Archive for January, 2011
Best iPad Accessories
After it was announced back in January, the unfortunately named Apple iPad ($699 direct, 64GB Wi-Fi) seemed like it could be the company’s first major clunker in a long time: An expensive niche product that would inhabit a nebulous region between laptops and smartphones, but wouldn’t quite eliminate the need for either one. Aside from Apple enthusiasts, many of us wondered who would drop hundreds of dollars for this not-quite-computer. But having used the iPad for some time, I can tell you that the device just makes sense. When you combine basic-but-essential work tools with iWork, an improved browser, e-mail, iPod, and photo applications, a well-executed e-Book platform withiBooks, and throw in thousands of downloadable apps and games, and package it all in a gorgeous, slim slate with a beautiful 9.7-inch touch screen, you have yourself a winner. Is the iPad cheap? No. Is it flawless? Not at all. Omissions including support for multitasking, a built-in camera for video chats, and Flash support in Safari leave room for improvement, but otherwise, the Apple iPad is a very convincing debut. And it will undoubtedly be a driving force in shaping the emerging tablet landscape.
The Basics, Pricing, and Design
There are two different iPad flavors: Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi + 3G. (This review will focus on the Wi-Fi-only iPad, see ourApple iPad 3G review for details on the 3G-enabled version.)
Pricing starts at $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi-only model, and continues like this: $599 (32GB Wi-Fi only); $699 (64GB Wi-Fi-only); $629 (16GB Wi-Fi + 3G); $729 (32GB Wi-Fi + 3G); and $829 (64GB Wi-Fi + 3G). Remember, if you buy the Wi-Fi + 3G model, you’ll need to pay AT&T for 3G coverage. (The device is locked to AT&T’s network, so you can’t use another mobile carrier.) You can opt to pay for coverage on a continual monthly basis ($14.99 per month for 250MB or $29.99 a month for unlimited data). There’s no commitment or contract to sign, so you can switch your 3G service on and off whenever you like, and with no service, your 3G iPad will still be able to connect to the Web via Wi-Fi. In the U.S. you can purchase AT&T’s 3G service right on your iPad 3G.
The iPad measures 9.56 by 7.47 by 0.50 inches (HWD) and looks a lot like a giant iPod touch($299, 32GB, 
), except for its brushed aluminum back (the iPod touch has a shiny metallic back). From all the hype, you might expect it to be featherweight—and if you’re tucking it into a bag, it’s a lot lighter to tote than a laptop—but at 1.5 pounds, the iPad feels a little heavy when you hold it up with a single hand for long periods. The 9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS touch-screen display, which features 1024-by-768-pixel resolution, is framed by a 1-inch black border. If you’re holding the iPad vertically, below the display you’ll find Apple’s familiar Home button which, when pressed, whisks you back to the iPad’s main screen. Along the top panel, there’s a headphone jack, a microphone, and an On/Off button. The left panel is clean, while the right panel houses the volume rocker and the screen-rotation lock, which is a Hold button for the accelerometer, so that sudden moves don’t unintentionally shift the iPad’s screen orientation. The built-in speaker and proprietary 30-pin connector live on the bottom panel. It’s also worth noting that the hole that appears below the surface above the display is an ambient light sensor.