Today appears to mark the day that those early holders of iPads are allowed to release their reviews. This morning saw a slew of reviews from the likes of David Pogue, Andy Ihnatko and Walt Mossberg alongside an unboxing video from Stephen Fry.
Starting with Walt Mossberg for the Wall Street Journal:
My verdict is that, while it has compromises and drawbacks, the iPad can indeed replace a laptop for most data communication, content consumption and even limited content creation, a lot of the time. But it all depends on how you use your computer.
David Pogue of the New York Times:
Speaking of video: Apple asserts that the iPad runs 10 hours on a charge of its nonremovable battery — but we all know you can’t trust the manufacturer. And sure enough, in my own test, the iPad played movies continuously from 7:30 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. — more than 12 hours. That’s four times as long as a typical laptop or portable DVD player.
Andy Ihnatko of the Chicago Sun-Times:
In fact, after a week with the iPad, I’m suddenly wondering if any other company is as committed to invention as Apple. Has any other company ever demonstrated a restlessness to stray from the safe and proven, and actually invent things?
Apple has pretty much nailed it with this first iPad, though there's certainly room for improvement. Nearly three years after making a splash with the iPhone, Apple has delivered another impressive product that largely lives up to the hype.
Is the iPad a perfect product? No. And the omissions will give the anti-Apple crowd plenty of ammo. Why do I need this extra device that's not a full-fledged laptop? Where's the camera? What about Flash? Um, how about multitasking? These are all valid complaints, but one thing I can say about most Apple products, and certainly the iPad: There may be things it doesn't do, but what it does do, it does remarkably well. Aside from the aforementioned limitations, there isn't a lot else to gripe about.
Unboxing and review videos below (ironically all in Flash).
Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal video review
Andy Ihnatko video unboxing of the iPad.
PC Magazine video review.
Stephen Fry iPad unboxing, also a superb article in TIME magazine about his visit to Apple HQ and meet with Steve Jobs.