Ten reasons why the iPad is a non-starter

There seem to be an awful lot of people, Apple followers mostly, who think that the iPad is the next big thing. Well it isn't. Just because it's new doesn't mean it's any good and just because Apple made it doesn't mean they got it right.

1. Restricted features. Apple are trying to run the tablet market by their own rules and this means limiting the functions on its products.
2. It is not new technology. There are already tablets on the market and they have been around for a while. There will be plenty more in the coming months. Archos have a product they call a PC Tablet. Archos 9
3. Branding is not enough. It may be Apple but they are only protected by their, fiendishly, loyal customers. This is an overhyped release, there is nothing revolutionary in the iPad.
4. iPad competes with iPhone. The iPad will run on a version of the same OS as the iPhone. The Apps will run on both but the iPhone is already pretty capable and the iPad does not take calls.
5. File management is clunky. As the iPad will be using a similar OS to the iPhone it's likely that you will not easily be able to drag and drop files from one device to another. It's still the 1980's as far as this is concerned.
6. No direct support for USB. Another Apple lockdown means that you lose out on the flexibility offered by USB. Connection to other devices is only through the iPad dock.
7. No Flash support. I know Adobe's Flash can be a memory hog at times but it seems spurious of Apple to deny support for a ubiquitous technology such as this.
8. No SD memory slot. This is crazy. You cannot add any extra memory or swap/transfer files through the convenience of the SD. I guess it also means you won't be able to run another OS on it either... as if.
9. No camera. Duh! You can get a camera on your DSi - that's got an 'i' in the product name too!
10. GPS is partially supported. You don't get GPS on the WiFi only version and the GPS has limited functions through the 3G connection. I guess they will depend on your  service provider.

My main point here is to think before you buy. There will be other products brought to market soon, or relaunched, on the back of this. It is highly likely they will have better prices and more to the point a more useful set of features.

My instinct is that the Apple roadmap for the iPad goes something like this..

• Toe in the water... Launch iPad version 1
• Wait and build sales and loyalty
• Offer iPad next version  - with extra features - a camera would be nice but it will not be able to talk to its older brother.
• Software SDK updated, out modes the version one machines
• Repeat...

Call me cynical but Apple have been very clever in building up their brands and maintaining a happy corral of consumers.