Apple iPad Review & Setup

In this article I’ll try to give you an unbiased review of the iPad. Yes, I think there are some flaws. I’ll also cover iPad setup, introduce some great apps and features that nobody is talking about.

First the Negatives

• The number one flaw in my opinion is that there is only one speaker. This hampers the stereo sound that comes out of the iPad. This also limits one of the best apps available for the iPad, which is Air Video.
• Many iPod native apps are blurry if you open them full screen, but we all expected that.
• The keyboard is a little hard to get used to, but like my iPod I feel as if I’ll get used to it.
• There is definitely a learning curve in moving to the iPad, from an iPod or iPhone. The iPad just feels different.
• The 3g version of the iPad won’t allow you to use Skype over the AT&T 3g network. You can however use Skype over the Wifi network. This kind of stinks, but it was also expected. Hopefully this issue is corrected by AT&T

The Positives

• The interface is super easy to use. I talked with people at a local Apple store, who had never used an iPod, and they were able to use it quickly.
• The set up was very easy. I got my Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Music, etc. set up in about 2 minutes.
• Project Gutenberg on iPad is amazing. If you type Project Gutenberg in the iBooks search field you get 30,000 free books. These are classic amazing books that will keep you busy for a long time.
• Air Video is an amazing app that allows you to stream video from any computer to your iPad. This will save you a ton of space on your iPad. I describe it in the video above.
• It seems to put out no heat. So, you can sit it in your lap for hours without burning yourself. Big plus!
• If you have the 3G version, you get unlimited internet for $29.99 a month with no contract. I haven’t tested the coverage in the country, but it is fabulous where I live in Pittsburgh.

How do you Setup the Email

For some reason you are able to setup your first email in the email app, but each additional account must be set up through settings. To set up the account through the mail app:

• Open the Mail app
• Type in your name
• Type in your Email Address
• Type in your Password
• Click Save

I did this with my Gmail, personal website email, and Verizon email and it worked every time. To setup another account through settings:

• Click the Settings app
• Click Mail, Contacts, Calendars
• Click Add Account… under the Accounts title
• Click your email host or other
• Click Add Mail Account, under the Mail title
• Type in your name, email address, and password
• Click save

How to Setup Contacts and Calendars

You do this through iTunes, either on a Mac or PC. Here is what you do:

• Open iTunes
• Connect your iPad to your desktop
• Click on the iPad icon in your left sidebar
• Click on the Info tab
• Put a check mark in everything you want to sink (Calendar, Address Book, Mail, Bookmarks)
• Then under the Advanced Title also put a check mark in that information you want to sync.
• Then click the sync button. In a few minutes everything will be setup

The Rest of the Story

Overall I’m really impressed with the iPad. I think the reason I was happier than I originally thought is mainly because of the surprising greatness of Air Video and Project Gutenberg. I definitely recommend that you get an iPad. A+

Till Next Time

Think Tank

3 Responses to “Apple iPad Review & Setup”

1. thisisnecessary says:

   June 13, 2010 at 2:17 pm

   iPads are crap!!! LOL

   Reply
   • admin says:

     June 14, 2010 at 3:51 am

     What don’t you like about the iPad?

     Reply
2. Travail a domicile says:

   January 4, 2011 at 11:41 pm

   Cool. That’s seems good.

   Reply