By Chelsea Titus
Round Table reporter
Contacts, e-mail, YouTube, Safari, video, photos – the list goes on. So, what product of Apple am I describing? The iPod Touch? Mac Book? iPhone? It’s hard to tell. With the announcement of Apple’s new tablet, the iPad, there were high expectations to be fulfilled.
The iPad, which is to be released in April, promises to be better than its previous products. But with the reviews and the released features of the iPad, is this tablet really Apple’s way to kick off 2010 with this “truly revolutionary and magical product”?
The new Apple iPad has brought disappointment because of how closely it’s related with the iPod touch and Mac Book.
The iPad is more of a luxury device than a necessity. It’s more if an oversize version of the Apple products combined into one item. The iPad has the same features, the same look, and the same applications; how is it the way to start the new year?
In addition, some features of the iPad are notably missing. The iPad does not include USB ports, a GPS to support Google maps, flash support, a camera (which means no video chat), or high definition video.
Another shock was how poorly the single iPhone applications are displayed on the device. One mode isolates them in the center of a dark screen. Another mode called “pixel double” blows them up to full screen, which works well for games, but text-heavy apps like Facebook look silly.
Even the name iPad can be viewed as uncomfortable for its relation with feminine products. Many bloggers and reviewers have come up with their own nicknames such as the “iTampon” for later Apple devices.
Therefore, I think the Apple iPad was created as another piece of technology for Apple to make more money, because the iPad is not as diverse as its other products.
For its $499 price, it’s easier to buy an iPod touch or other similar Apple product for half the cost. Since AT&T is the only Apple carrier, the iPad can only be run on that specific network.
So for $30 per month, the Apple iPad is not worth the price tag and more each month. It’s ridiculous to pay such a high price for the iPad and yet keep paying. The Apple iPad might as well be considered as being run on a phone plan like other AT&T cellular devices.
The Apple Company could have seen the iPad as an opportunity to be different than its previous releases. Therefore, the Apple iPad has been a disappointment.
