Since its announcement in January, many have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Apple’s new iPad, a tablet device that some feel will change the computing industry forever, while others feel the iPad is of little importance, and just another new device to carry around that will serve little purpose. So, who has it right? Is the iPad the portable computer of the future that many see it as, or is it just a big iPod touch, as many of its critics have called it? Let’s take a look, and see where the iPad soars… and stumbles.

The iPad comes in six different versions. Three are Wi-Fi only models that come in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB storage capacities, while the other three models are Wi-Fi+3G, which also come in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities. The Wi-Fi only models sell for $499, $599, and $699, respectively, while the Wi-Fi+3G models sell for $629, $729, and $829, respectively. The Wi-Fi+3G models won’t be available until later this month, so we’ll be looking at the Wi-Fi only models, which went on sale April 3rd.

Style and Appearance:
At first glance, the iPad does resemble an overgrown iPod touch, with its large, glass screen and Home button placed at the bottom center of the device. The device, however, does look very stylish and streamlined, something Apple has become known for over the past several years. When first picked up, even though it weighs only 1.5 pounds, the iPad feels a little heavier than one would expect. Since the device is meant to be held in your hands during use, for the most part, the weight could be an issue for some after using it for long periods of time. Its control buttons for turning the iPad on and off, adjusting the volume, and locking the screen position are all easily accessible. Overall, the design of the iPad is uncomplicated, though you may find holding it awkward at times, depending on which apps you are running and how their controls and button layouts are situated.

Performance and Usability:
One of the best things the iPad has going for it, is its ease of use. If you’re one of the millions who own, or have used, an iPhone or iPod touch, using the iPad will seem like second nature to you. There’s nothing new to learn here. You unlock the device with the swipe of a finger, and launching apps is as simple as tapping on them. Depending on the app you’re using, most of the controls inside the app will be handled the same way, with a tap or a swipe of the finger. Moving through photo collections, for example, is as easy as tapping on a group of pictures to view, then swiping your finger across the screen to move to the next one. Want to see more detail in a photo? Just use the pinch and zoom gestures we’ve all become so familiar with to zoom in and out of selected areas. It’s all here.

Browsing the Web is also as simple to do as on the iPhone or iPod touch, where double-tapping lets you zoom in on one section of a page, and where the iPad’s screen size lends itself well to a better display of a site’s full view of pages overall. Depending on the sites you visit, however, the iPad’s lack of Flash support could leave you unable to view large portions of your favorite sites, or at least any videos embedded in those sites. In smaller devices, such as the iPhone and iPod touch, lack of Flash support isn’t as much of a problem, but for a device the size of the iPad, along with its claims of how it fits into the space between smartphones and laptops, it puts a damper on the whole Web browsing experience. Whenever you bring up a Web page, only to find a missing Web video or other Flash feature that it can’t display, it immediately makes your mind jump to the fact that you can see those features in the browser of a laptop or netbook, and that what you are holding isn’t able to view them. Whether you want to think about it or not, you do, which takes away from the iPad as a whole. Some sites have started to add HTML 5 video to their pages, to avoid some of the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad pitfalls, but until their use is more widely adopted you can expect to see error messages or error symbols on many pages where Flash features would normally be. Not good.

Another area that might feel a bit odd to users is the typing experience. In any app where typing is involved, the iPad can seem a bit clunky and awkward until you figure out what works best for you. The size of the device doesn’t lend itself well to holding it in one hand while using a single finger to type on its virtual keyboard, as you can on the iPhone or iPod touch. Holding it with both hands and trying to use your thumbs to type doesn’t work very well either, because of the iPad’s width. It makes reaching the keys you want quite a stretch to get to. No, with the iPad you either need to rest it in your lap to type, prop it up on your knees if you’re leaning back while lounging, lay it flat on a table and look straight down on it, or buy Apple’s $39 iPad Case, which can fold back to create a stand that props the iPad up at an angle that is better suited for typing. You think all of the people in the commercials and videos leaning back or casually typing with the iPad propped against their knees are just sitting back and relaxing while using the device? Think again. They’re typing in those positions because they have to if they want to do it comfortably. Unfortunately, some users may not be able to find a suitable place to lounge around in while on the go. For them, I recommend the iPad Case as the best way to solve the problem. Sure you can buy Apple’s iPad Keyboard Dock, or use one of Apple’s Bluetooth keyboards when you need to type, but doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of the iPad’s portability? At that point, you would pretty much have a desktop computer, or a split in half laptop or netbook, so you might as well just carry a laptop or netbook. If portability is one of the main reasons you want to buy an iPad, then get used to typing on the virtual keyboard (which is pretty easy to get used to), and invest the extra $39 for the iPad Case. You’ll thank me later.

