Apple announced the Apple iPad yesterday, a product that has been anticipated for years, it’s hard to imagine if the fabled apple tablet could ever reach the dizzying expectations of the public they hype had reached such level.  Many people are rushing in to call foul, or more accurately FAIL, for a number of reasons citing features that are missing from the iPad that they had envisioned in their anticipated Apple tablet. 

I’m a little bit thrown to be honest, there are things I am quite excited about it, but there are areas that concern me.  The most exciting thing is the new iBook store and the fact the iPad is an e-reader.  This is something I have held off getting for a few years as I knew Apple would get into this space, and when they did they would do it well.  iTunes is an established and trusted distribution network and brand with a huge customer base.  As an e-reader the iPad has my attention and would be my first preference device in that area. 

Then we get into my concerns over the limitations.  I am a bit disappointed that the operating system is based on the iPhone OS rather than OS X.  I am concerned that this will hamper its productivity as a work device.  Although the iWork apps that are available look very interesting, and I use iWork on a daily basis so a huge number of the projects I am working on could be used on the iPad, the fact of the matter is that the dominant player in the professional workspace is the Microsoft Office Suite.  So I wonder if I am sent a word document / powerpoint / excel spreadsheet - will I be able to work with them on the iPad? 

The second big concern I have is that I am trying to work out how I would use this device, or rather when.  As a student I can see this being incredible in college.  However I am finishing college this summer, and I am left wondering how I would work this into my day?

There are however two things that give me a lot of hope.  First of all I’ve been an Apple user for 6 years now and have always been impressed with the products they produce.  I have little doubt that if they have made the decision to head down this particular road, they are doing so for a reason and I’m sure once you started using it the experience may dismiss your concerns.

The other thing to bear in mind is the creativity and intelligence of the developer community.   The iPhone has been a great platform for some really great apps, many of the apps I have come to rely upon are not Apple apps, but developed by third parties.  I have no doubt that in the coming months they will step up their game and really make the most of the new iPad increased resolution, increased touchpad sensitivity and options, and the the increased processor power.

I’m still looking forward to the iPad.

Steph has a post on her first impressions of the iPad also.