Source: Newsweek.com

By Patricia Wilson


The UPS guy delivered my new iPad and I have to say it did not disappoint. Although the iPad is not a replacement for a computer, it comes very close. In a few words, the iPad is built for SPEED, MOBILITY and FUN.

• It’s really fast. I was surprised by the speed, the first thing you notice using the iPad.
• It’s extremely mobile and much easier to bring along to Starbucks or the front porch than my laptop. Mobility may be it’s greatest asset, giving you the ability to go anywhere — the beach, the sundeck, the bedroom, the living room, the kitchen and anywhere with wireless access. I can see every family owning at least one as an easy media access device.
• The user experience is just plain fun. Everything looks good on the iPad. Consuming media on this device is a compelling experience: books, music, photos, the Web, e-mail, etc. Reading USA TODAY and The New York Times were especially rewarding.
• I love the touch screen, something you already know if you own an iPhone. But using the iPad makes the iPhone seem suddenly tiny.
• It’s a great size, but it does get a little heavy after holding it awhile. I’m still trying to figure out the best way to hold the device and type — you do have to place it on a table or prop it on your lap.

Overall, the iPad is elegant and sleek. Like all Apple machines, it’s just cooler than your average-looking technology. I love the simplicity of the device and the packaging — typical Apple.


A Newsweek article speculates that there’s more to come:


“Paul Saffo, a tech forecaster and professor at Stanford University, expects Apple to roll out a family of other iPad models—a small one the size of a paperback, a big one the size of two magazine pages—perhaps as soon as this fall. (Apple won’t confirm, natch.)”


The iPhone, in short, is intuitive, easy to use and a lot of fun. As a media professional, there is little doubt this will make media consumption even more fun.


Patricia Wilson is the founder of BrandCottage, a media marketing company with offices in New York, Atlanta and Washington, D.C.