So, the iPad has finally landed. Thankfully. Not because we can't wait to get our hands on one, but because, despite being fans of shiny new gadgets, we couldn't take any more of the media hype surrounding its launch. Anyway, all our facts and opinions are gleaned from sitting through Steve Jobs’s one and a half hour keynote speech on the product and spending countless hours reviewing countless blogs – we have not had a play around with one. And to be fair to Apple, it’s intuitive functionality appears to be one of its strengths.
The iPad is not an iPhone (or iPod Touch) and it is not a Macbook. It is somewhere in between. And as Mr Jobs, accurately in FHM’s opinion, stated at the product’s launch, for the iPad to be a success, it can’t just be a glorified iPod Touch or a small Macbook, it’s got to be better at some of the key things. So we’ve looked at what things you’d be likely to be doing on an iPad and are giving FHM’s opinion as to whether they are genuinely better done on an iPad (or if you’d be better off with your smartphone or laptop).
The facts
Size – the iPad’s 9.7 inch screen is big enough to watch movies on the go and it's a mere 0.5 inch thick. You won't carry it in your pocket but it would fit in whatever bag you might be carrying.
Weight - at 1.5 pounds it obviously weighs significantly less than Apple's lightest laptop (the 4.7 pounds MacBook). But it's unlikely you'll be able to use it with one hand for an extended period of time.
Cost - this is one area where the iPad scored better than expected. The 16GB Wi-Fi version will come in at $499. want a 64GB Wi-Fi and 3G version and you’ll have to find $829 (plus a separate 3G data plan).
Battery life - this is one area that Apple historically doesn't fare well. They claim a battery life of up to ten hours for the iPad but manufacturers' claims on this are rarely true. We'll get back to you once we've tried one out.
The opinion is over the page >>>