Tuesday, April 27, 2010

After two weeks, what I like and don't like about the iPad


I'll take care of the don't-likes first because there are so few of them:

  1. There should be stereo sound without using headphones.
  2. The sound without using headphones should be LOUDER.
  3. eNewspapers don't come in plastic bags that can be used to pick up dog crap.
  4. 4.  I have to finish watching a movie rented from iTunes within 24 hours of starting to watch it. Movies should be fun, not an obligation. Yesterday morning I started watching the fantastic 157-minute "American Gangster" and paused it after about an hour. I resumed watching this morning, paused it to answer the phone, and learned I'd have to pay $2.99 to see the end of the movie. This annoyance is not caused by the iPad, but the iPad revealed the problem.
Now for the do-likes:

  1. The screen is in color, unlike other eReaders
  2. The screen is beautifully bright and sharp
  3. The screen is big
  4. There is no space wasted on a physical keyboard that is seldom needed, as with the Kindle
  5. The overall size is right
  6. It's easy to use, with seldom any need to check the instructions
  7. Very easy to load photos, music, videos and documents from my PCs
  8. Very fast downloads from web, via wi-fi
  9. Works fine with G-mail
  10. Slide shows with music
  11. Apple's Safari web browser works fine -- I don't miss IE
  12. BestBuy gave me 18 months to pay with no interest
  13. Virtual keyboard is well designed, and very smart
  14. Pre-made links for Youtube, iTunes, App Store
  15. Easy to view from the side so several people can see what's on the screen
  16. Super-fast downloads of eBooks
  17. Cool display of books on shelf, which rotates (like entrance to secret passage) to access Apple's bookstore
  18. Contact manager address book (which can pick up photos already stored)
  19. Amazing maps
  20. Appointment book ("calendar")
  21. Newspapers and magazines look great
  22. eBooks show photos better than pBooks
  23. Infinitely rotatable
  24. Ability to enlarge text for easier reading
  25. Hyperlinks in magazines, books and newspapers
  26. Fits nicely between my pillow and headboard for in-bed belly-down reading and movies
  27. Unlike pBooks, pMagazines, and pNewspapers, it doesn't get damaged by doggie drool or orange juice
  28. Magazine and book covers can't get wrinkled and pages can't fall out
  29. eNewspapers and eMagazines are not stuffed with annoying coupons
  30. Newspapers and magazines arrive without my having to go outside to get them in bad weather
  31. Old newspapers and magazines don't have to go into blue recycling bin and schlepped outside in bad weather
  32. Free samples of eBooks can be quickly converted into paid-for complete books
  33. My sister is getting my netbook, which I no longer need
  34. iPad is a great geek-chick magnet
  35. My wife doesn't complain about the money spent on it
Might-be-nice-to-have:
  1. USB port
  2. Memory card slot
  3. Compatibility with Adobe's Flash
  4. More colorful "home" button
  5. Ability to see screen in bright sunlight

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