On April 3, Apple released its newest gadget, the iPad. Many people were attracted by the sleek look and the features of this brand new device after Apple CEO Steve Jobs revealed it this past January. The iPad is a small tablet computer in which you can surf the web, read eBooks, watch movies, play games, listen to music and much more.
The 0.5-inch thick tablet with a 9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS touch screen and a 10-hour battery life is described by many as a “big iPod touch.” Some call it a mixture of a laptop and a smart phone.
This 1.5-pound device comes in three different prices. The basic 16-gigabyte version costs $499; $599 will get you 32-gigs, and $699 will get you 64. They all come with Wi-Fi, but you can add a 3G network for $130 and an additional monthly fee of $15 to $30. The 3G model debuted on April 24.
Thousands of people lined up to purchase this new hyped-up item. Over 300,000 units were sold on its release date.
Although Apple’s new product redefines innovative entertainment, one major downfall is that the iPad does not have a camera. Another is that the virtual keyboard is not as effective as a real one.
MHS student Alex Kaufman ’11 received the 32-gigabyte model as a gift. “It’s definitely a cool item to have,” he said. “I like that it is essentially a full touch screen browser, and it seems to make the internet more enjoyable and interactive. I also think it will be pretty useful during travel because of the ability to have music, movies and games on it as well as the ability to access the internet.”
When asked if he would have bought one himself, Kaufman said, “If I didn’t receive it as a gift, I don’t think it would be worth the high price tag because I wouldn’t classify it as a necessary item to have. I think at this point the price is a little too high to justify buying what is basically an oversized iPod touch.”
Although the iPad is not a necessity, it is definitely a revolutionary piece of technology that could lead to the end of the computer as it is known today.
