The early iPad reviews are in from those seeded with pre-release units from Apple. The general conclusion seems to be very positive but with the well known limitations (no Flash, no USB, no multitasking, etc...). Apps are to be a big differentiator for the iPad and an early list of iPad apps are available on AppShopper.
Pogue attacks the iPad from two different perspectives: techie and "everyone else". If you're a techie, Pogue says that a laptop will do more for less money. But, if you like the concept of the iPad, "you'll love the machine". Pogue did test the iPad's battery life and found it could play movies continuously for over 12 hours.
- "a whole new type of computer"
- Mossberg found the iPad a "pleasure to use" and had less and less interest in using his laptop the longer he used it, reserving their use for writing/editing longer documents or watching Flash-requiring web videos.
- Impressed by the battery life which was longer than Apple's 10 hour claim.
- No trouble with the on screen keyboard.
- Pages is a "serious" content creation app but only exports to Word and not always accurately.
- "The first iPad is a winner."
- Onscreen keyboard fine for emails or quick notes, but not for lengthy articles.
- Most will use the iPad for consuming content rather than creating it.
- "Apple has pretty much nailed it with this first iPad, though there's certainly room for improvement."
Andy Inhatko / Chicago Sun Times
- "The iPad user experience is instantly compelling and elegant."
- "It feels more as if the iPad is filling a gap thats existed for quite some time."
