Why Should I Buy An iPad? Did You Buy One?

iPad has enjoyed a competition-free market ever since it was launched. Apple fanboys, who are like collectors and need to own every device that comes out of Cupertino barn, bought the devices without even looking into what it does. On September 2, Samsung will launch the first 'true' competitor of the iPad. That reminded me of a colleague who recently considered buying the iPad. I called him up to check if he bought one.
 
He was planning to buy an e-Book reader. He had two things in mind Kindle or Sony reader. Someone suggested why don't you buy an iPad, it will do almost everything for you. Even if he was not a big Apple fan, due to Apple's restrictive policies, he gave the iPad a thought.
 
He met with friend who 'proudly' owned an iPad, used it, and reached a conclusion -- iPad is not for him. I asked him, why. He explained.

iPad, to me, is nothing more than a TV set -- its like an idiot box which allows you to consume data. It is created for one way traffic. A mindless consumption of trash which keeps you away from the problems of the real word, which stops you from being part of the solution. All it can do is keep you busy, distracted. It stops you from being a creator; all you can do is consume data in stupid form factor.

It is too big and fragile to be carried like a laptop. As a writer, it is the worst devices for me. The virtual keyboard kills my productivity. Some recommended carrying a wireless keyboard. This is major problem with Apple users. Instead of demanding products to facilitate  them, they change their habits and usage pattern to get used to what the company provides. Why in the name of god do I buy and carry a keyboard with a tablet? It's like buying a gun to protect the gun that you are carrying.

The touch and feel of glass screen as a keyboard was a big turn-off. No, it is not a typing device. Yes, you can watch YouTube videos which show people typing on the iPad. Yes, I know. But I have also seen videos of cats flushing the toilet as well. How many cats can do that?

Now comes, artwork. I sometimes create artwork on my laptop. iPad does allow me to use stylus/fingers to create an image, but it comes no where closer to manipulate high-rest (23MB file size) images the way I can do on GIMP or Photoshop. If I am an image manipulation expert on my laptop/desktop; iPad turns me into a trainee.

Media. It's too big to carry it like a music player. I can't jog with it or use it in my car. As a movie/video player it is good only if I am flying. But then I can enjoy in-flight entertainment. I am not going to buy a $600+ device just to watch a movie on a plane.

At home, it is a big no-no. I have a huge HD screen which gives me the kinda experience you want in this age of blue ray. Someone pointed, hey you can watch videos on it if you have to go to bathroom. Well, if this is the only thing iPad can do, the only place then the only place it has in my house is my toilet.

Web experience. This is one thing iPad is good for – I can read news, do Facebook (which I don't do much). But then when should I use the iPad for these things? I don't have time for iPad. I have a dedicated PC which is powerful enough with big monitor to enable me browse multiple sites, while I can skype, chat, edit images, type my stories and also listen to music – along with a lot many other things I can't even fantasize doing on the iPad.

Travel. When I travel, I need my laptop because, I need to write my stories, create presentations, check reports, edit images and can also play 'real' games. I can't rely on the weak iPad.

As a eBook reader, it fails big way. It burned my eyeballs. I could not read a word if I want to sit in my back-yard, or on a beach. At night, my wife had issues of the bright light coming out of the iPad. Using iPad as a book reader is like using a bill board screen to send a tweet message. I found Amazon Kindle to be the perfect eBook reader.

Games. I am not a big gamer, but I do play MOH, Call of Duty and Crysis at times. None of these can be played on the iPad. Yes, you can play Bowling and things -- well I would rather go and play it real than on a tiny 9 inch screen with some hardware which guesses how I want to throw the ball.

Communication. It doesn't have any cameras so I can't Skype with my family when I am away. I need an eBook reader, a phone, a laptop along with the iPad if I want to stay productive.

I have failed to see any usability of iPad. But then I am not an Apple fanboy. There mus be some, some usage that is why people bought it. Apple releases figures about the number of products the company has sold. Last time, some months ago, it was 3 million. I don't understand these numbers. What does it mean? I was checking BBC and found, according to UN findings Afghan opium market is worth $65bn and caters to 15 million addicts. Since there are 15 million opium addicts should I also start using it?

I don't understand why should I buy an iPad?

My colleague gave his verdict about the iPad. Did you buy one? Why?