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Home » [ Apples and iPods ] » iPad: in the flesh, first impressions

iPad: in the flesh, first impressions

[ Updated: Read our full iPad Review ] So TJ Manotoc and I got to play around with the new Apple iPad this afternoon. We taped a short segment for TV Patrol for tomorrow’s airing and I got a solid hour with the iPad.

It’s one thing to learn about the specs and see tons of pictures and videos of it. It’s another thing if you can hold it and experience the device first-hand.

The whole excitement revolves around the user experience. A lot of people have had an idea how it works because of the iPhone and the iPod Touch interface but once you take that small screen and give it a nice 10-inch upgrade, it’s a huge difference. It’s like being introduced to a macro lens for the first time in the world of digital photography.

Photo credits @tjmanotoc

Just a couple of run-downs:

  • The iPad is thin and very light for its size and that’s going to be key if you’d be holding this device for several hours at a time. The aluminum finish at the back gives you ample texture for one-hand grip.
  • The screen is bright and the images are crisp but since it’s glossy, you get a little distracted by glare from light sources even if you’re indoors. That means you’ll need to crank up the brightness settings when needed.
  • The speed of the device is noticeably faster — I think almost twice that of the iPhone 3GS. It’s very snappy and loading apps or browsing pages and pages of eBooks is a breeze.
  • The capacitive touchscreen is remarkably sensitive and responsive — you still retain the same gestures as you would have with an iPod Touch so no big strokes are needed just because the screen is bigger.
  • The virtual keyboard is very simple but works quite well. I think it will be comfortable to use this for extensive blogging (though that has yet to be proven).

I’ve been telling myself again and again that this device is purely for content consumption but @tjmanotoc‘s typing test showed good promise for the iPad as a content creation device.

That short time with the iPad isn’t really enough but so far those are my first impressions. Having tried a number of tablet netbooks and touch-capable mobile internet devices (MIDs) in the past, my initial expectations of the iPad were met and in some occasions, even exceeded. Our TV Patrol segment tomorrow on the iPad answers the question (a challenge that Apple is taking on) — will the iPad replace the ever-popular netbooks?

[ Updated: Read our full iPad Review ]

Abe Olandres
Abe Olandres
Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.
  1. whew and ganda niyan kung very affordable lang.

  2. Will look forward for tomorrow’s episode!

  3. sir yuga, i read the review of iPad from engadget and many people commended that the iPad is having a trouble on WIFI connectivity. It has low connection on wifi compare to ipod touch/iphone. And sometimes the connectivity doesn’t work. Is it true?

  4. Congrats for the new iPad. Manonood ako ng TV patrol just for the ipad segment. Hehehe

  5. @giogagz – we tried hooking it up to a WiFi AP during our tests and it went thru very smoothly. No problem at all.

  6. I thought it was your unit. LOL! I hope to receive mine tomorrow.

    • @arnold – got delayed daw sabi ni TJ. Supposedly last night pa dumating.

      @lance – hand-carried from the US.

  7. Where did you get the unit?

  8. My netbook has a camera. It neither replace my AMOLED smart phones. hahah kidding!
    Gonna stay tuned for that episode tomorrow. Artistahin na sir Abe.Naks! :)

  9. @Yuga – Sige, let’s have an iPad Manila EB when our units arrived. I’ll invite some guys from Philmug who received their units. :-)

  10. @arnold – Scrabble on iPad tourney? hehehe

  11. @Abe
    How’s the construction? You think it could survive some pretty heavy usage and rough tumbles and nudges in a backpack.

  12. some local resellers (like gadgetgrocery) are selling them for as much as 50K. god it’s so expensive.

  13. this is also available in ebuystore.com.ph na expensive nga :(

  14. Will look out for that footage..

    Being a party pooper that I am, I’ve read from several blogs and tech websites abroad that there were several problems with their iPad. Namely weak WiFi signal (compared to other devices in the same vicinity of an AP or access point) and overheating probelms. The first problem does not seem to be that serious but the second is a BIG problem considering how we are in a country with tropical weather. Just the other day I saw on TV Patrol how the temperature in Metro Manila reached 36.1 Celcius. Folks in the U.S. can’t leave their iPads in the sun for such reason. But here? You don’t even have to get out of the house to have your iPad overheat.. Unless you’re allergic to heat and you live in a house that’s air-conditioned all day.. Oh.. Wait. Most of you buyers fall under “that” category. lol

  15. wahhh ang mahal nga. id rather buy a macbook than this. how i my parents can buy some one for me.

  16. sir abe…magkano ang price nito dito sa Pinas?

  17. Oh and more poop for your iPad. Just dropping it on your couch (or so users say) can screw your iPad. Other probable causes of destruction of your “magical device” include accidental pouring of coffee on the screen. Anyone care to add more?

