There have been quite a few reviews on iPad, so there's very little to add on that front. Tomorrow I'm hosting an "iPad Lunch" at the studio, where I plan on setting my iPad down on the table and answering questions from more of an interaction standpoint. Here are my high- level notes for that audience.
It's Hard to Hold, Hard to Type On, and Really Shiny
Because the device is flat, it's really hard to use if you don't have it on a stand or against your lap. If you're in a meeting, you'll prop it against the edge of the table. If you're trying to watch a movie while knitting, you'll prop it up the best you can with a few books. If you're trying to read with bright lights behind you, you will spent time trying to position the glossy screen in a way that won't blind you. When my lap won't do, I've been setting it down next to me, which isn't very satisfying.
But the alternatives aren't much better. If the device came with a stand, it would add weight, size, and potentially flimsiness. Apple has chosen the same approach they did with iPhones: make it as small as possible and let the marketplace provide the right protective cases, stands, props, etc. I think it's the right call, but the $40 Apple case/stands are sold out and my neck is starting to hurt.
The Apps Are AmazingYou have to try them to really get it, but the apps sing on this device. Part of it is good design, part of it is the responsiveness of the device, but what I'm floored by is the lack of resizing. You don't resize windows, you don't minimize, you don't maximize. Every app can be designed to the pixel, which allows a level of fit and finish that is immediately apparent.
The Finder is Dead, Dead, DeadFile management in the traditional sense has been completely banished from this device. There's no Windows Explorer or Mac OS Finder, and that alone is my favorite thing about using this thing. When you're in an app, it shows you the files you need. The end.
I never want to use a window manager again.
Saving is IrrelevantOpen/save dialogs have been with us for decades, but Apple has killed them too. If you're in an app and you exit it, it saves state. (or it's supposed to; if it doesn't, it's the developer's failure) This means the traditional "You have unsaved changes, you can't do anything until you deal with them" modal alert doesn't happen anymore. You flit about between your apps and they keep track of state for you, like the usability gods intended. Beautiful.
The Carousel is KingI've already seen 4 apps that use the carousel approach (like CoverFlow) to display files. The most recent is on the far right, and highlighted for you. You can pan backwards in time to see older documents. Do you have 300 documents? Oh. Too bad. Hope you like lots of swiping.
I expect to see improvements on this approach that allow it to scale to a larger number of files.
Pop-Overs Are FantasticIt's hard to grasp how useful pop-overs really are until you use them. I want to see them used the iPad way in Windows and Mac OS. It's like having a second window that doesn't get covered up, and disappears without being asked. I love it.
The New OS Can't Come Soon EnoughThe next version of iPhone OS is going to bring much-needed improvements in intra-app communication. Remember, the iPad everyone is reviewing is based on a year-old operating system, and Apple's OS team isn't known for twiddling their thumbs for a full year.
The iPad's software is already impressive, but I'm already looking forward for the upgrade to iPhone OS 4.
