Admit it – the first incarnation of the iPad is about as conservative as Apple could have made it. So here’s what I’m asking Apple to put into their inevitable iPad 2.0:

- Forward facing camera for video chat, motion gestures, and facial recognition.
- Adobe Flash support.
- Analog thumbstick for serious gaming.
- Multitasking and notification support.
- Built in USB port
- Built in SD card slot
- Support for Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse.
- Native iMovie app.
- Slimmer bezel.
- Cheaper entry price.

I could probably list about another ten items, but let’s face it, Apple won’t radically change anything with their next iPad model. This, of course, is to ensure that apps will work across all iPad models, past and present. Similarly, the iPad’s hardware must also respect the iPhone’s development to ensure a high amount of cross compatibility between the two devices. This keeps developers happy and Apple’s pockets lined with gold. But damn, I really wish sometimes that Apple would be a little more adventurous!

The hardware isn’t majorly impressive and the software is basically what was expected, so what makes the Apple iPad so ‘magical’ and ‘revolutionary’, as the folks at Apple like to put it?

Apple has likely created the first popular computing device that will conquer every room of the home and make using a computer a socially friendly experience.

iPad In The Home

The iPad is the computer that will invade your living room; it will rest on your coffee table, easy chair and sofa. The dream of set top boxes is dead. Nobody wanted to surf the Internet on their HDTV’s, and the idea that the keyboard and mouse could migrate from the desk to the living room was always absurd. With the iPad, Apple has tackled the 15-year problem of getting the personal computer into the livingroom, but in a way that nobody expected.

It’s also the computer that will find its way into your bedroom, kitchen, backyard and invariably, the bathroom. Sure, your notebook can visit all these places as well, but it’s more cumbersome to move and battery life is typically an issue. Furthermore, using a notebook in bed or on a low coffee table can literally be a pain in the neck. This is because notebooks, of any size or shape, are simply not designed to be used away from the desk. The iPad, in contrast, is designed for greater mobility. When in use, it’s most comfortable resting in the hand or lap. The ability for the iPad to be used in a great variety of settings is how it will become ubiquitous in our lives.

iPad Among Groups

That’s fine for personal use, but how will the iPad revolutionize the way groups of people interact with computers?

As anyone that has used an iPhone knows, sharing the screen with others to flick through photos or use Google Maps is incredibly popular. People cannot seem to resist touching an iPhone and interacting with its responsive and highly intuitive interface. Of course, up until now the experience has been limited by the diminutive size of the iPhone’s display; however, with the iPad’s high quality 9.7-inch screen, Apple can fully exploit the social potential of its latest creation.

The iPad is the computer your mom will use to show guests your family photos; it’s the computer that friends will use when they surf the internet together; it’s the portable game console that can be played by two people – at the same time! The tablet form makes using the iPad a sociably friendly activity. No longer will you be staring at the back of someone’s notebook, or craning over their shoulder to peek at what they’re doing; the iPad can be laid flat and shown to a whole group of people at once. This invites interaction with the device from more than one person. Personal computers have never realized this potential, and there’s so many ways that a shared screen could be used. I think the iPad will find its way to learning environments, from kindergarten to college classrooms, in a way that will make Apple a whole lot of cash.

Many were expecting the iPad to debut an exotic new technology or some kind of jaw dropping feature. Instead, we got a rather conservative piece of hardware running a familiar looking UI. Despite not completely wowing us in its debut, the iPad, with it’s relatively low entry price and potentially huge appeal, could one-up the iPhone and be an even greater success for Apple.

A few months ago, I bought the Apple Wireless Keyboard to compliment my Macbook Pro and external display. Sitting so close to my notebook, as anyone does when using one, had given me a bad posture; what I wanted to do was place my notebook further back and at head level, requiring me to sit up and fix my gaze further away from where I was sitting. After several years of using notebooks exclusively, I was beginning to worry about my health!

With ergonomics and the health of my eyes in mind, I bought the Apple Wireless Keyboard and Apple Magic Mouse. This has allowed me to sit further back from my displays and have my Macbook Pro higher up; it currently sits on a shelf that is about 10-inches above my desktop.

Design and Style

Upon first inspection, the Apple Wireless Keyboard is quite a compact and sleek looking device that closely resembles the keyboard used in the Apple Macbook Pro and Macbook Air. If you’re wondering why Apple would use a laptop style keyboard for a desktop model, then you’ve probably never used an Apple notebook before. For many people, the smaller keyboard with island or ‘chiclet’ keys is simply easier and more accurate to type on; I could not agree more.

