You might be aware that Apple just announced a certain little (or not so little depending how you look at it) gadget called the Apple iPad. One only needs a quick glance to realize that it looks like a vastly oversized iPod Touch but what are its main strengths and its greatest disadvantages? Here is the way I see it:
Key features
Magnificent 9.7” capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity
Optional 3G connectivity (data only)
1 GHz Apple A4 CPU
iPhone OS 3.2
16/32/64 GB of onboard storage
Weight of 680 grams (730 grams for the 3G version)
Very slim 12.7mm waistline
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Haptics feedback
10 hours battery life and 1 month of stand-by
Accelerometer and compass
Compatible with every iPhone app without any modifications
The cheapest version costs less than an unlocked iPhone
iBook application
The keyboard dock (purchased separately) easily converts the iPad into a nettop
Main disadvantages
It’s not a computer but a big iPod Touch
No multitasking
No Flash support for the web browser
No camera
No standard USB port (you can get USB connectivity with an accessory but you need to pay extra)
No real GPS receiver (though there is cell-tower triangulation)
130 US dollars (90 euro) for a 3G modem seems pricey
iTunes required for uploading content
No kickstand – it cannot stand on a table without the dock
No USB host
Looks pretty easy to drop
No exchangeable battery
Typing is quite uncomfortable
micro-SIM, instead of regular SIM for the 3G models
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