Hi all, well if you follow my Twitter account @jasonsbrsdshaw you would know that yesterday I was like a kid on Christmas day, with the arrival of my iPad.
Yes I generally love Apple products and I would consider myself an early adopter of technology so it’s no surprise that I pre-ordered the iPad and waited anxiously for it’s arrival.
The big day arrived and my iPad finally arrived. Yay leaps of joy internally and loads of new toy smiles. However I did ask myself, “did I just pay $1049, just for a smile?” I am glad to say that the first 24 hours has confirmed for me that the iPad is more than a geeky accessory.
The first 24 hours of use?
Well let’s start with using the iPad during a meeting within the first few hours of having it. I was talking with a colleague about a new initiative for our staff and how social media could assist the program. So out comes the iPad and I demonstrated, in real time, social media tools that could be used to assist.
Productivity boost achieved – I didn’t have to schedule a follow up meeting and take my MacBookPro along, I simply dealt with it on the fly.
Outside of this i have used the iPad to read a number of newspapers, start reading some magazines and looked at some books. I have found reading on the iPad easy and love things like going straight to a website mentioned in the article or in text video, unlike traditional print media where you would have to go to the computer, etc.
I am also travelling today and while I wouldn’t usually get my laptop out for a one hour flight, the iPad is easy to whip out and start working on. I can actually see myself leaving the laptop at home for short same day or overnight trip.
Oh and if all that productivity stuff is boring you, never fear – games are awesome on the iPad! I am not a huge gamer but i can see the iPad having an impact in this space as well.
Ok it’s not perfect.
So people have said, it should have a camera or it needs multitasking and other such things. Well sure a camera would be handy, but how often do you actually do web conferences with video? How often do you use Skype for video? Sure I use these tools but not regularly and not enough for me to miss the camera, I’m sure it will come in a future generation.
Now multitasking would be nice – I am guessing it will come as an OS upgrade sometime after Apple’s WorldWide Developer Conference.
Oh and a mute button would be handy, but I am just being picky.
The wrap up.
Thr iPad has lived up to my expectations and I can see it being a positive impact to my productivity and also put a bit of fun into my week when I steal a free moment to practice my rally car driving skills.
I am really looking forward to Grandma and Mum using the iPad, I think they are going to love it. It will be Grandma’s first “computer” like device.
So there you have it a full 4.5stars from me.
PS – this entire blog was typed and published on the iPad
