I had the pleasure of checking out the Apple iPad first hand today and I have to say it is as amazing as the hype that is surrounding it.

The new iPad from Apple is very impressive. The dimensions of the the iPad were just slightly smaller than a piece of notebook paper and slightly thinner than a pencil. It felt nice and solid when held, and like the iPhone and iPod, it really did perform!!

I turned the unit on and in less than 15 seconds it was booted up and ready to go. Just like the iPod touch or iPhone, the touch screen interface was very nice to use. Very responsive moving to do exactly what I want. Launching apps was super quick. Email, web browser, videos… no matter what… every application loaded extremely quickly and ran flawlessly.

To test the iPad we ran several applications we felt would put some load on it. First to launch – Netflix. A light touch to the Netflix icon and the app was loaded and ready to go. We did a quick search for the Disney movie Bolt and it immediately started playing. I honestly don’t think we waited at all.

We then fired up the browser and went to the Kindle store over at Amazon.com. We browsed the available books, selected one and within seconds (I mean like 20 seconds – it was really fast!) it was downloaded and we were reading it.

We launched YouTube – no sweat. We launched ABC – and immediately started watch re-runs of Lost. (Okay, obviously this thing can play videos.)

We then fired up USA Today which surprisingly was very cool to see. The layout was slightly different from the normal web version. You could touch the USA Today logo and a small list of each category within USA Today popped up and floated over the screen (similar to a lightbox) where you could choose the section (Money, Sports, etc) and jump right to the section.

One thing we did notice about the iPad that was a little annoying was how quickly the screen would get smudged and look dirty. The glass is very shiny and reflective and really shows the grease from fingers and hands. So be prepared to be cleaning it often.

The main reason this particular iPad was purchased was to produce music. Several sound mixers and audio synthesizer apps were loaded and run really well on the iPad. My buddy who owns this iPad plans on augmenting his music studio with his iPad.

We can really see a boon for sales people and Realtors with the iPad too. We took a look at Zillow today and how it runs on the iPad. It quickly linked us to Realtor.com along with guided driving directions to available properties thanks to Google maps. The integration was really freaky. For any Realtor all you really need is a Wacom pen (mouse like pointing device or something similar) and a contract could be signed on the spot to submit an offer, sign NDA’s, or other documents. Then have them electronically sent to complete a deal.

After playing with the iPad it is easy to see how this will bridge the gap to those people who have previously shied away from computers and technology. The ease of use of the iPad will pave the way for new users such as the elderly or people who don’t want to constantly fiddle with a computer and just want the thing to work.

My big prediction is with the coming generations of iPad. The 3G version comes out next month and soon after that there will surely be a version with a camera. Imagine now in your hands, with connectivity to the cellular network and a camera and microphone, you have a complete mobile video phone. This may sound corny but I believe the iPad will revolutionize communications along with computing.

Have you played with an iPad yet? Tell us your experience and let us know what you think? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts!

Merely buying an Apple iPad doesn’t seem to be all that you need to do to get started with this wonder gadget, as buying an iPad is a good starting point though for you to experience all that you wanted to, with this super-gadget. Setting up an iPad is something that not too many people experience problems with.  This is quite understandable as Apple has done a fantastic job of perfecting the iPad interface. Unlike other devices there isn’t a need for some technical modifications or tricks, which you may have to do.

So how you could go about setting up some functions in iPad, which are merely just some functions and you would have to do a lot more to actually get all the functions snapped on time.

How to setup email on your Apple iPad

1. Tap on the Settings option, which would appear on the home screen.
2. Tap on the Mail option and also tap on the Contacts and the Calendar options.
3. Tap on the “Add Account” option and add the account type.
4. Enter all your email specific information like the account name, username, email address and so on.
5. You could also specify the number of days for which you would want the iPad to sync up to the Exchange servers for emails.
6. Tap on Save.

By doing these 6 steps, you would have configured your emails to sync almost immediately.

How to reset settings

It could be possible that you made some silly mistakes while setting up your iPad and you just want to start over from scratch.

If you wish to Reset all the Settings, tap on Reset All Settings after you click on the Reset Option under the General tab. Remember, here you wouldn’t be able to delete music and contacts. If you wish to Reset Keyboard dictionary, just tap on “Reset Keyboard Dictionary” under the same option as before.

You can also reset Network Settings to Factory default settings. For this, all you need to do is Tap on Reset Network Settings.

Resetting your iPad back to the defaults allows you to really explore what your new toy has to offer.  Don’t be afraid to run it through its paces. You may find all kinds of tips and tricks from your new iPad.  If your like us, it’s the first thing you may want to do.

As if the Apple iPad didn’t do enough with its specifications to make life easy for people in using a tablet computer, the accessories for the iPad actually go the full distance in allowing people to experience the ultimate benefit of using an Apple iPad.  Just like the way how the specifications work to deliver a powerful unit, you would find the accessories working the same way.

