Reception of the iPad

Media reaction to Apple Inc.'s iPad has generally been neutral or positive, with more positive reaction after the device was launched.

Contents 1 Reaction to the announcement 2 Reviews 3 Reaction to the international launch 4 Omitted features 5 Product name 6 Recognition 7 Launch of the iPad 2 8 References

Reaction to the announcement

Media reaction to the iPad announcement was mixed. Walt Mossberg wrote, "It's about the software, stupid", meaning hardware features and build are less important to the iPad's success than software and user interface, his first impressions of which were largely positive. Mossberg also called the price "modest" for a device of its capabilities, and praised the ten-hour battery life.^[1] Others, including PC Advisor and The Sydney Morning Herald, wrote that the iPad would also compete with proliferating netbooks, most of which use Microsoft Windows.^[2][3] The base model's $499 price was lower than pre-release estimates by the tech press, Wall Street analysts, and Apple's competitors, all of whom were expecting a much higher entry price point.^[4][5][6]

Many people , including Nintendo President Satoru, called the iPad "just a giant iPod touch."

Yair Reiner said the iPad will compete against e-book devices such as the Barnes & Noble Nook and the Amazon Kindle while offering 70 percent of revenue to publishers, the same arrangement afforded developers on the Apple App Store.^[7] Notably, a week before the iPad's expected release, the Amazon Kindle store increased publishers' revenue share to 70 percent as well.^[8]

Several days after the unveiling, Stephen Fry said people must use the iPad to truly appreciate its purpose and quality and commented that common criticisms of the device fall away after use. Fry noted the iPad's speed and responsiveness, the intuitive interface and the richness and detail of the display.^[9] Along with Steve Jobs' statements in the announcement, members of the media also said that it established a new class of devices between smartphones and laptops.^[10][11]

Reviews

Reviews of the iPad have been generally favorable. Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal called it a "pretty close" laptop killer.^[12] David Pogue of The New York Times wrote a "dual" review, one part for technology-minded people, and the other part for non-technology-minded people. In the former section, he notes that a laptop offers more features for a cheaper price than the iPad. In his review for the latter audience, however, he claims that if his readers like the concept of the device and can understand what its intended uses are, then they will enjoy using the device.^[13] PC Magazine's Tim Gideon wrote, "you have yourself a winner" that "will undoubtedly be a driving force in shaping the emerging tablet landscape."^[14] Michael Arrington of TechCrunch said, "the iPad beats even my most optimistic expectations. This is a new category of device. But it also will replace laptops for many people."^[11]

People have been divided over whether to consider the iPad a personal computer. Forrester Research has argued that the iPad should be considered a form of personal computer in spite of Apple's restrictions on creating and editing files with the iPad.^[15] In contrast, PC World argued when the iPad was announced that it is not a personal computer due to Apple's omission of several key features, including Adobe Flash.^[16]

PC World criticized the iPad's slim file-sharing and printing abilities,^[17] and Ars Technica said sharing files with a computer is "without a doubt one of our least favorite parts of the iPad experience."^[18]

Reaction to the international launch

On May 28, 2010, the iPad was released in Australia, Canada, and Japan, as well as several larger European countries. Media reaction to the launch was mixed. The media noted the positive response from fans of the device, with thousands of people queued on the first day of sale in a number of these countries.^[19][20] The media also praised the quantity of applications, as well as the bookstore and other media applications.^[21][22] In contrast they criticized the iPad for being a closed system and mentioned that the iPad faces competition from Android based tablets.^[19] With regard to its books application, The Independent criticized the iPad for not being as readable in bright light as paper. However, they also praised the device for being able to store a large number of different books.^[21]

Omitted features

CNET and Gizmodo listed features that were missing from the iPad at launch that they believe customers expect, including a camera for video chat, a longer and narrower "widescreen" aspect ratio suitable for watching widescreen movies, the ability to multitask (run more than one application at once), a USB port, HDMI output, and a more flexible wired-data port than the iPod dock connector.^[23][24] Apple's iOS 4 unveiling and demonstration on April 8, 2010, promised multitasking for the iPad and multitasking was added to the iPad with the release of iOS 4.2 on November 22, 2010.^[25][26] The Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Gizmodo noted that the iPad officially only supports installing software from the App Store.^[23][27] CNET also criticised the iPad for its apparent lack of wireless sync which other portable devices such as Microsoft's Zune have had for a number of years. The built-in iTunes app is able to download from the Internet as well.^[28]

CNN and Wired News defended Apple's omission of a number of features, including support for Adobe Flash, noting that YouTube and Vimeo have switched to H.264 for video streaming. They also said that "[multitasking] will not matter at all to the target user", as its absence is responsible for "a large part of [the iPad's] ten-hour battery life." Of the aspect ratio: "16:9 ratio in [portrait mode] would look oddly tall and skinny ... [4:3 is] a compromise, and a good one." Of the lack of a USB port: "The iPad is meant to be an easy-to-use appliance, not an all-purpose computer. A USB port would mean installing drivers for printers, scanners and anything else you might hook up." ^[29][30]

Product name

Like the iPhone, the iPad shares its name with existing products. The most publicized is the Fujitsu iPAD, a mobile multi-functional device sold to retailers to help clerks verify prices, check inventory, and close sales. The Japanese company Fujitsu introduced the iPAD in 2002, and the following year applied for the trademark, but the firm found the mark was already owned by Mag-Tek. Fujitsu's trademark application was listed as "abandoned" in April 2009, and the ownership of the mark is unclear. Fujitsu consulted attorneys over what, if any, action it might take.^[31][32] On March 17, 2010, the Fujitsu iPAD U.S. trademark was transferred to Apple.^[33]

In the first days after the iPad's announcement, some media and many online commenters criticized the name "iPad", noting its similarity to "pad", the common name for a sanitary napkin.^{[34][35][36][37]} Shortly after the launch announcement, the hashtag "iTampon" became the number-two trending topic on the social networking site Twitter.^[36][38]

Recognition

The iPad was selected by Time Magazine as one of the 50 Best Inventions of the Year 2010,^[39] while Popular Science chose it as the top gadget.^[40]

Ars Technica noted the similarity between the iPad and Star Trek's fictional PADD tablet computer, both in name and functionality.^[41]

Launch of the iPad 2

Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs revealed the device at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on March 2, 2011, despite his current medical leave.^[42] Alongside the iPad 2, Jobs also announced that the iOS 4.3 operating system would be available March 11, 2011.^[43] The iPad 2 has been available for purchase since March 11 in the US, and March 25 in 25 other countries.^[44] The launch of the iOS5 update (including iOS 5.0.1) on 12 October, 2011, led many users to report a major wifi bug causing the device to lose wifi access. As of 26 December, 2011, this problem remained unresolved. ^[45][46][47]

References