5 Things The Apple iPad Should Have, but Doesn't

All totally deal breakers for me as well!

I wonder if they will make us get a data plan for this as well, i hate that even though i have wireless at home I cant use my wifi instead i have to have both the data plan and wireless at home, bc lets face it the i phone is great but not as good as a real computer or laptop. I am hoping this Ipad will change my mind about apple!

ok.. good points with almost everything, but PORTS. Ethernet, really? you would want an ugly ethernet port on the side of that? really? it would make the device twice as big for a port that you would twice. yuck

its not a computer (like the macbook air), its an overgrown ipod touch. no ethernet needed.

The iPad is an astounding feat of imagination.

See:

http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/ipad-exclusive-photo/

There are some valid points here, but mistaking it as something to use "as a serious tool" are completely missing the mark and drive many of the misguided criticisms. It's meant for casual use, browsing, emailing. I'm more baffled by lack of USB and multi-tasking, but there are already third party stylus solutions for the iPhone/iTouch, showing that this is at best a software problem.

@Anonymous - you can get a wifi model for $130 less than a 3g model. If you want the 3g, you have to pay for a data plan ($15/mo for 250mb or $30/mo for unlimited from AT&T on a month-by-month basis) but you could also use it on T-mobile I believe. For me, one of the biggest things it's missing is compatibility with CDMA networks like Verizon. Also, it's annoying that you have to pay $130 extra just for it to be 3g compatible.

For me, I would use this when my macbook pro needs to be replaced because I really want an iMac with a beautiful giant screen but I like the portability of my laptop. I think it'll be great for games and I like that it uses iWork and works as an e-reader. The only real draw of the 3g model for me would be the ability to use it as a GPS in my car, but it would be cheaper to just buy an actual GPS, so I would go with the wifi model. However, I'm planning on waiting at least until the next version comes out. Hopefully some of the things mentioned in this post will be added in subsequent models.

One of the obvious apps is electronic textbooks. But where I work (a Very Large Textbook Publisher) everything on our eBooks runs off Flash. Not to mention the apps that online homework would need. We'll need full Flash.

And yes, camera and microphone, please.

Apple thinks they're releasing an iPod Touch on steroids, but what they're really releasing is the first gen of real, decent, workable backpack computers. The machine will need to slide a little in that direction to accommodate user wants.

Geekgal, I say this with all respect - but I think this is a pretty superficial criticism of the product.

First of all, do you understand the reason Flash isn't on this device? It's not just that the Mac client of Flash is very poorly written, makes your CPU levels spike and eats up your battery. Apple is also thankfully moving away from Flash, and most web developers like myself are very eager to see it go. Apple has never been shy about throwing away technology past it's day. (Optical disks, floppy disks, Firewire 400)

Secondly, no ethernet jack? Do you own a Macbook Air? I've had two, a Revision A and a Revision C - and the ethernet is the last thing I've wanted in it. It's not relevant to its function as a small, very portable machine. Apple doesn't throw superfluous connectors on their devices - but if you really need it, there will be adaptors available.

Thirdly, there are styli already on the market that will work with this. Steve Jobs has been very direct, going back the launch of the iPhone, that Apple won't be requiring them.

This isn't a perfect product - but I just think your analysis shows a less-than-comprehensive understanding of the Apple paradigm.

no camera and or foward facing camera is huge. you should be able to take pics and video chat on the move through ichat or skype..

The camera is definitely a deal breaker for me!

Anyone who says that there are styluses that exist for this thing obviously haven't tried to draw with them! The Pogo one/rubber tipped ones are beyond awful. I made my own with tin foil but it's far from ideal.

I adore Brushes, which I've had on my iPhone since I got it, but fingerpainting is awkward and not something I can do for a long period of time. If Apple had announced a precise stylus accessory I could buy I'd be a lot more interested in it. Not as a professional tool or a MacBook/Photoshop replacement by any means but just as a supplemental sketchpad to take with me everywhere when I don't want to cart around my Macbook & Wacom tablet.

I want one, but to replace my iPod not my iMac... Tons of connector ports wouldn't make sense on a portable device anyway (it's not like you'll be printing or projecting on the bus) and ethernet would take away the whole point of it being portable, wouldn't it?

I guess if you were expecting the full functionality of a Mac laptop this would be disappointing (and remarkably inexpensive!) but as far as portable devices go, the iPad is pretty cool compared to anything else out there.

Totally conceded, Aliline. The Pogo stylus sucks. It's made from capacitive technology, though - so no touchscreen stylus is going to have the precision of a Wacom. I was hoping for something like that, so I am a little disappointed as well. Truthfully, this is what a Macbook is for.

