Engadget has just published an article called “8 things that suck about the iPad” which has now been Dugg more than 2291 times. I have to admit i was actually getting quite excited about the device and after even waking up early this morning to see what the device was going to be it turn out to be a real let down. Below is a copy of the 8 (now 11) things that Engadget hate about it that I have commented on and then I added a few more to the list.
Engadgets list:
1. Big, Ugly Bezel (Agreed)
Have you seen the bezel on this thing?! It’s huge! I know you don’t want to accidentally input a command when your thumb is holding it, but come on.
2. No Multitasking (Agreed)
This is a backbreaker. If this is supposed to be a replacement for netbooks, how can it possibly not have multitasking? Are you saying I can’t listen to Pandora while writing a document? I can’t have my Twitter app open at the same time as my browser? I can’t have AIM open at the same time as my email? Are you kidding me? This alone guarantees that I will not buy this product.
3. No Cameras (Agreed)
No front facing camera is one thing. But no back facing camera either? Why the hell not? I can’t imagine what the downside was for including at least one camera. Could this thing not handle video iChat?
4. Touch Keyboard (Agreed, Also add having only support for Mac keyboards is a big fail)
So much for Apple revolutionizing tablet inputs; this is the same big, ugly touchscreen keyboard we’ve seen on other tablets, and unless you’re lying on the couch with your knees propping it up, it’ll be awkward to use.
5. No HDMI Out (Agreed, Zune HD has HDMI out via a dock)
Want to watch those nice HD videos you downloaded from iTunes on your TV? Too damned bad! If you were truly loyal, you’d just buy an AppleTV already.
6. The Name iPad (iPad…. seriously…. AHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!)
Get ready for Maxi pad jokes, and lots of ‘em!
7. No Flash (Agreed, Also see point 12. However this means no Farmville…. YES!!!!)
No Flash is annoying but not a dealbreaker on the iPhone and iPod Touch. On something that’s supposed to be closer to a netbook or laptop? It will leave huge, gaping holes in websites. I hope you don’t care about streaming video! God knows not many casual internet users do. Oh wait, nevermind, they all do.
8. Adapters, Adapters, Adapters (Agreed, even a Micro USB port would have been fine)
So much for those smooth lines. If you want to plug anything into this, such as a digital camera, you need all sorts of ugly adapters. You need an adapter for USB for god’s sake.
Engadget has added a few more.
9. It’s Not Widescreen (Agreed)
Widescreen movies look lousy on this thing thanks to its 4:3 screen, according to Blam, who checked out some of Star Trek on one. It’s like owning a 4:3 TV all over again!
10. Doesn’t Support T-Mobile 3G (Might be an issue with Telstra as well)
Sure, it’s "unlocked." But it won’t work on T-Mobile, and it uses microSIMs that literally no one else uses.
11. A Closed App Ecosystem (Agreed)
The iPad only runs apps from the App Store. The same App Store that is notorious for banning apps for no real reason, such as Google Voice. Sure, netbooks might not have touchscreens, but you can install whatever software you’d like on them. Want to run a different browser on your iPad? Too bad!
Now for my List of things:
12. No Silverlight support
Just like Flash there is no support for Silverlight support which is fast growing way of doing rich multi-media web and standalone applications for OSX and Windows.
13. No support for removable storage.
Apparently there is a “Apple Camera Connection Kit” that allows you to import photos from a memory stick but this is seems to be limited to importing photos. Connecting devices like USB hard drives are definitely not supported.
14. No Printing support.
Still no mention for support for printing from the device. Now limited printing support could be achieved via the wireless connection however this would only be to a limited number of WiFi enabled supported printers.
15. No wireless sync
Unlike the Zune HD there is no mention of the ability to sync the content of the device wirelessly. In fact the even made mention that you will still need a dock for the device to sync it with iTunes.
16. Not portable.
The size of the device is really not really a portable device that you can throw in a backpack due to the huge glass screen. More of a device to keep in the house and use on the couch or in bed but hen again so are netbooks.
VS
