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Apple iPad overview: The good, the bad and the ugly

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:

Apple iPad

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

Apple iPadApple iPadApple iPad

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
  • No memory card slot

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