This is a personal review of my experience the last 4 days with the iPad. First, I was very impressed with the Des Moines Apple Store as they were very organized, well staffed and SUPER pumped up on Saturday morning. Kudos to you!

For those of you who may be unaware what an iPad really does, I like to describe it as cross between a smart phone and a laptop. It’s not a phone, but it has all the functions and more than a smart phone. However, it’s not like a laptop where you install programs like Microsoft Word, you have to install “apps” to do those types of things. It also doubles as a digital photo frame, a movie player, an iPod, a planner and so much more.

I haven’t had a ton of time to read everything there is about the iPad, so maybe there is, or will be, a work around to my below “dislikes”.

The main reason I bought the iPad was for work reasons (or that’s what I told my bookkeeper). I plan to put our portfolio on it so that I can use it when in client meetings. Also, I like the fact that it is less cumbersome than a laptop when meeting with someone at a coffee shop.

Here are my likes and dislikes.

LIKES

1. As easy to use as the iPhone, but better, because the screen is so much larger. The size is perfect…not too big, not too small!
2. The “Photos” section, has a great slide show viewer complete with cool transitions. Would be good for an open house, party or business meeting.
3. I love how the iPhone and iPad let’s you zoom in on something while on the web with just the slightest movement of your fingers. The effect is so much greater on an iPad.
4. The iPad is thin enough and light enough, that it can fit into my purse pretty easily!
5. The battery has lasted long. It lasted 2 ½ days without ever shutting it off and I was using it quite a bit over the weekend.
6. I was so excited to see Netflix, ABC and CBS optimized their online video for the iPad! I watched a show on CBS.com and it streamed very well. No problems. NBC seemed to ignore the iPad launch, shame on NBC.
7. Already used it at a coffee shop today with a developer and we enjoyed the fact that we could look over websites quite easily as we ate lunch. I looked around and so many people had giant laptops in front of them, I’m already getting a big head about how much better it is to carry the iPad.

DISLIKES

1. I’m just not used to the keyboard yet – the good news is, I could carry around my tiny Apple Bluetooth keyboard with it and they should be able to work together (haven’t tried it yet though).
2. There is too much glare on the shiny screen and it shows all your fingerprints. I’ve heard you can’t by anti-glare screens for it either. I’ve already heard a few complaints on this, so I’m sure the next model will be different – bummer for me.
3. Flash still does not work on iPhone or iPad – c’mon, Apple and Adobe, let’s work together!
4. I’m not really interested in the Pages or Numbers applications, because if you are used to Word or InDesign, I have a feeling they will be too hard to get used too.

The iPad is not a necessity or a replacement for your computer, it’s just a really, really cool gadget. I do believe their next version may fix the glare and fingerprint issue, so you may want to give this product six months before you make a buying decision.

People are getting sick of my iPad joke…I walk around with it held up to my ear, saying, “Ugh, my new iPhone is not working!”