Examining the Apple iPad

By Sarah Granger

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The iPad hype is peaking and everybody wants to get their hands on one. But what's so great about it? Digital Landing had the rare opportunity to meet with the famous iPad during the recent media storm at the Palo Alto Apple Store and ask it some questions.

Digital Landing: Thank you for your time. We know you're in great demand right now. What do you think of this rapid rise to fame?

Apple iPad: Well, it's been a real whirlwind. I'm flattered by all of the praise, but at the end of the day, it's the long-term performance that will determine my legacy. Sure, I can do everything the iPod Touch can plus some high powered applications, iWork integration, and allow people to buy and read books on me with the tap of a finger, but I want to be able to grow in a way that will inevitably create a  collection of applications that far surpasses the iPod Touch - and in many cases the iPhone as well.

DL: There's a lot of talk out there about what your best features are, but when you think about yourself and how you really define your identity, what do you want people to notice?

iPad: I want to be viewed as bringing out the best in people. I want to help spark their creativity, increase their productivity and bring happiness to them without bankrupting them in the process. I was designed to revolutionize how people live and work. That's a tall order. I want them to just be happier because I'm in their lives.

DL: Some people are complaining that you're a bit too heavy to read books on, that you don't multitask, that your speaker's too quiet, that you have a glare in the sun, that you overheat when too warm. Do you have any comments in response?

iPad: Not everyone can always stay cool under pressure. I'm a sensitive artist, and my specs clearly state I'm not to be operated at over 95 degrees. As to the heaviness, well, I wouldn't mind a little brother or sister. And sure, multitasking would be nice, but I am incredibly focused and I do great work.

DL: What are the applications you like running the most so far?

iPad: Anything visual. Publications - newspapers, magazines. And I love anything with a map - whether it's a street map or a star map, I must say they look really great on me. And I really like running the Safari browser. Websites look really good. A lot of people like the Sketchbook app, the Doodle app - creative apps like that. People always like games. I think the NPR app is really great - I learn so  much from it. And e*Trade Mobile Pro has a really nice interface. It makes me want to buy more Apple stock.

DL: Any you don't like?

iPad: I don't like running some of the iPhone apps. They make me look bad because when they're magnified, the fonts get all grainy and chunky. That's a bit embarrassing - it doesn't show me at my best.

DL: Are there any features you really wish you had?

iPad: I'll admit it would be nice to be able to multitask on occasion. And I could use a camera. With video. If it's not high quality, it's not worth it. I want one at least as good as the iPhone. I don't think that's too much to ask.

DL: So we've heard that your slightly bigger twin with 3G will be out in a month or so. Are you looking forward to that?

iPad: Yes. It's great to be able to work on wi-fi, but I'd really rather be able to take advantage of all my apps from anywhere. The 3G will do that. Sure, it'll be about $30/month for its data plan, but that's unlimited. I know some people will opt for the $14.99 data plan at 250 MB per month, but I don't know why anyone would - I mean really, isn't the whole point of buying an iPad to use it a lot?

DL: On that subject, who's your ideal owner?

iPad: Well, I'm not that picky. Like I said, I just want a happy customer. But I think I could be a big help to people on the go, like sales professionals and busy moms. The whole reason I was created was to find a solution somewhere in-between a laptop and an iPhone where people can take advantage of my smaller size but not compromise screen capabilities. I want anybody to be able to pick me up and find me useful, whether it's for five minutes a day or 10 hours (my reported maximum battery time).

DL: What can you tell me about your price? Do you feel good about it?

iPad: Absolutely. I'm a 64GB model, so I'm the most expensive at $699 (OK, call me $700), but I can hold a lot of video, music, images and files - especially since my users will be able to store presentations and other complex documents on me. My other siblings - the 32GB & 16GB models are great as well. For those who know they won't use 64GB or don't want to pay another $100 to get it, they can go to the 32GB for $599 or to 16GB for $499.

DL: But the 3G will be more, right?

iPad: Yes. The 3G will be $629, $729 & $829 for the 16, 32 & 64GB versions.

DL: You've been called the "most significant consumer computing device since the 1984 Macintosh" by Pierre Omidyar, and Craig Newmark wrote that Apple did a "really good job of engineering" and "much of the hype is justified." What do you think about that?

iPad: Well, that's pretty cool. But the best compliment I've had was the smile on Steve Jobs' face at the Palo Alto Apple Store. If he's happy, that means I'm doing something right.