As far as performance goes, the iPad delivers as promised. The device is fast when launching apps, and quick to respond when moving around from screen to screen. Apple has done a good job in getting its new processor and iPad software to work together seamlessly. Though not as powerful as a laptop or a good netbook, you don’t notice it here. You’ll be able to transfer your files quickly between your computer and the iPad, scroll between pages of apps smoothly, without delays, and browse the web without long loading times. The iPad handles processing data very well.

At the same time, it’s a shame Apple doesn’t let some of that processing power be used to run multiple apps in the background. This has long been a gripe of critics and customers who wish to have the ability to multitask, whether on their iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. Once again, it’s something you’re used to being able to do on your laptop or netbook, as well as even on some smartphones, so why not the iPad? It just doesn’t make sense. Sure, there are those that will turn to the argument that multitasking will drain the battery faster, and could cause a slight dip in performance, but shouldn’t that be up to the user to decide whether or not they are willing to make that tradeoff? I, for one, would certainly be willing to take a slight hit in battery life and performance, if it meant being able to move quickly between the applications I use most. It really shouldn’t be an issue. Is the performance hit that noticeable on a laptop or netbook if, for example, you have a Web browser, word processor, chat client, and/or an e-mail client all open at the same time? Not really, so why should it be for the iPad? If it would be, then that’s not a matter of multitasking being the problem, it’s a matter of the device itself.

One area where the iPad’s performance truly comes into play is in its ability to play your favorite movies and TV shows on its crystal clear 9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS display. Movies look great on the iPad, and will definitely prove to be much more enjoyable to view while traveling or relaxing at home than on a screen that is less than half its size. Video plays smoothly, without stuttering, and colors are vibrant and crisp. The device handles this form of media very well, and with its inclusion of the iTunes Store built right into the iPad software, you can rent and/or purchase videos right from the device itself.

Music is also handled in this way, and like the iPod features users have come to know in other Apple products, you won’t be disappointed by how it is handled here. You can easily move your music from your computer to your iPad, as well as browse the iTunes Store for new music, and download it all from within the device. Nothing to complain about there. Apps can also be found in the included Apps Store, giving you access to all of the apps available for the iPhone and iPod touch, as well as a number of apps designed specifically for the iPad.

iPad as e-Reader:
One area that has gotten a lot of mention in the press is the iPad’s e-reader features. Apple has launched its iBooks app and iBookstore, making e-books available to iPad users with most of the features you would expect to see from dedicated e-readers, such as the Kindle from Amazon. While e-books are handled well on the iPad, there are a few drawbacks, as well as some positive points that make the iPad stand out from others trying to break into the e-reader market.

On the plus side of the iPad e-reading experience, book pages look sharp and clear, photos and illustrations show up in vibrant color, and the page animations, which make turning a page on the screen look like turning the page of a printed book, are fun to watch. Other apps for the iPhone and iPod touch also have had page animations, but seeing them on the iPad’s large screen makes the pages appear more real. Another plus for the iPad in this area is that the App Store has apps for other e-book stores available as well, not just the Apple iBookstore. Amazon, for example, has announced that its Kindle for Tablets software will be available soon for the iPad and other tablet devices coming out on the market, which will make the entire collection of Amazon e-books available to current Kindle owners on their iPad as well as to those who don’t own a Kindle. The Kindle app for iPad will be different from the current iPhone/iPod touch version, in that it is being made specifically for the tablet form, and will feature many of the same features that Apple’s iBooks app has, such as color and page animations. Barnes and Noble will also be bringing a version of its current app to the iPad, making e-books from many sources available all in one place, rather than being locked into just one company’s e-book bookstore. For current e-reader owners, such as Kindle and Nook owners, this is a definite plus, giving you more options as to where and how you choose to read your favorite books.

