maxi pad

Doesn't charge when connected to computer, apparently common problem. OK when connected to power adapter.

Lots of web sites have really done a good job of sizing things for iPhone display. Not so for the iPad though. Finding readability actually quite poor and brief tests just don't allow resizing to work the way I expect.

I'm in. Have a few things loaded via my first sync, bought my first book (Ted Kennedy's autobiography, largely because an old friend edited and published the book, and vie been meaning to get it for awhile). I read the first ten pages or so; the reader seems decent enough, although I'm not overwhelmed. Now using Safari for the first time; typing with thumbs is relatively easy in portrait mode, and a lot faster than on the iPhone. But browsing is easier on my eyes in landscape mode. I haven't done enough browsing yet to evaluate Bruce's criticism.

So far, so good. I'm not immediately dazzled, as I was with the iPhone 33 months ago, but in part that's.because a lot of the basic experience is familiar now. We'll see. But no buyer's remorse as of now.

Spork is much easier to navigate on the iPad, but I can see this keyboard taking some getting used to.

I am getting used to it. Keyboard is easier to use in portrait mode, landscape is too wide. I am sure my wife will demand the spare. Netflix is great. My laptop seems old already.

I got a spare BT keyboard for it. That works AND in Dvorak (softy is still qwerty though).

It's much more convenient and the pixel density and portrait format make sites look better on it.

Oh, I think book sharing will be to this decade what music sharing was to the last.

None of the fancy ,magazines will sell after this week.

It sure is nice to read the Web on this thing.

I'm glad to say that I stayed true to my intent and did not buy myself a WiFi model to tide myself over until my 3G model arrives. I did go to Best Buy, however, and now my wife has found herself the recipient of a 32GB WiFi iPad, much to her surprise. It's a nice machine, but it is going to be all about the apps and the content.

Quote
I did go to Best Buy, however, and now my wife has found herself the recipient of a 32GB WiFi iPad, much to her surprise.

lol

The NYTimes "Editor's Choice" app looks great. The site I'm making for my mom's school looks great. The screen is just great. The detail in UI controls that the resolution affords just makes the thing so refined, it feels like an instrument. Notice the textures behind Safari windows and Google maps? I guess maps have that on the iPhone, but I hadn't noticed it. I haven't been able to connect to the YouTube app at all - maybe it demands a strong wifi connection? Haven't watched any video on it. Some iPhone games are fine in 2x mode.

I can type pretty decently with my thumbs in portrait - I've got long fingers - and like Ihnatko, I'm surprised that I can touch type very fast in landscape.

I wish that when Safari opens links in new windows, it optionally did it in the background. Instapaper, which is the first app I've purchased, looks gorgeous, as does Twitterific. These strike a good balance, I think, in information density. The two weather apps I downloaded try to do too much with that screen real estate. Density is good, but it should be easy to follow.

I agree, it's not super dazzling, which is how it should be, I suppose. Some of the well-designed iPad apps do make me giddy with possibilities. I tried blogging a quote from Instapaper in Tumblr, but even though there's functionality specifically for that, it was a real pain since I wanted to also include a link to the source. It required jumping back and forth, and then since the Tumblr iPhone app didn't allow me to embed a link, I went to the Tumblr web page, which gave me some trouble since the rich text editor didn't work in Mobile Safari. This is a specific workflow, but clearly, I either demand too much control or the right iPad app/website hasn't been made yet.

Very difficult typing for me, have to do two hand hunt and peck style and moving around in text is also difficult. So far can't see how you'd get productive work done without keyboard. Cannot see doing a paper or article this way.
Applied some grippy tape to back, makes enormous difference, I can grip lightly in one hand and practically hold it vertically. Works good as test, trying to think of something that is a higher quality solution, like the nubby rubber grips you see on some flashlights.

Played with FLL's iPad yesterday. I can see the larger keyboard being easier to get used to than the iPhone keyboard. I was tapping away at it and I really felt like a character on Star Trek tapping away on the touch-screen consoles on the Enterprise.

Quote
Cloudscout
Played with FLL's iPad yesterday.

Eww.

Can hold iPad in one hand near vertical when grip tape is applied:

I think a case with camcorder back-of-hand straps would be in order.

I can say I understand why that "large" bezel is there now. And in real life, it does not look too large.

My method requires no straps and also provides anti skid when placed on desktop.

You're still talking about the iPad, right? :)

Bruce -

Can you post a pic of the back?

Daniel

Back side is two 3" lengths of Wilson sports padding tape.
Aesthetically it needs improvement. Functionally it is really GREAT, I showed it to a couple people in my Filemaker SIG and they loved it and could see the benefit.

You should try it.

iPad back:


Tape I used:




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2010 08:02PM by Bruce Robertson.

QUICK, buy up as much of that as you can, create an e-store and become rich / famous...

Actually it does strike me that that the stuff that they use for rock climbing shoes would be my top choice for a case to wrap around an iPad: http://www.evolvesports.com/traxrubber.htm I can see how a little bit of a ridge or indent would also increase the contact area to make the area of the "hand hold" more comfortable too... There is science involved: http://www.spadout.com/r/climbing-rubber-test/

Too the development labs?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/06/2010 05:32AM by stan adams.