Apple iPad

“Is the iPad a perfect product? No. And the omissions will give the anti-Apple crowd plenty of ammo. Why do I need this extra device that's not a full-fledged laptop? Where's the camera? What about Flash? Um, how about multitasking? These are all valid complaints, but one thing I can say about most Apple products, and certainly the iPad: There may be things it doesn't do, but what it does do, it does remarkably well. Aside from the aforementioned limitations, there isn't a lot else to gripe about. And to my great surprise, you can actually get real work done with the iPad. I'm curious to see who actually buys the iPad, apart from Apple enthusiasts. But I can tell you that when my laptop eventually dies, I'll be getting one.”

“The iPad is revolutionary, but it's not a true handheld device. That means you should think twice about whether you really need AT&T 3G before plunkingdown an extra $130 more than the Wi-Fi-only version. Some applications don't even work over 3G. AT&T is the only U.S. carrier with 3G support for the iPad and it has flexible and affordable 3G service plans.”

“When you think about tablets, the Apple iPad and Motorola XOOM should be the first two to come into mind because they’re able to provide a satisfying and appropriate tablet experience. Though, pricing is one glaring item that sways people in making an informed purchase – and with that in mind, the $800 cost of the Motorola XOOM places it at the upper end of the spectrum. However, considering that it boasts plenty of features not found with the iPad, like taking photos & videos, video chat, HDMI output, 4G LTE support down the road, the higher pricing may be considered justified to an extent. However, we can't help but admit that the significantly more affordable iPad, which is now a year-old product, comes in at just $630 when similarly equipped with 32GB and 3G connectivity. Looking past the hardware and cost, the platform experience is undoubtedly different between the two as the iPad sticks to its usual straightforward approach, while personalization and presentation are at the utmost top of the list with the XOOM. On the surface, it’s clear that Android 3.0 Honeycomb is the truly optimized tablet experience since its overall appearance and characteristics differ from what we see on smartphones. But with the iPad, it still retains the iPhone’s original look and feel of the platform – which isn’t particularly tailored for tablets, although still quite usable. However, we actually see a lot more third party apps available with the iPad that are tablet friendly. All in all, if you want to experience a respectable tablet without spending a whole lot of cash, then you should consider the now quite affordable at $399 iPad 16GB Wi-Fi, which got discounted recently thanks to the introduction of its successor, or the $529 iPad 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G if you need more connectivity. On the other hand, if you're ready to spend more money for a tablet, and want to experience a modern-looking user interface the Google way, then the XOOM will do the job for you. However, do not forget that the iPad 2 is right around the corner, adding more functionality and setting new standards in the design field.”

“There are two conclusions to be made about the Apple iPad. As a product you could buy, it's a tempting but ultimately unconvincing device. Anyone with a particular penchant for Apple, or enough money to burn and a love of shiny tech, are likely to buy into it. Unlike the iPhone, however, it doesn't traverse the boundary between early adopters and the mass market. Most people probably wouldn't know what to do with it. What it does do is demonstrate the potential of the tablet as a segment. In time, with a few software updates, tweaks to the hardware and a more compelling library of content to draw on, it could well deliver on the hype it currently receives. It'll also spur on competitors to compete with it, which can only be a good thing.”