Before using the Apple Wireless Keyboard, I had not realized how large and bulky most other desktop keyboards are; the footprint of this device is almost 50% smaller than my last keyboard. Even on my spacious L-shaped desk, which admittedly has plenty of free space, having such a compact device has its advantages. For example, the keyboard can be moved around the desk quite easily. Whenever I am eating at my desk or need space for printed documents, the keyboard can be pushed to the side and back again with just one hand. If I need even more space, I can simply rest it vertically against the wall or a speaker; the Apple Wireless keyboard doesn’t just have a small footprint, it’s also miniscule in volume.

Build Quality

After a few months of daily use, I can attest that the Apple Wireless Keyboard remains a robust unit that has not seemingly tarnished in any way. The aluminum casing with plastic white keys is elegant and minimalist in nature, but also easy to clean. There are no frills or gimmicks like rows of custom buttons and annoying lights that you’ll find on other models. The device is simple and small, and probably less likely to break for these reasons.

Conclusion

Apple has learned how to make great keyboards, and it’s no surprise that the Apple Wireless Keyboard is simply the best keyboard I have ever used. In the past, touch-typing was always a problem on larger full-sized keyboards, but with Apple’s current design, I find my fingers hitting the keys with greater accuracy and speed.

Although pricey, the Apple Wireless keyboard is worth its cost. When you think about it, most people control everything they do on their computer through only two devices; why cheap out on half of that and get anything but the best possible keyboard? The Apple Wireless Keyboard perfectly compliments the Apple Magic Mouse, and with them both I have finally found an ergonomic and elegant solution for using my laptop at the desk.

I’ve been using the Apple Magic Mouse for a few months with my MacBook Pro, Apple Wireless Keyboard and external display. In short, the Magic mouse has performed well and I thought I would share my thoughts on its features and performance.

New Ergonomics

When the Apple Magic Mouse was first announced many people, including myself, were concerned by its sleek form factor. At first, I was slightly annoyed that I wouldn’t be able to cup the mouse in my palm like I had always done with previous mice. However, after several months of daily use, I can report that I have no complaints concerning its low profile. I’ve simply gotten used to its shape, and I find its symmetrical design easier to grasp when moving my hand back and forth from the keyboard. To operate the mouse, I slightly pinch the device between my thumb, ring and pinky fingers, resting my index and middle finger on its top surface. I have found this to be a comfortable way to use the mouse for many hours at a time.

Multi-Touch on a Mouse

By far, the most talked about and innovative feature of the Apple Magic Mouse is its multi-touch surface. Having been the owner of several iPhones and MacBook Pros, the marriage of a Multi-Touch surface to yet another input device has been a godsend. Once you realize that there’s no need for buttons and scroll wheels, you’ll understand why Multi-Touch is the way of the future.

Left and right clicking and multidirectional scrolling works intuitively and predictably. Furthermore, several freely available apps have made it possible to unlock other Multi-Touch gestures, including the same three and four finger gestures that are available on the newer MacBook trackpads. However, due to the relatively narrow surface of the Apple Magic Mouse, I have found that most of these unlocked gestures are difficult to perform reliably. This is probably why Apple chose to not support them even though the hardware is capable of tracking more than just two fingers. One extra gesture that I do use is the three finger click, which I’ve tasked to activate exposé.

Battery Life

Regarding battery life, I received my first low battery warning after two months of daily use. Fortunately, the Magic Mouse uses regular AA batteries, which are pretty easy to swap out from a latch on the bottom of the mouse. When I get some cash together I’ll probably buy some Sanyo Eneloops to replace the disposables that I’m currently using.

Build Quality and Scratches

The construction of the Apple Magic Mouse appears pretty robust. Absent of physical buttons or a scroll wheel there are not the usual crevices and gaps that are found on traditional mice, meaning less opportunities for the device to accumulate filth and break. One thing that did concern me was that the top plastic surface seems to scratch easily. These scratches are too superficial to be felt, but they tend to catch the eye when the light hits them at the right angle. This is a pretty mild complaint, but I did notice that several of these scratches were present when the mouse was brand new.

Conclusion

To summarize, the Apple Magic Mouse performs admirably and its Multi-Touch surface is what I now consider to be a must-have feature for a modern input device. If you own a iMac or use a Macbook with an external display, you should definitely pick up this mouse!