10 Reasons Why an iPad Is Not for You

by Don Reisinger

Although Apple is making it easier to get video content originally in Flash on the iPad, it’s not enough. When Web surfing using the iPad, it won’t be long before users to come to sites that, with no warning, simply won’t work. It’s a pain. Apple has said it will hitch its future to HTML5, which it believes is the better standard, but until the Web starts moving with it, the iPad’s ability to offer a full Web-viewing experience is diminished.

Although the WiFi-only version of the iPad is the only Apple tablet currently on store shelves, it’s not an ideal buying choice. The problem with Apple’s WiFi model is that it doesn’t boast 3G connectivity, making it practically useless outside the home. Plus, owners of the WiFi model aren’t future-proofing themselves for any new features Apple or its third-party partners might offer. WiFi is great, but WiFi and 3G are better.

The iPad starts at $499. For tech enthusiasts, that might not seem like a lot to pay for such a capable product. But consider the fact that Apple is marketing the iPad as a mobile-computing companion and it becomes clear that in that space, it’s quite expensive. Users can pick up a netbook for substantially less than the cost of an iPad. If they want a full-featured machine, they can buy a laptop for about the same price. The iPad is nice, but it’s arguably too expensive for the market it competes in.

Apple has promised iPad multitasking in the fall of 2010. But until then, not having multitasking is proving to be a major issue for the iPad. Once again, the device isn’t an iPhone and it’s meant to offer entertainment and productivity value. That means it needs the ability to run two third-party applications at the same time. Users might want to wait until multitasking is made available on the iPad.

In the coming weeks and months, several new tablet devices will be hitting store shelves to take on the iPad. Whether or not any of those products will be able to match the iPad remains to be seen. But wouldn’t it be worth it to wait and see if they do? HP’s Slate, for example, will run a full version of Microsoft’s Windows 7. It will also have USB connectivity, making it capable of printing (another iPad omission) and connecting the device to peripherals. It might be a good idea to wait and see what HP has planned before jumping on the iPad.

Apple doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to launch-day products. In recent history, the company’s computers and devices have had some issues out of the gate that were eventually addressed in future iterations. The iPad is no different. Some users are having trouble connecting to a wireless hot spot on the tablet. Overall, the iPad is a robust device, but like any other Apple product, it has been experiencing some growing pains. Waiting for the second-generation iPad isn’t the worst idea.

If any company can match Apple in the tablet market, it’s Google. Rumors are swirling that the search giant plans to deliver a tablet to compete with the iPad. Some say its tablet will run Android OS, while others claim Chrome OS will be bundled in a Google slate. In either case, waiting for Google might be a good option. The company has a history of bringing worthwhile products to the market. And now that Apple has shown its hand, the search giant can improve upon the iPad.

If it’s touch-screen functionality and access to an App Store that users want, an iPhone is a better choice than the iPad. The iPhone has all the same functionality as the iPad, but adds phone capability and, unlike the WiFi-only iPad model, 3G connectivity. That said, the iPhone runs on AT&T’s network and users are locked into a contract. But that isn’t such a big deal, since any smartphone will have that. Users looking for more from the iPad will find it with the iPhone.

Although iPhone apps work with the iPad, they’re not that convenient to use. Apps built specifically for the iPad work well, but there aren’t nearly enough of them. Apple says developers are creating iPad apps in droves, but so far, there aren’t nearly as many useful tablet apps as there are iPhone apps. Considering apps are used to extend the functionality of the iPad, it might be a better idea to wait for more apps to hit the App Store before picking up an iPad.

Aside from the fact that the iPad is a relatively expensive device, it can get even more expensive after the purchase. If a user buys a 3G model and opts to connect to the Web with 3G, he or she will need to pay $15 per month for 250MB of data or $30 per month for unlimited data. That starts to pile up. Plus, most of the great iPad apps in Apple’s store will set users back at least $2 or as much as $20. Now, it should be noted that the additional costs aren’t required, but if users want to use the iPad as it’s designed, spending extra money is an inevitability.