need to add another $149 us. The pricing is pitched at the gadget market and more expensive than a kindle.  For those who want a netbook plus an ebook and a iPhone may find it of value but for the rest of us who do not want a iTunes account and a life long mortgage to Apple may find it of no value.

Connection to the iPad is via it proprietary iConnector to usb. This again limits the use of the device to Apple accessories that can only be produced and distributed under Apple licences.

Apart from the Apples well designed user interface there really is not all that much to be excited about. The technology used has been about  for some time and all been placed in a larger device. The iPad clearly has netbooks and Amazon in mind but the market for netbooks is dwindling as the devices fall short of a real notebook.

Apple will see success with this product but will not replace a notebook for real computing.  Considering the design it will become popular with the Apple fan base and give the netbook market a fierce competitor.

Benefits

• Thin single tablet
• Mutitouch Screen
• User Interface
• iStore Applications
• 10 hours on Battery

Cons

• iTunes
• iStores
• iBooks
• Apple Connector
• AT &T (Maybe Telstra in Australia?)
• Limited Bluetooth
• Screen Size

Conclusion

The iPad is not all things to all people but could become the next must have gadget. I do not see it as a device that will change the world.

Images sourced from http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

Tags: Amazon, iBook, iPad, iPhone, iPod, iTunes