SCI FI PI

The internet has spoken, and it's not as impressed as it wanted to be with the latest release from Apple - the iPad.

The general consensus - it's an overgrown iPhone.

Like the iPhone, it doesn't have a full-blown, Flash-enabled browser, which means that your internet experience isn't going to be as good as when you use a laptop - it's going to be a bit iPhoney.



The 'killer app' for the iPad, is of course, the use of the printed word. It's a direct competitor for Amazon's Kindle, and is sized perfectly for the reading experience.

The real key is whether the expected iTunes delivery system for books and magazines can give people the user friendliness that turns the iPad from a sexy little gadget to a replacement for your morning paper and evening paperback.





Reading on the iPhone is possible (great at night for those who don't want to wake their partner) and the iPad should be able to deliver an even better experience. That said, the 'regionally' of iTunes has provoked problems for Australians who can't get hold of some content that their brethren in the US can, leading to much dismay and iHate.


So, what does the iPad actually do?


First thing - an almost full sized virtual keyboard. Great for emailing. Although it does take some getting used to. There should be a host of iPad cases coming out that will hopefully make the typing experience itself slightly better.





That said, the fact that the keyboard isn't quite full sized does beg the question as to whether the iPad isn't just something to read stuff on (plus apps) but is the first step to an all-tablet world, where the next generation of laptops will all have virtual keyboards.

The next thing on the iPad - the apps - it's basically an iPhone in this department. You can surf the net, watch videos, listen to itunes, look at pictures. The display is 9.7 inches across and LED backlit - looks great.





The big thing unknown that comes out of the first iPad glimpse is iBooks. Will the library fill up fast? Who will Apple be able to secure partnership to secure the success of iBooks. At the moment, the Australian cupboard is bare. Hopefully, that won't be a sign of things to come.


The one thing you can't do - is make a phone call. Unless you have the Skype app. So it's not really an overgrown iPhone at all - it's an overgrown iPod Touch.