It looks beautiful (but then it would, it's an Apple product), it works well and the demos shown show real potential for what it might be able to do as it aims to make a grab for that middle ground between a phone and a laptop, but it's got one thing missing.
Flash! Seriously, Apple have still said no to Flash.
If Steve Jobs is wanting this iPad to be used as a web device, then people are going to be browsing websites that are running Flash elements. I don't want to sit their looking at my iPad and seeing that annoying blue plugin brick on screen reminding me that I am missing out on content - I want the whole thing.
For this reason alone, can the iPad really be a big success? It's like having a TV set that only let's me watch BBC4 and LivingTV, when I really want to watch Dave or SkySports.
So it might have...
- a stunning looking iBooks feature putting the Kindle to shame
- a gorgeous email system and a BIG on screen keyboard
- a photo album feature to die for
- iWorks running on it
- wifi and 3G access (no tie to a particular network)
- great unlimited data deals
- a price that isn't over the top ridiculous
but without Flash for browsing, and with no mention of multitasking capabilities...
Will it really be the netbook killer?
Image from engadget.com
Additional Update: To answer several emails that have already been sent to me; why is the lack of Flash such a problem? I work in education, and many of the activities / websites / features that we use on a daily basis use Flash. If this is to be used in the classroom, it will not provide the same access that we currently achieve with laptops / netbooks that cost around the same price as the iPad will. If Apple do want it to be used in education, then it needs to have something that makes it unforgettable. At the moment, it doesn't. It lacks what we currently have and can currently do. Maybe next year when they release a new OS for it, and introduce the newer model it will be suitable for the classroom.
Image from Apple.com