Here are some top iPad accessories for you to take note of

1. The Keyboard dock – If you wanted a special dock to take care of a keyboard for your IPAD along with special activating features, the iPad Keyboard dock is probably going to be one that you would want to buy. With the Keyboard dock now, you can use the Camera Connection Kit easily, because for that, all you would need to do is use the USB Adapter and connect your iPad to an electrical outlet.
2. The iPad Case – Considering how delicate the iPad anyways is, why would you want to expose it to some harsh conditions in the atmosphere anyways? Buy the iPad Case, as it would allow you to have the perfect method and way to carry your iPad around. This actually doubles up to hold the iPad at angles which would make up for a comfortable viewing of the videos.
3. The Camera Connection Kit – We spoke about the Camera connection kit, a bit when we discussed the keyboard dock. With the camera connection kit, you would be easily able to import photos from your digital camera. You can either use SD Cards or the USB cable of the cameras. Knowing that the iPad supports all standard photo formats, here is an accessory that could add some points to the use of the iPad.
4. iPad Power Adapter – Like all other power adapters, the iPad power adapter allows you to charge your iPad. With this adapter, you could charge it through an electrical outlet.

These accessories may not influence the working of theiPad directly, but with their individual uses, you would find that they indeed add new dimensions to the use of the iPad. It is not that without these accessories you may not be able to use an iPad. Most certainly, you can and you will be able to, but with these iPad accessories, you would be able to use your IPAD much more effectively than before.

If there is something that makes Apple iPad work the way they do, it is their specifications. Clearly, everything about this small tablet computer is about how well each of its units have been designed and how well they work in unison. You would find one thing – The specifications of the Apple iPad are probably no different than the specifications of other tablet computers, at least when you talk about the metrics for the specifications. It is the numbers that fill up the metrics column that probably makes the difference.

For example, here are some specifications of the Apple iPad

• Height of 9.56 inches and Width of 7.47 inches
• Weight of 1.5 Pounds
• A 9.7 inch LED-backlit glossy display
• 1024*768 pixel resolution
• Oleophobic coating that provides fingerprint resistance
• Wifi + 3G model supporting UMTS/HSDPA frequencies (850,1900, 2100 Mhz)
• Wifi + 3G model also supporting GSM/EDGE frequencies (850, 900, 1800, 1900 Mhz)
• Multiple audio formats supported ( HE-AAC, AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR and many more)
• A 25-Watt-hour rechargeable battery made of lithium-polymer
• Provides 10 hours of surfing on the Wifi, and capability to listen to music or even watch video

Of all these specifications, the input and the output metrics of the Apple iPad deserve a lot of attention. For starters, the iPad has a dock connector port and also a 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack. It has a built in speaker and a microphone and just so you know – The Wi-Fi + 3G compatible models also have a Micro-SIM card tray.

Clearly, these specifications point to one thing for sure – The Apple iPad has a lot of specifications that can allow it to be called as the best tablet computer.

Mind you – You would find these specifications in almost any tablet computer in this domain. That being said, a height and weight of the dimensions provided by Apple in its iPad, may be matched by few. The Oleophobic coating is something you would only find in the Apple IPAD. And of course, what else can you say about the 1024*768 resolution! For a tablet computer to throw up images of such high resolution is simply outstanding, and that is to the credit of the Apple iPad.

All in all – The specifications of the Apple iPad are not meant just to make up the numbers. But, as you would find out, they join hands to provide us with a formidable tablet computing option.

If paying $39 for an accessory as useful as an IPAD dock is a consideration, you may well want to couple of them for use later on. The Apple IPAD can have a lot of accessories tagging along with it, and you may find that the Apple IPAD dock is considered one of the most important of those accessories.

In regards to the IPAD dock, you actually get two products, and while both the products offer their own use, you don’t necessarily need to buy both of them. The other one of course in question here is the IPAD keyboard dock.

Here are some uses for the Apple IPAD dock

• Docking your IPAD may be needed especially when you don’t want to use it, though we believe that could be far and few between. When you don’t use the IPAD, one of the best things to do is to dock it in the Apple IPAD dock.  It’s way better than just letting your new iPad just lie around.  Besides, some rest to the IPAD would do it no harm at all.

• With the dock, you can charge and sync your device.  The equipment used here is the 30-pin connector, which allows you to charge the device completely.

• The backside of the IPAD dock  also has other uses.  The iPad dock is the home for a whole lot of additional devices here. For example, you could plug in the USB Power Adapter and some powered stereo speakers. What’s more – You could also add the Camera Connection kit at the backside of the Dock.   If you’re looking for a multi-functional accessory for your IPAD? If yes, the Dock is your answer.

• The Keyboard dock is probably the same as your normal IPAD dock, but the only addition here is that of a keyboard.

The point we wish to make here is simple – Any accessory for an IPAD is going to be useful in one way or the other. But with an Apple IPAD dock, we’ve found can be very handy and used in many ways.

