The iPad - Day 3

So after picking up an iPad on launch day, it was an illuminating first couple of days. Since yesterday was Easter, there was plenty of time to veg out, do some couch surfing and get everything squared away on the iPad.

First advice? If you're in a relationship and both of you like gadgets, you better buy two.  It takes quite a while to set it up how you want and get some key applications chosen and configured. I already had about 200 apps loaded and unfortunately once you set iTunes to sync apps it selects all of them. The interface is also rather clunky for a lot of apps. After going through that, adding a few movies and so forth, the first syncs took awhile. After the lion's share were done, it went much faster for subsequent syncs.

Movies and music were a breeze to put on the device. The App store already has over 3,000 apps so there were a lot to choose from. However, a lot of them are quite pricey - FAR more expensive than the typical iPhone app. I have yet to buy an iPad only app, preferring to stick with the enhanced apps that work on both (they are the ones with the plus) so that I can get maximum utility out of my purchases.

Since Microsoft is unlikely to make Office for the iPad, I may give in and get Pages and Numbers. I'd prefer to get the Powerpoint equivalent as well, but only intend to do so if I can buy the iWork suite. Speaking of which, the typing... for those of you who have never met me I'm about 6'2" and thus have large hands. How is the typing on the screen?

Well, it's going to take some getting used to. In landscape mode, it IS relatively usable. I need to keep an eye on my typing though, since it's easy to brush a key on a touch screen. In portrait mode, I have to resort to thumb typing and it's pretty awkward.

I have yet to find anything to hook up to the Bluetooth on the iPad, so I've turned that off. Perhaps some wireless headphones? What would be really great is if I could pair my iPhone to it as a wireless, go anywhere modem, but I'm probably dreaming. The WiFi is working well so far - it's very quick at downloads and rendering web pages. The iPad is also VERY good at knowing where you are by WiFi triangulation. It was a little off when I was out and about today, but incredibly accurate at home.

I've started reading a book on it and find it very easy to use and read. It's not too rough on my eyes. Of course, I guess I'm very used to doing a lot of screen reading at work all day... I do find the screen, since it's shiny, just like the iPhone to be a bit of a challenge in certain light, but still usable.

So that's the update so far. Still happy, still exploring and still tweaking. :-)