iPad. Just you wait Henry Higgins.

My first thoughts?  I’m only surprised by two things:

1. The price. I expected $700 in the high priced Apple universe.
2. The lack of a souped up e-book or magazine to show the potential to the media industry.

So in response to our great host at Geek News Central, and he is wiser than I for certain, let me add a few of my thoughts in support of the iPad.

1. Not surprised at the lack of a camera on this model, but I will be surprised and disappointed if it doesn’t make it onto a future model (for the iPod touch as well). Apple doesn’t like including items if they are not sure they will run perfectly or could cause battery or other “market image” problems. Overall I appreciate that. Most of the time. I think.
2. Not surprised at the lack of Adobe Flash. I believe HTML 5 will progress enough that soon most sites will have a secondary link to a different video format for each page. And perhaps the federal budget will balance soon as well. One can hope that Apple, Adobe, Democrats and Republicans can all get along.
3. Not surprised with (but I don’t like) another Apple store to buy books from. I am glad that you can purchase the Amazon Kindle app and still purchase from there. You can be certain that when the new media begins to come out that most of it will probably flow through Apple for the iPad.
4. Not surprised at the negative response of “What is so great about this?” If I recall people were just like that in regard to the iPhone and Touch and the initial closed apps setting. And of course the iPhone and iPod Touch won’t really do much for gaming. So I’m positive that the iPad will not do much for media and communication.  Even 6 months is going to tell a new story.
5. Not surprised at (but again don’t like) the lack of output options. In many ways Steve Jobs is becoming that which he fears. He hates buttons and jacks. But what about awkward, ugly, expensive, easy to lose, easy to wear out adapters? An iPad with a few jacks would look much better than an iPad with a white thing sticking off of the bottom and a bag of extras.

I own a first-gen iPod touch. I didn’t have AT&T and so it was my only option. I jail broke it briefly to get some apps but soon restored and waited for the app store. It doesn’t have the fastest processor. It doesn’t have side volume buttons. It doesn’t have the built in speaker and voice capabilities. It has been a great purchase. Even as the product has evolved I have enjoyed so many of the benefits of new software. I have no doubt that is going to be the case for the iPad.

I’m waiting to purchase the iPad. Why? Partly the money, but mainly my need. I have no current need with where I’m living and what I’m doing. However, as the books and magazines begin to pile in, the software designers get creative, and time passes – I will probably be tempted. For certain you can cross a Kindle off of my wish list. We should be realistic – the e-reader industry is shaking even if they have Android.  To quote Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady “Just you (w)ait (H)enry (H)iggins just you (w)ait.”