Apple iPad Tablet Review

Overview (Cont’d)

The iPad is an elegant example of great design. Although it is thin, it is sturdy. Although it is useful in many ways, it is simple in its design with a minimal numbers of controls.

The top of the iPad, shown in Figure 5, has only one button, which is an on/off or sleep/wake slider switch on the left. On the right you see the standard headphone jack. Although the much cheaper iPod touch comes with headphones, they are not included with the iPad. Next to the headphone jack is the hole for the microphone.

Figure 5: The top of the iPad.

The right side of the iPad, shown in Figure 6, holds the iPad’s only other controls. On the right is a useful screen rotation lock, which keeps the screen from rotating when you don’t want it to, like when you are lying in bed. Next to the rotation lock is the up/down volume rocker.

Figure 6: The right side of the iPad.

The bottom of the iPad is also uncluttered. As shown in Figure 7, in the middle is the 30-pin connector that is used to charge the iPad as well as to attach accessories. Just to the right of the connector is the built-in speaker which has three small sections covered in mesh.

Figure 7: The bottom of the iPad.

As you can see from this summary, there are several things lacking in the iPad. The most noticeable is that there is no camera and no USB ports, which means that you can’t do video calls or print anything.

You can add accessories that attach through the 30-pin port. The USD 30 iPad Camera Connection Kit gives you two adapters. One for a standard camera SD memory card; the other for your camera’s USB cable. Both allow you to send photos to your iPad and then sync them back to your computer.

Apple also sells adapter cables for external video gear and for an external keyboard. However, even if you output the iPad content to a hi-def TV, the iPad videos will only be in 480p.

As on all Apple portable devices, the battery is sealed in making it non-replaceable (except with Apple’s expensive help). That’s too bad, because we can easily see the entire family using this device enough to wear out the battery before the device becomes ready for the dump. The memory is also sealed making it non-expandable.

However, this is actually Apple’s stance with all their portable devices. They give you reason to upgrade to each new version of their products. So either you wear out the battery or you will be drooling over the improvements. We envision in the next few versions, the iPad will have multi-tasking, a camera, the ability to print, and many other improvements. It’s not that Apple couldn’t have put that stuff in the first generation iPad. It’s that they felt this version was compelling enough to make people purchase without them.

Prices for the iPad start at USD 499 and go to USD 829. Be sure to leave room in your budget for some accessories because the iPad doesn’t come with any. You will need to purchase a pair of ear buds and a cleaning cloth and may also want a case that can be used to prop up the iPad.

Apple continues its support for our environment. The iPad has arsenic-free display glass and a mercury-free LCD display. It is made of a recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure and is BFR and PVC-free