If you're a real artist, the kind that gets jobs and works on deadline - you need the full Adobe suite anyway. Brushes is not really the droid you're looking for. Yes, it produced a handful of novelty covers for the New Yorker, I don't view it as a powerful tool.

All good points. I couldn't believe it didn't support flash....that is a HUGE impact on the useability

Not a real fan of Apple although I have to say that I was pretty impressed with the iPhone. Can't wait to get my hands on one of these just to play around with. Who knows, I might be surprised.

I just don't get it :/ It's an overgrown iPod Touch / iPhone, the only real difference is that it's bigger. It just doesn't seem like something I would ever need, unless I couldn't read my iPod Touch (which we got rid of for the droid). It just doesn't seem all too innovative to me...

Once again, if I could get my textbooks on this instead of hardback versions I would definitely buy it, but so far the Kindle doesn't have textbooks that I use, and this probably won't either

I'm still not sure how I feel...

@sydneyalexand, @spacekatgal, @weffie

Re: Ethernet port. I work as an on-site IT tech, and carry a netbook with me for its portability. Everything I use the netbook for could be done on the iPad... but only if it had an ethernet port (through an adaptor would be fine given the thickness of the iPad). WiFi just isn't always available or practical.

I won't be an iPad owner until there's some way to plug a network cable into it.

I totally disagree about the stylus. what's the point of the breakthrough touch screen technology if you're not going to use your fingers? Including a stylus or some such would be way too retro (and not in a retro-chic way).

if only it would incorporate more green themes as speculated!
http://yovia.com/blogs/SanFranciscogreensmartandsolar/

I agree with some other users, ethernet ports?! This is not meant to be a computer but rather a convenient, large ipod touch. I like the idea of this, then again, I don't . I have an iPhone and a Macbook, what would I need this for? I just feel like this doesn't target an audience and is kinda useless.

I like it but I don't think I will be interested in getting one. I have a new iphone and a new macbook previously powerbook G12 and I have the ipod touch. I think if I get the ipad I meant lose my social life because I really can't have that much technology where it distracts me. It's too much. I need to know my limits.

@aubrey3768

That's a bit of a contradiction. If it had the ability to connect via ethernet (yes, with an adaptor via the dock connector) then I, and people in a similar line of work, would be a target audience.

By omitting basic features like this, Apple are shooting themselves in the foot (feet?!).

(My wishful thinking = "iPad Pro"!)

Davey, tech support service people are hardly the audience Apple is going through with this. It's probably the last crowd that could use this device. And, what possible work could you do with this if it had an ethernet jack???? I mean, specifically. Are you talking about data entry for some sort of online database?

I COMPLETELY agree about the need for a stylus AND pressure sensitivity. That would make this perfect for me.

I envisioned this product as a complete digital version of the paper notebook I carry around with me all the time. With a stylus, you could sketch and doodle and record inspiration. (Camera would be nice for that too.) You could write notes in the margins of the book you're reading. Teachers could get papers submitted electronically and mark them up on the screen.

I'm a little disappointed. This has so much potential and I expected more from Apple.

While I completely agree with you and believe the lack of those features destroys a mojority of the marketability of the ipad, I can't wait for the loads of YouTube humor videos with people walking around using the Ipad as an iPhone and screaming into it in public. Lols will be had.

In any case, while I wasn't following the whole event as much as others (I'm a windows guy), but I was sincerely hoping it would have at least a stylus (I thought having an Ethernet Jack was a no-brainer) as I saw the thing as a huge sheet which you could draw as many portraits as you wanted. I mean it's supposed to be a TABLET!!! Something that has always been included with a stylus! And I hate getting fingerprints on screens.

And to Spacekatgal, a durrr, connect to da Internet? Wifi ain't everwhere and isn't as fast as ethernet connections.

@spacekatgal

I've already said it, but it's on-site support i.e. working with businesses that aren't yet big enough to have a dedicated IT department. No data entry. And it's only "the last crowd that could use this device" because there is no ethernet connectivity.

The iPad _could_ easily replace the netbook I tote now... but only if it had the ability to connect via ethernet. I'd much prefer to use the iPad than the netbook, but don't have that choice because this basic feature is missing from the iPad.

wow, this sounds awful 0__o

If you want any of the above things - buy a netbook! As Steve Jobs said in his keynote - netbooks are basically rubbish & Apple don't want to have anything to do with them.

You want ports? Buy a computer !
You want a camera? Buy a computer !

The iPad is not meant to replace your computer, or your iPhone. It's the nice little niche in between the two. Why do you need a camera on something which is basically going to replace *everything you do on paper*?

You'll be able read books, play crazily interactive games and surf the web. What more do you want from a 1.5lbs machine with it's own Apple designed processor?

