5 reasons why the iPad is a fat waste of money

I’m a big believer in tablet computers. There’s a rush on, worldwide. Manufacturers know how key tablet computing will become in our daily lives.

They fill a gap: A need for a leisure device. This is a “third device” after your computer and mobile phone on which you would read digital books, watch movies, share photos, Skype family or friends.

But tablet computers also play a role in business where people need a device that is easy to carry around, boots up quickly and can be used in meetings. Here tablets are largely replacing the traditional paper notebook or exam pad. Tablets will play an increasing role in vocations where a professional is on the road meeting people and needs to present.

They are particularly good in meetings because, unlike a laptop, create less of a barrier between you and the other party. This applies to a social setting too.

Of all the tablets the best is Apple’s iPad. Apple has mastered the concept of “sophisticated simplicity”. It’s what we want out of life: Simplicity and stuff that works. It’s also why Google’s sparsely-designed web applications won the world’s attention.

Apple builds powerful devices that are simple and easy to use. My two-year old child can operate an iPad, but gets lost on a Nokia. It’s an irony: One of the most sophisticated devices in the world is also one of the easiest to use.

But is it good enough? Should you go out and buy the iPad? The answer, I’m afraid, is No. Right now it’s a waste of your precious hard-earned cash. Buy one and you’ll join the early-adopter ranks and be burned like a subject in an experimental drug trial. And here are the key reasons:

1. It’s too expensive: Pioneer devices are always pricey. This has nothing to do with the iPad in particular and everything to do with economies of scale. Wait a bit for the technology to settle down… and the price with it.

2. No front camera: I was not one of the early iPhone detractors because it had no front camera, but on the iPad it is a ridiculous oversight. If this is truly a leisure device to be used while reclining on your couch or bed, video calling your friends and family is key. No front camera robs the iPad of one of the key uses of tablet computing: Video calls during leisure time. If it was a question of time and priority, Apple should have focused time and energy adding a front camera to the iPad rather than the iPhone.

3. No USB port: Apple made a miscalculation here. In fact if you think about it, what were they thinking? This is the biggest reason why you would hold back on buying an iPad. In fact this is a reason why you would buy one of the many competing tablet computers arriving on world markets.

You want to be able to regularly transfer large amounts of data between your iPad and other devices. It’s more of a requirement than that of your phone: I want to plug my external hard drive which is full of movies into my iPad and I want to be able to review and share work documents. Instead, I have to do this via my laptop. It’s a pain. There are jailbreaks for this, but they involve using your laptop… and frankly: Who has the time?

4. Not enough capacity: If I’m to confidently pick up my iPad and show off my photo collection — it needs to have the space to accommodate all my photos and videos. 64GBs is not enough. Instead of syncing my photo collection to my iPad, I have to select specific photos to fit the device’s storage capacity. It requires ongoing management and it’s a pain.

5. Flash support: Again, this is one area that did not bother me on the iPhone because its not a device on which I do heavy browsing. But on the iPad I want to be free to view all the world’s websites. The fact that Apple won’t let me see flash sites on the iPad is ridiculous.

It remains to be seen whether Apple will address these issues. There are rumours of a new iPad in early 2011, so if you don’t have one now, wait. One thing for sure: Apple is seeing serious competition from some big players in the tablet market. If it doesn’t step up, the iPad may not be the success story the iPhone was.

Let’s hope the follow-up to this article is not “5 reasons why iPad is STILL a fat waste of money”.

