I purchased the new iPad March 16, 2012 at the nearest Apple store. It was the first time I have purchased a product on the first day it was available. The waiting line was short and a salesperson came to me within a minute of getting to the line. The store had prepared for the day with many employees helping customers, so the delay I thought might await me was negligible. The purchase experience was straightforward and pleasant. The model I wanted (Wi-Fi 4G 32GB Black) was in stock as was my choice of smart cover. I was out of the store in a few minutes.
Back at the home office, I set up and checked out the new iPad. The screen is bright and clear and colorful. The home screen looks like you’re at the end of a boat dock looking out over a body of water with fog in the distance. Yes, the app dock looks like the end of a boat dock. Other apps look like they are floating over the water.
Open Safari and you’ll see web pages clearer and crisper than ever. My old iPad was a convenient way to see web pages. The new iPad is the best way to experience web pages because the screen is so good.
Electronic books shine. Text looks as clear as on paper. Images remind me of beautiful pictures from National Geographic magazine. But, you can get animations and videos on the iPad that are not available on paper. And the newest versions of my favorite textbooks are available in electronic form. Maybe we are now seeing the technology that will replace printed textbooks because it is better than print. We will see.
Another aspect I look forward to checking out is how the new iPad will work out in the classroom, especially with a data projector.
The iPad is a computer. It is different than a laptop or a desktop computer, but it is a computer. The few hours it took to organize apps and transfer content reminded me of setting up any new computer, although the iPad took less time. Coming is the time it will take to adjust settings and content for the older iPad’s new user.
So, what are my overall initial impressions? The visual experience was like seeing a quality high definition television for the first time. In a word, wow!