There’s been a lot of talk and rumors stirred up by the Industry about Apple’s upcoming tablet device. There was a lot of talk about what it would be called too. The iTablet? The iSlate? The iPad?

Despite all the imminent and already public jokes about the iPad name and certain sanitary products, Apple announced its ‘Latest Creation’, the Apple iPad, today.

Before I present my opinion about the device, lets have a look at the Tech Specs:

• Display
  • 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
  • 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)
  • Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
• Wireless and Data
  • Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology
  • UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz) GSM/EDGE (850, 900,1800, 1900 MHz)
• Location
  • Wi-Fi
  • Digital compass
  • Assisted GPS (Wi-Fi + 3G model)
  • Cellular (Wi-Fi + 3G model)
• Capacity
  • 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive
• Processor
  • 1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip
• Sensors
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light sensor
• Audio Support
  • Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
• TV and Video
  • Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite Cable
  • H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
• Battery
  • Built-in 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
  • Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
  • Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system
• Input/Output
  • Dock connector
  • 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
  • Built-in speakers
  • Microphone
  • SIM card tray (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

The only thing that really popped out at me was the Fingerprint-resistant screen coating. Except that, I just didn’t find anything on the device that inspired the awe of the iPhone’s first showing. Let’s talk about why.

A Computer? Or a Phone?

Take a good look at the specifications above. Now let’s look at these specs in comparison to similar/competing devices:

Display

The iPad has a 1024×768 resolution on a 9.7 inch screen.

Lets look at it in comparison with phones. The HTC HD2, Samsung Omnia HD and even Google’s Nexus One have resolutions of between 480×800 and 480×854 on screens ranging between 3.7 inches and 4.3 inches. By simple mathematics, I believe that these phones have much higher pixel density than the iPad. In my opinion, the phones might be better to use, but then the large screen-size of the iPad does aid readability.

Where the iPad would probably beat these phones, is in the fact that it has an LED backlit, IPS screen, and that it has Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating. I’m not sure if any of the phones have the fingerprint-resistant coating.

Now, let’s compare this to Netbooks that come with screen sizes of about 9-10 inches. Among all the Netbooks from Acer, MSI and ASUS in the 10″ category, the maximum resolution is 1024×600. So here, the iPad is is definitely better than the competing Netbooks, in terms of the display.

Processor

The iPad has a custom 1GHz processor, the Apple A4. Since we don’t have (and probably won’t have in the future) any concrete benchmarks pitting it against processors such as Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon mobile processor, Nvidia’s Tegra/Tegra2 processors, or Intel’s Atom lineup, we would probably have to assume that it’s closer to the Snapdragon or Tegra processors than the Atom lineup.

Why? Because if the Apple A4 processor was comparable to the Atom lineup, Apple might as well have ported the MacOS to the iPad owing to the Atom lineup’s similarity to the Intel Desktop and Notebook processors. It would have definitely saved them a lot of time and money. But since Apple has ported the iPhone OS instead, it would be correct to assume that the new Apple A4 processor is based on the ARM architecture that is used by the iPhone/iPod Touch line, which saves time and money to port.

UPDATE: Now, Engadget’s got a story up saying that the Apple A4 is indeed a customized (?) ARM processor and might even be based on the Tegra/Tegra2! [Engadget Article]

So, since the A4 is more along the lines of the Snapdragon and Tegra, let’s have a look at how they stack up.

The only device using a Tegra processor that I have any experience with is the ZuneHD. It is a really fast processor that handles the 3D-effect UI very well on the ZuneHD, and allows you to multitask quite easily too! Now, Multitasking is an Operating System feature, but since Apple does not allow any form of multitasking on it’s mobile OS, it does become a major factor here.

Apple touted the iPad as a bridge between the cellphone and the notebook. If that is the case, then multitasking is a very important feature that should not have been overlooked! Apple’s reluctance to provide multitasking on the A4 processor says that either the processor isn’t as strong as they want us to believe, or Apple’s iPhoneOS team just can’t figure out the whole multitasking system should work! Either way, it’s not a good sign for Apple.

In contrast, look at the Snapdragon processor. It is used in devices like the Nexus One and the HTC HD2, running Android and Windows Mobile, respectively. Both of these phones and operating systems are very good at handling multiple programs at the same time. Is it really that tough for Apple to implement it? It is very easy to dismiss something as a “bag of hurt”, but overcoming those problems is exactly what a technology company like Apple is expected to do.

So, we don’t really get much idea about the Apple A4, but we can safely say that it’s a cellphone grade processor and not a desktop grade processor. If it is a desktop grade processor, Apple has done a disservice to itself and they would have been better served by porting MacOS to it rather the the iPhone OS.

Battery

Apple claims 10 hours of battery life while surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music. From my experience, while you use a device on Wi-Fi instead of EDGE/3G, you get better battery life. So expect some disappointing number when you start using it on the cellular data connection.

