Apple Thoughts: iPad Skeptic Becomes a Fan

"At first glance, the iPad looked like a heavy, overgrown iPod touch. After just a few months of use, however, this iPad skeptic realized that it's so much more -- it's one of those devices I've always needed. Those don't come around very often," Peter Svensson reports for The Associated Press."

image credit: Apple

A lot of insights in the linked article, and a lot of emotional reactions from a technology journalist who originally thought that the iPad would be only good for games. As he spent more time with the iPad, he found more and more uses for it, including moving (scanning) all his paper documents to PDFs and onto the iPad. He likens it to "an iPod for paper." Here is his summary of his impressions:

"FIRST IMPRESSIONS: To an Associated Press technology writer, the iPad looked like a bigger version of the iPod touch, and there didn't seem to be much point to that. Also, it looked too heavy to hold in one hand, for comfortable reading."

"WHY FIRST IMPRESSIONS WERE WRONG: The size of the iPad doesn't just mean there's more of it, it makes it qualitatively different than an iPod touch. The device really takes the place of paper, as in books, printouts, newspapers and magazines. Also, the weight is easily managed."

"SECOND CHANCES: A slew of competing tablets will be on the market before the holidays. In terms of hardware, they may match or improve on the iPad. But the software -- primarily Google's Android phone software -- may not be ready for the job."