Apple just announced a new gadget in the market – iPad. I am sure you have already heard about it. Some of your friends might have already bought it and many more will buy in the coming future. But if you are planning to buy one soon, then you probably need to think again.
This article assumes you already own either an iPhone or iPod touch devices. First of all if you are planning to buy an iPad too, then let me tell you that you are either a tech geek or have too much money. And if you aren’t among any of these and still planning to buy one, then continue reading this post, you might change your mind.
First let’s look at the benefits of owning an iPad:
- Read books and lots of books, anytime, anywhere.
- Play high quality games (may be) and get rid of Nintendo etc.
- Watch movies and TV episodes and Youtube on iPad and then be able to connect it to TV.
- Listen to music etc.
- Replace the Digital photo frame from your desk and replace it with cool iPad screen saver.
- Browse internet and read emails etc.
- Use other amazing apps from App store.
Now let me rule out all the options which you are already doing and iPad doesn’t add any value to it besides providing a visually better appearance. Let’s look at these options – one by one.
- Read books and lots of books: Let’s ask how many books you really read. Personally I get time to read books only when I am either waiting for someone or when I am doing nothing (i.e. doing shit
) or if I really have to read any specific book. Else I don’t have time to read that many books that I would spend at least $529 (including tax) for an iPad.
And if I really have that much zeal to read some books anyway, I can still read them on my iPhone using really cool ebook apps like Amazon Kindle for iPhone, B&N Reader, Stanza and eReader etc. (Stay tuned for an article about that.)
You would argue that the iPad screen is bigger, then yes, you are right but didn’t you say the same thing when you started reading stuff on your iPhone. Didn’t you say the iPhone screen is big enough to read anything using the pinch and zoom feature.
So the major reason to buy an iPad is actually ruled out for me. What do you think?
If you don’t own an iPhone and read lot of books, then you would probably consider it.
- Play games: Sure, but you won’t buy an iPad just to play games. For that you would probably buy an Xbox or Playstation. Won’t you? If you are a casual games like myself, then the above argument holds true here too. The amount of gaming I am going to do on iPad is really very less to make it worthwhile. Isn’t it ruled out too?
- Watch movies, TV episodes and Youtube: Size does matter when it comes to media. The bigger the better. As compared to an iPhone, iPad definitely has an advantage. I wouldn’t mind watching movies on an iPad, if I own one. Otherwise I have various other ways, laptop, TV, DVD, Blu-ray, XBox and all that can quench my thirst for watching media on bigger screen. On the Go, I have my iPhone or any other smart phone for that matter.
Now it’s upto you if you want to decided otherwise. I don’t…!!! - Listen to music: Apple only made my habit to listen to music on a smallest possible shape. Wasn’t it Apple that introduced iPod, Shuffle, Cube and Clip kind of music players. Now why would I change my habit to start listening to music on a bigger device. I won’t. And if I want, I still own laptop, iPhone and the old school cassette and CD players. What do you think?
- Replace Digital Photo frames: That’s really cool way to browse photos on an iPad. But I can’t use it as a Digital Photo frame as well. Casual browsing through my family and friends photos is one thing, but using iPad as a photo frame wouldn’t be a waste of money. By the way, if I am doing all the above stuff on an iPad, then I probably won’t have luxury to leave it for a second on my table anyway. Would I? Remember I am reading books on iPad when I am not doing anything.
- Browse internet and read emails etc: For students it actually makes sense to do all that stuff on a single device like iPad. But for professionals it won’t make more sense to replace laptops with iPads unless every other hardware is replaced with Apple device. Apple devices are always locked and work with their own counterparts. Which is very highly unlikely that any business would do except Apple itself. Remember iPod connector doesn’t work with iPhone and similarly iPhone connector doesn’t work with iPad either.
And if besides iPad, I have other gadgets like laptop or iPhone, then I can probably do that anywhere I want. Are you with me…??? - Use other amazing apps from Apple store: That’s a killer. If I have an iPad, then I will definitely use millions of available apps. But most of them work on my iPhone too. May be something comes in future that may only work on iPad. Till then, sorry. I am still happy with my iPhone.
Some other things that I can’t do on iPad:
- iPad doesn’t have a camera so I can use it as a camera.
- I was hoping for a front facing camera, that would have made it a really cool device. Because then I would have simply replaced my laptop with it and use it to make free Skype calls or simply use it to chat with my friend around the globe.
- I can’t play regular CD/DVD with it so what would I do with the media I already own on these devices. Apparently there is no way either to connect these things. No way to connect external hard disk, SD card, USB drive. (Though I can transfer photos from my camera SD card if I bought a $29 iPad Camera connector kit.)
- Though iPad is a multi-touch device but it still lacks the hand writing recognition and sketching capability. Otherwise it could have simply replaced all the tablets – a must have for most of the students.
- Bluetooth still doesn’t allow tethering or connection between two devices so that I can transfer files between two bluetooth enabled devices. At least between two “iDevices” like iPad and iPhone, iPad to iPad etc.
- GPS won’t work the way it works on iPhone on a WiFi only iPad.
- Some other arguments which I mentioned in my earlier review about iPhone still holds good for iPad. Check it out too..
This is my verdict that I don’t need an iPad just yet. Now you may have different opinion about it. And that is what I would like to hear about in the comment section. Please share your views in the comments so that others can also join and contribute to it. May be someone can help me change my mind. And if you agree with me then please share it on Twitter, Digg and Facebook and help me spread the word about Knowliz.
(Image Source: Apple)
![[Valid RSS]](http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/339/validrssrogers.png "Validate my RSS feed")
13 reasons why you DO NOT need an iPad? http://su.pr/1wy0fS
13 reasons why you DO NOT need an iPad? http://su.pr/1wy0fS
Another reason As many are now saying, they don’t see themselves carrying the bigger iPad with them all the time. Possible elders sitting in a chair at home, and thety decide to check email quickly then HERE IS WHERE IPAD COMES IN. Sure They have to have ipad in close distance. As you said since there is no front camera to live chat then elders have to wait for another generation of ipad.
You've made some good points! I'm loving my iPad
http://www.knowliz.com/2010/04/13-reasons-why-you-do-not-need-an-ipad.html
Share some Digg love for the post – 13 reasons why you DO NOT need an iPad : http://bit.ly/aHV8OQ
Hello Anurag,
Some of the features you waant, probably may come up in the later releases. As of now 0.5 million pcs has been shipped in the US in past few days.
So we have to wait and watch whether people are going to buy the product for $499 or find 499 reasons not to buy it.
Regards,
Santosh Puthran
Hello Anurag,
Some of the features you waant, probably may come up in the later releases. As of now 0.5 million pcs has been shipped in the US in past few days.
So we have to wait and watch whether people are going to buy the product for $499 or find 499 reasons not to buy it.
Regards,
Santosh Puthran
RT @technomania: 13 reasons why you DO NOT need an iPad? http://su.pr/1wy0fS
13 reasons why you DO NOT need an iPad? #Apple #iPad http://su.pr/1wy0fS
New post : 13 reasons why you DO NOT need an iPad? – http://knowliz.com/CO #in
[...] using iBook app but you can also do almost everything you can do on a laptop. Still there are so many reasons, you don’t even need to buy iPad and most of the Knowliz readers agree to it. (Attached are the result of a poll which ran for [...]
[...] the iPhones and latest Android phones beat the iPad hands down. (Editor recommendation – 13 reasons why you DO NOT need an iPad.) Not just the iPhone and the iPad. Any big tablet, which needs both hands for operating it, is [...]