Also note the ‘or’ while separating the tasks that you can perform on the device. Do you get 10 hours when you are only surfing the web of the device? Or listening to music only? Or only watching videos? Was this number an average or the best number achieved? Do you get 10 hours of battery life with 50% browsing, 30% Music and 20% Video? Apple’s always been coy with how they arrive at certain numbers, so I wouldn’t invest in all the numbers that they throw out.

The proof of the pie is in the eating. When this device comes out for the consumers, let’s see what kind of real-world numbers they get.

Cellular Data Connection

There’s a lot of confusion among consumers about whether the iPad is actually locked in for a specific operator or not. Here’s the simple deal: If you want to use 3G on your device in the US, you can only do it on AT&T’s network! You can use the EDGE connection on other Operators (Read: T-Mobile in the US) whenever T-Mobile starts supplying the microSIMs (3FF SIMs) that the iPad uses.

There’s really no logical reason why Apple would use the 3FF SIMs instead of the standard ones other than the fact that AT&T is the only one openly providing those 3FF SIMs for the consumers right now. T-Mobile’s announced on January 6th that they’d be bringing in these 3FF SIMs to the US, but it is unclear whether they are available to the consumer yet.

Essentially, it becomes a hardware-lock for consumers who want to use a 3G connection with their iPad and forces them to use AT&T’s network. If Apple was truly thinking about providing freedom for choosing your own operator for 3G cellular data, they would have incorporated T-Mobile’s US 3G bands in the device.

Operating System, User Experience, Purpose of Use

So, we’ve looked at the hardware and one niggling point of limitation on the operating system side. Now let’s talk about the practicality of using this device in the real world.

This has to be one of the most confused Apple devices, ever! Apple started the show off by showing the media how the device is a wonderful medium for ebooks and news. But is it?

Apple compared the device to the Kindle, which in my opinion is kind of unfair. The Kindle’s sole purpose was to deliver content (news, ebooks, etc.) to the reader. The biggest advantage the Kindle has over the iPad is the screen. The eInk screen is very well suited to reading in bright sunlight, unlike the iPad’s LED screen which will be very tough to use in similar situations. You can overcome this problem on the iPad by cranking up the brightness, but then you use up more of the battery! As an ebook reader, the Kindle is way ahead of the iPad in terms of usability, and I personally think the Kindle’s a pretty stupid device too!

Later in the show, Apple started talking about how the iPad provides an awesome experience of email, photos, videos and the web. Does it really?

The iPhone OS still doesn’t support standards like Flash and Silverlight, which limit its use for streaming videos and audio in a web-browser. Some websites rely on Flash, Silverlight and Flex for their UIs. These sites just don’t work on the iPad due to its inherited limitations from the iPhone OS. Apple really can’t claim that the iPhone/iPad is the BEST way to experience the mobile web. There are a number of devices out there in the mobile arena which do allow you to experience the full potential of the web without any limitations.

Apple expects us to believe that the iPad is the bridge between the cellular space and the notebook space. Well, Apple, that bridge has been in existence in the form of netbooks. The Netbooks which you aim to compete against with the iPad run proper desktop-level operating systems that handle everything from Flash to multitasking. In short, you’re out-gunned here, and the limitations of the iPad are just too apparent.

Lets compare the overall device to the competition:

Among Netbooks, ASUS’ eeePC 1005HA line also provides you with 10+ hours of battery life, costs $330 on Amazon, runs Windows XP , has a 1.66GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB DDR2 RAM and a 160GB SATA HDD. Clearly, the netbook beats Apple’s iPad in every way possible!

Among cellphones, the Droid, Nexus One, HTC HD2, Nokia N900 and even the iPhone also cost anywhere between $100 on contract to $800 without contract. The added advantage on these devices is that they even allow you to make phone calls! Sure, their screen sizes vary between 3.5″ to 4.3″, but they are portable and all-in-one devices. The iPhone, especially, can do everything the iPad can do… what’s the real advantage?

Now, when I’m on the move, I prefer to carry one device that can do just about everything I need. I have a laptop/notebook/netbook in my bag that I can whip out whenever I need to use the full desktop experience. I can also download ebooks onto my phone’s memory and read them as and when I need it. Sure, it’s not the perfect user experience, but it’s better than carrying around a 10″ device in my hands.

Not providing multitasking capabilities in this day and age is a real shame for a platform and a company that claim to be the best at what they do! I think it’s time for some introspection, but I doubt if that will happen. As long as these devices keep selling, Apple’s just going to keep churning out such crippled devices. The Consumers have to wake up to the fact that just being cool doesn’t get work done. There’s smarter ways to do things and that’s what really makes you ‘cool’.

In my opinion, Apple has really messed up on the iPad. Only the truly Apple-smitten consumers will not see the glaring flaws in the device and it’s positioning and pricing. Apple has disappointed a lot of users with this product that just doesn’t fit anywhere properly. Oh well, there will still be sales… and the company might just be laughing all the way to the bank, providing users with a really underwhelming product.