Hands-on Review of the iPad

Now that I had a whole weekend to test play with my new iPad, I have to say I absolutely love it. Of course there are both pros and cons, but I’m willing to overlook some things especially when the device makes me forget what I thought was missing.

I couldn’t believe how thin the device was when I pulled it out of the box. I had envisioned it to be more fragile, but it’s pretty sturdy. The iPad comes fully-charged out of the box, with a new plug charger and cable. To get started with your iPad, simply hook the iPad up to your computer with iTunes. You can fill out the registration form and begin to sync your existing iPhone/iPod touch apps if you have any.

To truly experience the iPad, I recommend trying out the new iPad-only and universal apps. It’s just amazing how quickly developers worked to make the iPad launch day a success. There’s quite an array of apps to choose from. And keep in mind, most developers are seeing their apps on the iPad for the first time this weekend also.

The screen on the iPad looks beautiful. At the touch of a button, the screen comes on and it’s bright with vivid colors. And that’s where the magic starts. I loved handing my iPad to others and seeing their faces light up when the screen turns on.

The hardware is nothing without the software, so let’s dive into some of the iPad’s uses.

Reading. Heavily marketed as an eBook reader, the iPad turns out to be a great device for reading. The iBooks app is beautifully done, with animated page turns that seem very real and colorful illustrations. Turn the iPad in landscape mode and you’ll see two pages at the same time. In portrait mode, you’ll see one page. On the top right, you can toggle and change the font size and font as well. Every book in the store has a sample chapter that you can download before purchasing.

Comic book apps like Marvel Comics and Panelfly, like stunning on the iPad. Now you can see the artwork in its true glory. If you’re used to purchasing Kindle books, there’s also a free Kindle app you can use so none of your books are lost.

There are so many ways you can use the iPad as a reading device. But in doing so, there are some things you need to be aware of. I don’t recommend taking the iPad out in the sun. The glare on the screen makes it quite difficult to use. Also, holding 1.5lbs in your hands does feel heavy after a while, but then again, some hard cover books weigh a lot more than that.

Gaming Talk about a game changer. The iPad offers new ways for gamers to interact with their games. No longer do they have to use just two fingers to play, game play is now opened up to an abundance of finger gestures! Not to mention, the bigger screen enables new types of games to be created that were not possible or hard to implement on the iPhone. Board games bring back the good old days without any of the small pieces to pick up. Along with the bigger screen comes beautiful details that makes the gaming experience so realistic that you find yourself lost and immersed in the game. The more unique games for the iPad are the ones that allow two players to play on the the same iPad. Some examples include checkers, chess, or even air hockey.

Now that the device is much bigger, my hands are not covering up the speakers. This makes playing music games a real pleasure. But there is one drawback.

When I’m holding the iPad with two hands, I find that the Home button is too close to where my right hand is. So sometimes, I would accidentally turn off the game in the middle of playing it. It’s a little frustrating, but may be something I need to get used to.

Music and Audio The audio quality is surprisingly nice. The speakers are located at the bottom right side of the iPad (if in portrait mode). They’re also located much farther away from where your hands want to be, so the sound is not covered up while holding it in landscape mode.

On-Screen Typing There are a few ways you can type with this device. In portrait mode, you can thumb-type. It’s a little difficult if you have small hands, but doable. I wouldn’t suggest typing this way too long as the device feels heavy after a few minutes. You can also cradle the iPad in one arm while using one finger to type on the screen; this will work for both landscape or portrait mode keyboards. And lastly, you can set it down in your lap or on a table and type with both hands like a real keyboard. Any way you try it, you’ll just have to get use to it before your typing skills improve on the iPad, and one weekend is not enough time.

How to Hold the iPad There really isn’t a wrong or right way to hold the iPad, and sometimes that depends on the app you’re using. You may want to have it in your lap when typing a blog entry, or on a stand with a keyboard attached to it. You can also have it in one arm, or two hands.

Videos and Movies The iPad is like a portable tv. Pack it with all of your favorite videos, tv shows, and movies, and you’re ready to go on a long road trip! The videos are crystal clear. Small screen is perfect for entertainment while traveling in a car or plane.

Web surfing The new safari app is easy and fast to use. Although it’s not completely intuitive at first how to minimize the browser, you do quickly find out what the buttons on the top left mean by tapping on each.

After hours and hours on the iPad, returning to the iPhone feels really small and cramped. And you can begin to see how developers struggled with adding features to their apps on such a small screen. But on the iPad’s much bigger screen, you can see the efficient use of the space. You no longer have to click on various menus and pages. Instead, they’re smaller layers on top of the main app. The menus and navigation of the newer apps just make more sense. They’re also much more detailed, which makes them more visually stimulating. Apps for the iPhone were mostly about functionality. And now comes the iPad, where the graphics, design, and user interface of apps are just as important.

The are just not enough words to explain the iPad experience, so you may have to head down to the Apple store and try it for yourself. Once you have it in your hands, it’s hard to find reasons not to like it. Of course, there’s still is no camera or multitasking, but these features may be added in the next generation, or we can at least hope.

This article was originally published in Beatweek Magazine.