www.theresponseagency.co.uk

Apple are eagerly awaiting consumer response to their latest gadget, the iPad, after it received a mixed response when presented to the experts.

As with all apple products it was unveiled by Apple boss Steve Jobs to great fanfare, however the tablet left some wondering whether there was in fact any room within the technology market for a mix between a laptop and a smart phone.

On the face of it, the iPad resembles a giant iPhone and has a 9.7in touch-screen. It’s anticipated to become one of the fastest-selling consumer electronics items ever when it goes on sale in 60 days time.

Here are some stats on the ipad. It costs from £400-£700, with Mr Jobs describing it as a “truly magical and revolutionary product” at its launch in San Francisco.

The iPad, which weighs in at 680g and is 1.3cm thick, has around a 10-hour battery life and can surf the internet over Wi-Fi 9like the iphone 3G does).

Apple hopes the ipad will allow it to take on Amazon, which is the biggest seller of electronic books with an e-book reader called the Kindle.

But some experts were less convinced. “The iPad is limited,” said Tom Dunmore, consulting editor of gadget magazine Stuff.

He went on to say people might choose it over netbooks but:  “Overall, nothing more than expected — a little disappointing.”

Others such as actor Stephen Fry disagreed. At the launch he said: “It is a transformative device. You only really get it when you get your hands on it.”

Apple hopes the device will allow it to sell books, newspapers and magazines.

Review

On paper, and even after seeing it demonstrated by Steve Jobs, the iPad is initially seems a little underwhelming- it's just a big iPhone, after all. However, after a few seconds play you realise the real potential the ipad has.

The device is so fats, and the 9.7-inch screen incredibly vivid and sharp. One of the most impressive uses of the gadget is games, which look superb on the big screen.

As often the case, the problems come with typing. The onscreen keyboard works, but the lack of a real keyboard does limit the iPad's usefulness on many tasks.

Overall, it’s fair to say the iPad deserves the praise it’s received, and is a great all round home and leisure device. For businesspeople, and that’s who its partly aimed at, it won't replace the laptop, but for the average consumer who wants entertainment could find this the ultimate gadget to use while on the Tube, train to work.

The iPad's key features

The slim black device resembles a larger version of Apple's iPhone.
9.7in (24.6cm) display with a touchscreen Qwerty keyboard which appears on screen for typing emails.
Powered by 1GHz Apple A4 chip, with the iPad weighing a rather light 1.5lb.
It includes a speaker, microphone, accelerometer, compass, Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity and offers a 10-hour battery life. (must depend on use I suspect).
iPad can run any of its little brother iPhone’s applications, downloaded from the iTunes store, thus allowing synchronisation of userrs existing apps.
It can also of course be used as an electronic reader (aka an eReader) and Apple has signed up with a number of large publishers, including Penguin, Macmillan and  HarperCollins etc.
Prices for the iPad will start from £310 for the 16GB, WiFi only model.
Models featuring 3G mobile connectivity will cost an extra £85, with the highest-spec a modest 64GB version at £520.
You can get a WiFi iPad in two months and the 3G model in about three months' time.

Now begins the ideas of how this and similar devices can be used for advertising purposes!

www.theresponseagency.co.uk