  18. be warned, the ipad has crappy wifi.

    http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1599890/apple-admits-ipad-wireless

  19. is it worth it? :)

  20. Really looks nice, but I’m still not impressed. I bet this device would have received less criticism if it hadn’t omitted features like USB ports, a memory card reader for expandable storage, multi-tasking, and maybe a built-in kickstand (since you wouldn’t be holding this device in your hand forever).

    To answer the question, right now, I don’t see this replacing our beloved netbooks. In the future? Possible, since there is still room for improvement.

    Somehow, I see the future of this iPad having a mini projector-like device that would shoot down on a surface to act as a “hardware keyboard”. If apple doesn’t do this, I hope someone else would.

  21. there’s hope for the WiFi problems though..

    http://lifehacker.com/5511472/apples-suggestions-for-fixing-ipad-wi+fi-issues?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lifehacker%2Ffull+%28Lifehacker%29

  22. Guys, I don’t think the iPad was ever meant to replace netbooks. Ever. From one of the reviews I read (can’t remember if it was Engadget or Gizmodo) the iPad is very good at content CONSUMPTION, not content CREATION. It’s a revolutionary product in its own right, but it won’t replace those ubiquitous netbooks I see around campus (especially among those taking their thesis subjects…)

  23. Nice! Hehehe! Hintayin ko segment niyo bukas boss abe.

  24. mcv, actually it’s neither. It came from NYC Technology columnist David Pogue’s review of the iPad.

  25. I will not dump the netbook for an iPad.

  26. “iPad sales have already cracked the 500,000 mark with less than a week on the market, an estimate by Chitika found today. Basing it on the amount of new iPads connecting to Chitika’s ad network and accounting for the company’s share of the market, it believes that over 530,000 of the Apple tablets have been sold as of Wednesday night. The prediction would have Apple almost doubling its 300,000 launch day units and passing that figure by the end of the week or sooner.” electronista

    As i have said, it’s all about experience…mwuah!

  27. i read somewhere that Apple is releasing iPhone OS 4.0 either today or tomorrow. with that, iPad is useless to me. my iPhone can do stuff as much as i need. i can always use my macbook for a better internet experience, anytime! so it’s not really a must-have. ;)

  28. For browsing and gaming, the iPad should be good. but for 1 hour or more computing tasks better get a real laptop or an excellent netbook.

  29. The most important question about the iPad: “Will it Blend?” It sure did! These guys are absolutely crazy. http://bit.ly/9hMJgM

  30. How much?

  31. iPhone 4G might use the same processor as the iPad.. so that new phone will sure be faster..

    On the next tablet.. sir abe hehe.. Hopefully, will see an HP slate pc soon..

  32. I could see myself getting this instead of a laptop actually. I already have a hefty desktop which I do work on, mostly video production stuff which won’t fly on a laptop anyway.

    So my ideal mobile device would be mostly for leisure, internet, etc. So, a heavy duty work desktop for me, an iPhone for calls, and an iPad for leisure internet surfing, games, books, etc. while lounging around the house, cafes, etc. oh, and in the bathroom too.

    At $500 (P24,000) this is cheap for its purpose. Of course, we all know it’s going to cost much more in the Philippines, maybe P30,000+++??

  33. remember what Phil Schiller’s thoughts on the iPad:

    “..its about the experience. You just have to try it to see what i mean..”

    tama pala siya hehe :)

    its really hard not to love the iPad when your holding and using it

  34. you’ll love it for a few weeks or a month or so, because it’s the IN THING to have. but later on you’ll realize you just wasted P35,000 for some over-sized iPhone without a phone. hehehe

  35. Still we underestimate user experience. It’s what sells products, I think, not specs.

  36. I got my iPad last Tuesday and i love it, very snappy and very easy to use virtual keypad. I will keep my notebook and iMac

  37. I am waiting for my iPad 64GB wi-fi + 3G, which will be released end of this month. I will post my experience soon.

    Thanks for the post master Yuga.

  38. nag over heat daw yan

  39. I think islate is worth it..

  40. I mean the HP slate

  41. wlang camera to? a big… disappointment.

  42. When will the iPad be available in the Philippines? And can we assume the same price (499USD) converted using the prevailing x-rate?

  43. When will the iPad be available here in Manila? Got any idea?

    • @george – no word from Apple on local version but it’s going to be more expensive once it arrives in Manila due to prevailing customs and VAT charges.

  44. My boss show off his iPad yesterday, I think it’s cool. Not as big as I expected.

  45. I’ve just bought my new iPad here in hong kong, yeah in hong kong!! @yuga nadownload mo n ba ung iBook app?

  46. Will the iwork for ipad will be available for Philippine Users? please advice…

  47. I have the 32 GB IPad. Application wise, if you already have the IPod then it is not a necessity to buy it, however, if you’re a big boy who wants the latest toy, then IPad is for you. Downloadable apps (currently US store only) are great. Used it with our home wifi and its fast enough for me.

  48. Since IPad is still not yet available her in the Philippines, few apps are only available (exclude iBook), however, some big boys purchase prepaid loads for the US store hence can download apps for the US store.

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