I think anybody with these kinds of concerns just needs to stay away from the iPad and maybe update their views on technology a little.

Yes, because anyone who doesn't share your opinion must have something wrong with them.

To compare Apples to Apples, the iPhone does more than this device and costs less.

To compare this to the iPhone you would have to compare it to the model with 3G support which will run you at least 629 dollars, while the iPhone is 199. Yet, the iPad can't make or receive calls or text messages. It does have a larger screen.

You could compare it to an iPod touch 32 GB which costs 299 and does just as much but with a smaller screen. To do that you would need to pay 599 for the iPad. The iPad once again has a lrager screen.

So, the message here is that Apple feels you should pay anywhere from 2-3 times the money for a larger screen? Does that really make a lot of sense.

And to the person who said Apple is moving away from Flash because it's past its day, what kind of drugs are you on? Flash is the industry standard for web based content delivery. And just because Apple's Flash software is poorly implemented, doesn't mean they can simply discard it all together when everything on the web is moving towards Flash, not away from it.

this is kind of crazy.

why would i hold up a TABLET to take a picture

why would i want a TWITTER alert when i am reading

what could i possibly want to stick the device to that i cant do with bluetooth or the dock?

crazy

and flash may be an industry standard today, but html 5 is more efficient and universal. safari already supports bypassing flash in favor of the less resource hungry html 5...which is also coincidentally NOT something everyone has to pay to develop for (like adobe) and host bandwidth for

Well iPad will be an interesting toy to play with if I can get one for free to test on otherwise, I am of the 3G feature instead of 3Gs.

BTW, you can multitask with the iPhone, with a jailbroken phone, and downloading "backgrounder" from cydi:)

BTW, you can multitask with the iPhone, with a jailbroken phone, and downloading "backgrounder" from cydia:)

Well I'm a fan of Apple products I own and love my iPhone 3gs but this iPad is missing a lot what i think anymore are minimum standard features, muli-tasking, camera, usb and or SD card and yes a network port connection. The bigger screen is nice but other than that iPhone does some of these things. Apple needs to listen to people who are going possibility use this and consider some of these suggestions, or I feel the iPad will be iDud.

Signed: Still an Apple fan.

But it's not SUPPOSED to be a serious tool. I'm with you on the lack of camera 10000% and I'd LIKE to have all the features you mentioned. However, I'm not surprised to see any/all of them missing.

There is a fundamental problem with adding most of them to this particular device. It's not a computer. At the most elementary level a mobile touchscreen device and a full fledged OS don't match.

Flash is never going to happen on a mobile Apple device. That OS won't allow it. Look to HTML5 to ease your woes.

You can get a stylus right now for your iPhone. Just make sure it's got capacitive abilities and it'll work.

Look at my name... Vig The Geek was disappointed because I went in expecting more. But... like all Apple products, it does exactly what it claims it will do and it will do all those things well.

I love the design elements and would purchase one if it comes with ethernet connectivity. If this is indeed the best internet surfing machine it MUST have ethernet. I travel extensively internationally and even in developed countries like Japan most hotels do not offer in room wi-fi but most will have ethernet connectivity. I don't see myself sitting at the corner Starbucks all day long just so that I can surf the net.

they do sell stylus for iphone/ipod touch/ipad just google it.

If you want a stylus - google capacitive vs resistive and you'll see why stylus is difficult to do on these things. Capacitive can do multi-touch, resistive can do stylus.

I say this thing should have handles on it so you can carry it around as a lunch tray.

It is definitely going to be something that the "entitlement generation" will, like, OMG, must have. In which case, it should come in pink.

Also, they should make it come with suction cups so the helicopter mums can replace the sun shades on the back windows of the SUVs and play mozart to their budding geniuses. Then they can finger paint, too. Also, a great way of having pictures of sun-shine and cows that go moo when driving through the horrible parts of town (i.e. nail salons and no 3g).

At the end of the day, it'll be another way of looking at something fake as opposed to going outside and kicking, chucking or whacking the ball around.

Now, the MSI tablet, on the other hand will rock...

HAHAHAHHAH My iPhone has more functionality than the iPad.

iPhone has a camera
iPad does not

iPhone can make calls
iPad cannot

iPhone can make calls and surf the net at the same time (little multitasking)
iPad cannot

The only + for iPad is that space available,and the screen size.

The final nail in the coffin for the iPad is no flash support. Forcing users to change the way they display sites so Apple can have their way. I think not

The funny thing about all these "iPad doesn't have" is that I am sure people will still buy it. Because I am one of them. I am all too familiar with what it is lacking, but I guess for me, if you try to truly understand what it offers, then it isn't a bad sell. Even with it's camera, the iPhone camera quality is lackluster compared some other mobile phones with cameras that actually come with flash. And someone already mentioned how difficult it is for a stylus to make sense for a capacitive (vs. a resistive) touch device.