That being said, the iPad has its drawbacks as an e-reader as well. First, the screen is backlit, unlike the e-Ink displays found in most dedicated e-readers. The backlit display is more likely to cause eye strain while trying to read for long periods of time, whereas e-Ink displays are much more like real paper, allowing you to read more comfortably. Another issue, which I mentioned earlier, is that the iPad weighs 1.5 pounds. In comparison, the Kindle from Amazon weighs a mere 10.2 ounces. Which would you rather hold for several hours of reading? So, while the iPad is a good way to read e-books, especially if you are not already an owner of a dedicated e-reading device, for serious readers I would suggest investing in a dedicated e-reader, like Amazon’s Kindle, and using the Kindle app on the iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch for those times when you’re away from you’re dedicated e-reader, but feel like getting a little reading done. You wouldn’t be spending as much time reading on the iPad screen, so eyestrain wouldn’t become as much of an issue, nor would weight, and you would have the flexibility of bringing your favorite books with you no matter where you are.

Summing It Up:
Overall, the iPad is a very capable device, and can be used for a number of different purposes by a number of different kinds of people. Is it for power users, looking to replace their laptops or netbooks? No. Is it for business users, looking to get some of their work done, allowing them to leave their laptops or netbooks behind? Possibly. It all depends on what type of work you have to do, and how you may need to share that work with others.

The iPad doesn’t have standard ports for connecting peripherals like printers, scanners, or external hard drives, nor does it come with a standard card reader to use for expanded storage, or simply as an easy way to import and export files. It also doesn’t come with a built-in webcam, which even in less expensive netbooks has become a standard feature, so video webconferencing for business and video calls with family and friends are out of the question. Once again, why is that? Is it just a way to throw added features into a future version of the iPad? After all, even the iPod Nano has a camera. It’s a shame, too, because with the simple addition of a small webcam the iPad could have been the “must have” device Apple hopes it will be, without question. Think about it, holding the iPad in your hand, having a video call with someone, somewhere out in the world. The ability to do that, along with its other features, in that form factor, would have been huge, and raised its “cool factor” considerably. By leaving things out of the iPad that have become standard features in other devices, Apple has created its own problems of people comparing the value of the iPad to like products, and leaving potential customers wondering whether they should buy one or not, rather than flooding Apple stores everywhere trying to get their hands on one, like they did with the iPhone.

If webcams, added storage, multitasking, and the ability to connect to other devices are important to you, then the iPad probably isn’t for you. You’d probably do much better sticking with a small laptop or netbook for portability. Does that mean the iPad should be dismissed altogether? Not at all. Does that then mean that the iPad is the computer that will change computing as we know it? Again, not at all. Tablet computers have been around for a while now, and although they haven’t caught on, it doesn’t mean the iPad is the one tablet that will make or break the entire market. There are several tablets on the horizon that should prove to be good alternatives to the iPad, for people who like the tablet form, but just need more features than the iPad has to offer. The buzz about the iPad is at least bringing more attention to the tablet style of computers, and competition should make for some great products for consumers to choose from.

Although the iPad isn’t suited for power users, it is perfectly suited for casual use around the home, for students, or as a small computer to bring with you to the coffee shop, or while traveling, when you don’t need all of the power and features of a full laptop or netbook computer. One of the iPad’s biggest strengths is that it can be many things to many people. Like the iPhone and iPod touch, you get to decide what your iPad should be, instead of it telling you what it will be. With its built-in features, and with so many apps available, you can make your iPad a media machine, a business machine, a gaming machine, a reading machine, or any combination of uses that fit you personally. For that reason I think the iPad is worth checking out, especially if you’re not someone who already has a netbook or dedicated e-reader device. Once you decide what you’re looking to do, and you’re sure that you are aware of all of the pros and cons, if the iPad still looks like a good option to you, then you probably won’t be disappointed.

Update - 4/8/2010: During its preview of the new iPhone OS 4 software, Apple addressed the issue of multitasking. The new feature will be appearing on the iPhone 3GS and 3rd generation iPod touch devices this summer, as well as the iPad this Fall.