Here are some of my iPad first impressions after using it all weekend.
iPad Hardware
Size
Most people’s reaction when they first see it is that it’s smaller than they expected. But, after you use it, it seems to be the right size. I find it solidly built, maybe a bit heavier than I would like. Most of the time I have it resting against something, my belly, the desk, the bed, etc.
Screen
The screen is sharp and beautiful, but picks up fingerprints like crazy. Fingerprints are a lot more noticeable than on the iPhone. I think I’m going to have to invest in some lint-free cloths to wipe down the screen. The cloth that I used over the weekend wasn’t quite lint free and now I have dust on the edges of the iPad case.
The screen is extremely glossy so glare can also be an issue. I might try buying a matte screen protector to cut down on glare and fingerprints.
Speaker
The speaker is louder than I expected and works well for watching videos.
Battery Life
The battery life is so long that I don’t really think about charging it. Normally when I use my Macbook Pro, I’m always thinking about when or where I can plug it back in. But with my iPad, I wouldn’t be afraid to head out for the day leaving the charger and cords at home.
The iPad won’t recharge when connected to my Macbook Pro or my Mac Pro. Both of my computers are a few years old and do not provide enough power through the USB ports to charge the iPad. The small iPod charger did charge iPad battery overnight, but probably slower than the 10V charger it comes with.
Apple Case
I like the Apple case a lot. It’s got a nice rubberized feeling when holding it in your hands. I haven’t used the stand much, but it feels a little wobbly when I’ve tried it. The case is matte and seems to pick up dirt pretty easily. (between the screen and the case, I’m beginning to think my place is really dusty.)
Software
Safari
Safari for the iPad is a killer app like it was for the iPhone. But it is some much nicer with the extra real estate. It’s amazing to see the difference in web pages between this and the iPhone. It’s so good that you wonder why some companies are bothering creating iPad apps for their websites.
Some sites that do work, have a few problems. The Google Reader RSS website seems slow and somehow less responsive. The Google Reader website has multiple columns that require the use of a two finger motion to get the columns to scroll.
Twitter client
I’ve tried both Tweetdeck and Twitteriffic. I like how Tweetdeck shows multiple columns by I don’t like how it wastes half the screen for the Tweetdeck icon.
eBay App
eBay tried to differentiate their app from the website by showing for sale items in gallery format- like a store. I find this app totally unusable without having the ability of showing search results as lists. I also don’t like the fact that it does have the saved searches from the website. I’d much rather use the eBay web page than this.
Scrabble
Scrabble looks amazing. Problem is that the iPad keeps beating me. If you have iPhones or iPod touches, you can download an App that allows you to use your iPhone as a letter tray while using the iPad as the board.
Marvel Comics App
It shows comics in two ways, traditional panels or a more cinematic, frame by frame way. This is one you really need to see. Comics can be bought through the App for $2.00 a comic. If they every came out with a Netflix like monthly fee, this might be worth it. Otherwise, I’ll pass.
Numbers
Haven’t played with this much, because getting files in and out seems a little awkward.
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