For me, I'm drawn to the iPad's ability to as an e-book reader, and really, e-magazine viewer. Most inexpensive netbooks also lack in the varying computer ports one may find on a "real" laptop and desktops, that the iPad, for me, is also a good replacement for a netbook when I travel. And since I will be using the iPad more for traveling, I'll already be carrying a real camera.

As much as we think we want one, there will never one device that will answer the needs of everyone. Because I still see people with iPhones carrying around a cell phone, a camera, and a laptop.

Despite these minor disadvantages, the ipad is still a wonderful piece of electronic material. The innovations that have been made are revolutionary alone. I believe personally, that the camera is not a necessity at all. This is what a cellular phone or a digital camera is for, and majority of the people that will buy the ipad will most likely have one of the two or even both. To the next area, multitasking is a big thing to me, but sometimes, especially for students it can break your concentration within a twinkling. The last thing I saw was the issue that it did not have flash, but guess what Apple has an entire crew working on this, so I would most likely presume that just like the Ipod touch and Iphone, there will be updates soon. Apple just wanted the technology to get out so they could see what the majority's complaints were and then make adjustments because that is a trademark for Apple, forever making changes and innovations. Overall, my biggest worry would be dropping it and the screen cracking which is why I will have a protective case that I know will be coming out soon so that my baby will not get broken. SOMETIMES it is best to be an optimist and see the glass as half full instead of half empty.

I really wanted to find a reason to buy this product. I thought it be great for my grandma to use as she can not use a computer. Nope, it is really hard to print from. I can not find one use for this product. I watched the 2 hour video on this thing and as much as I want to find a reason I cant. If it had a camera on it to video chat, a microphone to record, a usb port to plug in devices, be used as a phone, connect to the Internet for less then 20$ a month (unlimited), connect to a printer (not blue-tooth), have textbooks from school on it, able to accept a hard drive or thumb drive, work as a LCD monitor, able to use Adobe Suite, connect to my cars radio, had an external speaker, connected to a computer and worked like a wacom tablet, had video and or sound editing software, or anything like that I would of bought it. But as it is I can buy the news paper, receive my e-mails on my phone, skype on my laptop, edit video sound on my mac, read real text books, use my tv as a monitor, network my printer, connect the ipod to my doc in my car and play videos on my dvd dash, watch dvds on my ipod, use my droid for gas stations, my gps for where I am at, wacom tablet for drawing, scanner for power points, and just cant find a use for the ipad. I think MAC has failed on this item. Perhaps If i have like 5 or 6 I could put them in the wall in the house to let you check your e-mail or surf the web or watch videos, hook up a sound system to it, but I could do this with a monitor and a computer too... hmm nope still cant find a reason. lol I hope someone can come up with why I would use this? Please I want to find a reason to like this item.

Multitasking: That's coming, iPhones have it now.
Ports: Yep, more ports would be nice. And then you'd need more device drivers, and then those would have to be signed by Apple, and then you have a slower and less stable device and a more bloated OS. But sure, more ports, why not? More is better, right?
Camera: That's coming.
Flash Support: This is sort of a bummer, but then I've tried to use Flash on my PSP and I've yet to get it work at all, it just hangs the system. I don't need that buggy resource hog infecting my lovely iPad. Even with Flash working on some devices (Wii, PS3) Hulu locks itself out of those machines anyway (someone should sue them! Help, help! I'm being repressed!) But Hulu has an app for that now so check this one off the list.
A Stylus: Lack of a stylus makes it a non-legitimate tool. Right. That's your own issue you need to get over. Never mind the iPad launched with an Office-compatible suite of apps right off the bat (iWork). There's no stylus on my computer, does that mean I can't do real work on it?
Apple spends a lot of time selecting the features they implement, unlike most companies that just throw every new technology under the sun into their products (cough, cough, Sony) They're not perfect, as we've seen with the iPhone 4, but they get it right more often that not. Microsoft, the world's largest software company with close ties to the world's largest tech hardware companies couldn't make people want a tablet computer. But somehow Apple did. Let's go pick on someone else for a while. Hey, how about you spend some time talking about how the EVO got bricked by a system update. Now that's news I'd pay for!

I totally agree...What a dog! I made the huge mistake of getting one! Without WiFi it's a doorstop. I'm at a hotel for a week where the WiFi died and they gave me an IPL device that has an ethernet connection to use. I could have gotten 3 netbooks for what I paid and each of them had an ethernet and USB port!
Apple's USB converter will not support 90% of USB devices...cameras only apparently! I'm going to try to return it to the Apple Store when I get back from my trip (Yeah, fat chance I know!)