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http://twitter.com/Symbioxys Symbioxys
WOW … Doc Brown called and he wants his alternative timeline back. This is nothing new.
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http://twitter.com/dave7oaks dave7oaks
I agree that waiting for the next iteration is probably smart (like any tech and particularly apple product there are serious advantages to waiting for v2) and that a front facing camera and more space would be cool. But in regards to the USB I dont see it happening. Apple is all about control on iPhone and iPad. I think (and hope) you are far more likely to a see a major re-imagining of iTunes and the service used to sync your content with the iPad from the cloud.
Realistically though this is probably a long way way off (although you would think they could at least get contacts, calendars etc into the iTunes cloud)
Personally I love my iPad and the latest update has made it way more usable but then again I am, like many other fanboys, somewhat blind to Apples many failings…
User
flash support = 99% internet ads, get over it.
Zubair Munshi
Bollocks! First of all, the damn networks dont let you do Skype anyway, so you can only use your ipad on a wireless network, hence there is really no need for the camera in the first place. Second You do get a USB interface in the form of an adaptor pack, Third you also get a VGA adaptor – so presentations are no issue Fourth there is plenty of capacity on the device, i have loaded all my photos (not all my music though) and there is plenty of space – if you have more than 64 GB of photo’s you have too many… manage your data better. Fifth the best upside to the iPad is that connects to the App Store and iTunes – we in SA are deprived of the awesomeness of the iTunes shop but trust me when you can download movies and music at your will or whim its fantastic… and best of all – those that dont have it, hate you for having one…
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EtienneK
Good article. And I agree on all the points.
I tell all my friends to wait until the second half of 2011. That’s when we will start seeing the “real” tablets.
gm
Haters will hate.
That guy
Whores will have their trinkets..
http://www.facebook.com/MrAversion Evan Morris
Samsung Galaxy Tab, FTW!
And to the dude he said “if you have more than 64GB of photos you have too many”, are you serious? You’re going to dictate to someone how many photos they’re allowed to have based on some random aesthetic principle you made up? Get a grip.
Reminds me of Bill Gates claiming no one would ever need more than 48 Kb of RAM.
http://twitter.com/PietSous Wilmar
The only valid reason here is the lack of frontfacing camera support. The other are all signs of not being able to differentiate the real world application of such a device as opposed to traditional PC and laptop use. Narrowmindedness.
User Support
How do you think people in the internet machine make money, jackass. Without people looking at the ads, the sites that you browse every day would make no money, with no money they cant pay their writers or researchers. Without writers their would be no content. Without content their would be no site. With no sites their would be no internet. You see where I’m going with this..?
http://twitter.com/andrewsmit Andrew Smit
Definitely some baiting going on here, but ok, I’ll bite.
You’ve made some valid points, if the iPad was designed to be a full computer, but it’s not.
Firstly, the price. If it’s too expensive, why is the only valid competitor (the Galaxy Tab) more expensive? And it has half the screen real estate. (Please don’t use ZAR comparisons as the iPad isn’t officially in South Africa yet)
And flash support? Come on, have you read the reviews of the galaxy tab? With flash turned on the browsing crawls to a halt. Apple should be lauded for finally taking a stand against the propriety web plugin.
Those are all debatable points however. To call the iPad a waste of money is a bit rich, seeing that over 4 million have been sold (in the US), so surely that debunks that point?
http://twitter.com/mynhardt Mynhardt van Pletsen
i agree w/ @wilmar.
ipad’ing is a wholly new way of using the internet & the devices that act as portals to it. compating it to your current workflows or devices is not only unfair, it testifies to a lack of imagination and openness to change.
…and I thought Mr Buckland was one of ZA’s early adoptors?
Oh, well.
http://www.matthewbuckland.com/ Matthew Buckland
the “baiting” comments always cease to amaze me. I write for no reason other than to express what I believe. I own an iPad, I’m a fan of Apple products, but I was disappointed in the iPad and I know it could be better. I’ve spent three months using it and have come to these conclusions.
Like many iPad 1.0 owners, I’m going to feel like a tool when they release the new one.
Oh well… the life of an early adopter. We’re such suckers.
http://twitter.com/andrewsmit Andrew Smit
Perhaps baiting is too strong a word, and it’s not meant to be critical, it was clearly written to insight a response, and by getting responses you’re doing your job and generating page views.
Back to topic though, perhaps a macbook 11″ is more suited to your needs?
Mark
Just bought the Samsung Galaxy Tab and it’s kick ass – it sure gives the iPad a good run for it’s money. Although costs are similar, the functionality is way superior.
WSI
Francois Muscat’s take on using the iPad for business http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd49U74htTs
Petal
and please keep doing so…. i’m afraid some of these contributors need a space to vent their spleens. (beyond the iPad) Don’t take it personally. Some people just cannot help themselves.
gm
And the headline of your article wasn’t “baiting”? So there are no redeeming factors for an iPad?
You argument boils down to: the next generation of technology will be cheaper and/or better. No arguments there. True for all tech. By the same argument, iPad 3.0 will be better than iPad 2.0, why not wait for that one?
http://twitter.com/larrymyboy Larry Claasen
I love Apple.
Apple is amazing.
Apple makes the sun shine.
Apple makes everything smell nice and fresh.
Apple makes the world spin.
Why are Apple users are bores?
http://twitter.com/stucorbishley Stuart Corbishley
So basically what you want is something that Apple didn’t want to make. I think you completely missed the expected usage of the device. It’s like complaining why there aren’t any men in tampon commercials.
If you want a more flexible experience with a less rigid opinion about how you use it, then the Samsung Galaxy Tab awaits.
It’s like people think Apple owes them a device that addresses all their own personal preferences.
http://twitter.com/stucorbishley Stuart Corbishley
So not supporting flash will be the downfall of the internet machine?
I think we’ll be just fine.
Pingback: 5 Reasons why the iPad is NOT a "fat waste of money"
http://twitter.com/RichMulholland Richard Mulholland
I’m with Matt, but for different reasons.
I’ve had an iPad since May and rarely if ever use it. Truth be told, for months I carried it around just because I had one (and other people didn’t). I want to find it useful, I just don’t – it’s been relegated to the rank of “toy for my kids”…!
Jono1987
Found this:
5 Reasons why the iPad is NOT a “fat waste of money”:
http://www.bandwidthblog.com/2010/12/04/5-reasons-why-the-ipad-is-not-a-fat-waste-of-money/
http://twitter.com/adielslarmie Adiel Slarmie
adopt
me
please