As I write this post from my new iPad 2 I think about what separates this device from all the other i-devices on the market. More specifically, the iPod touch and the iPhone. What makes this experience different? First, everything I can do on the iPhone can be done on the iPad. Why buy more than one device which is capable of doing the same tasks; wouldn’t that be redundant? To be honest they are capable of the same, but what I feel is beginning grow and separate the devices are the software. If more desktop class software makes it’s way to the iPad it will truly replace laptops net-books and perhaps dare I say desktops. Things such as typing this post, is much more comfortable than on my phone even though I have done so in the past. Those who find themselves reaching for a computer to do things end up just using their iPad to accomplish tasks. And why not, it’s small powerful and portable.
As great as the iPad is it is not without it’s limitations. We know apple limits some of it’s products purposefully so that the next iteration is lusted over. The camera for FaceTime is god-awful and from now on FaceTime calls will be done from my iPhone 4. Why not take advantage of a larger screen from this device and add two hd cameras? One in the front and another on the back. Would it hurt that much they are practically the same size, so that’s not an issue. VGA looks grainy and in dark settings is just horrible. Oatmeal has less grain than the iPad’s camera does. Those iPad ads are very misleading as they make the images look incredibly clear. Perhaps the lighting conditions are perfect or they are keeping the hd camera version for themselves. In addition to this this iPad woulds have benefitted from a high resolution screen a retina display or some equivalent high-resolution screen. But that would just exaggerate how bad FaceTime would look on such a screen, hmmm makes you wonder why they did not add a retina display. Other than these small gripes I still love my iPad as this is my first iPad. Those who previously owned one please don’t rush out and get the new one. Wait for the iPad 3 because FaceTime is not worth it plus it makes your hands tired after a while from holding it. If you have an iPhone 4 and the original iPad just use that because it’s like you already have an iPad 2.
As a student I love having my eBooks on here they looks absolutely amazing. Browsing is fast and finding chapters even on a PDF is a smooth process, way better than my nook no rooting necessary. I reiterate the distinction would be more clear between the i-devices from the software standpoint. Make iPad only apps which are so useful to an iPad that it would become silly to use them on a phone. Oh well can’t I just do that on my phone? No. The line must be drawn somewhere and it should be at the software level. Reduce the level of redundancy or “fragmentation”. If this is so the iPad will have achieved a home that is on par with a desktop like experience.