The iPad is here.
In this edition, it is a large iPod with a 3G data connection option. The iPad can run older iPhone applications. It can run one application at a time, which is a disappointment to some.
The iPad did ship with a publishing system, the standard ePub ebook format and an application dubbed “iBooks” to read them.
The iPad has an optional keyboard dock connector. This makes me smile, as I asked Apple for this back in 1991. Sadly I cannot find proof of that, but I did, I swear. I wanted a screen that I could take with me or sit at the desk with a keyboard. I wanted the screen to run simpler applications and take some of my data with me. Sounds like the iPad!
You will be able to use a bluetooth keyboard as well.
Apple claims 10 hours of battery life, but we’ll see how that translates to real-life usage.
You will be able to buy iPad versions of iWork applications for $9.99 each. Not bad. I wonder how you print from an iPad?
For Developers
The iPad complicates iPhone/iPad software development. Developers now need to develop two user interfaces if they want to take advantage of the extra screen space.
Developers are also required to support landscape as well as portrait mode, a change from the iPhone.
There are many more APIs in 3.2 of the iPhone OS, but it is still unclear to me which APIs will make it back to the iPhone.
Summary
Will I be buying one? Someday. However, the iPhone goes with me everywhere. Until there is a killer app for the iPad that I need and cannot use on the iPhone, I have no need for an iPad. That is, unless someone hires me to develop for it. 🙂
The iPad will be a success in education; One the killer app ships, whatever that is, we’ll all be likely wanting iPads.