The keyboard Dock, which is available for a price of $69, will no doubt be the hot favorite for a lot of people to buy, but it’s quite clear on why people would want to own this accessory.

10 hours of battery life is all what the Apple IPAD battery promises. What this means is – If you are able to charge the Apple IPAD for hours, you could use for 10 hours at a stretch to either see, or send/receive emails, browse the Internet or even watch the videos. But surely that is not the matter of interest for anyone when they talk about IPAD Batteries. The question on everyone’s mind is – How long would these batteries live and if they don’t live all that long, does have Apple have a policy?

Actually here, you would find IPADS getting almost the same treatment as IPHONES. Just the same way how IPHONE manufacturing companies offer a battery replacement service, the IPAD too offers one for its customers. The battery replacement service for Apple IPADS, is clear – If your IPAD hasn’t been damaged by any of these – liquid contact, or physical damage – You could get the batteries replaced and in fact, you would get a brand new IPAD device in itself. This is where the IPAD works slightly differently than the IPHONE.

Of course, this does come with a cost attached. For example, you would have to pay $99 extra plus $6.95 for the shipping and any additional local taxes to get the new IPAD device with new batteries of course. So much for the battery replacement service, which actually ensures you get a new IPAD device, but do you know how much would your IPAD’s battery last for, if you used your IPAD for specific tasks?

Here is a quick breakdown of some tasks you would normally do with your IPAD and the time the battery would last

Continuous Music Playback – 140 hours

Browsing the Internet – 10 hours

The thing with the 140 hours of continuous playback feature is that the screen display should be turned off. If the screen display is turned on, the battery life would probably come down by some hours.

In any case, should you feel your battery is not performing to the levels it was expected to, you could always ship it across to Apple and get a brand new IPAD with of course, a new battery too. You may have to pay a small additional amount of $99 + shipping charges + taxes, but this is a small amount to pay for to get a classy and working IPAD, which has full battery life from the time you receive it in your hands.

The new Apple IPAD is probably a gadget in the market that has been creating all the noise. One look at the product itself, and you would know that all the noise and hype is for the right reasons indeed. With features like emails and browsing working at the top of their game at all times, you would clearly find one thing – The New Apple IPAD is going to be a prized possession. If it is one, wouldn’t you want to keep it like a prized possession? This is not to say that you have to keep the IPAD tightly under wraps in your cabinet.

You could still keep using it the way you want it to, but a slightly smoother handling of this gadget will ensure it remains faithful to you for a slightly longer time. With the Apple IPAD case made out of vinyl-like polymer and the case itself having a microfiber interior, it is clear that the IPAD case is going to be acting like a protective cover alright. Well, it does for a good part of the day, but did you know that the case can also double up as a style-adding element? It does, because you can easily fold up the case, to make it look like a video prop!

Mind you – The IPAD case doesn’t pretend to provide a protective cover to the IPAD. It genuinely does, but in doing so, it probably mixes in an element of style, which is difficult to ignore with any element of an IPAD because the gadget itself is stylish in what it provides. The question though is – Do you really need to buy a IPAD case as an add-on to your IPAD? I mean – After buying a costly IPAD, which is sure to burn a big hole in your wallet, what would buying a $39 case mean after all? For some people, this may turn out to be nothing, and the decision thus is simple.

But our advice here is not just to go on the cost. The IPAD case anyways doesn’t cost all that high, so you should be fine with the purchase. Look at what they add to your IPAD, which in this case is much more than just a protective covering. If you are impressed by the functionality of the IPAD case, then it should really be worth a buy, otherwise not. Let us again clarify here that the IPAD case is just an added accessory and it is not mandatory to be bought.

Related Blogs

• Stylish leather turned into a book iPad « ipad tablet 16gb
• WE magazine for women » Goodnight, iPad? | VX50.com
• » How the iPad will change the way we read and search
• ipad Hands On — http://www.ngasal.com – ngasal
• Apple iPad tablet Pre-orders of hundreds of thousands units …
• iPad: It's All About the Games
• Why books on the iPad just might work « Snarkmarket
• iPad week 1: 190000 pre-orders – Apple 2.0 – Fortune Brainstorm Tech
• Headlines: The costumes BOOK your iPad in a hardcover | Associated …

Whether or not the Apple IPAD will come out trumps in the war of Tablet computers is yet to be seen, but if the features of the IPAD are to be given a look, there is no reason why it can’t give some of the other tablet computers, a run for their money.

An overall dimensions of 9.56 inches in height, 7.47 inches in width and about 0.5 inch in depth, means this is easily one of the sleekest of all tablet computers around. Add to this the weight of 1.5 pounds for the standard WII-FI model and 1.6 pounds for the 3G included model and you have a classic recipe for exhibition of some class features in a limited size.

One of the first boasting points about the Apple IPAD is its email capabilities. So, let us take a look here. What we find is that the Apple IPAD can support almost everything you would have wanted with your emails. For example, you could easily find .JPG, .DOC and .DOCX files being opened in the Apple IPAD.

The Apple IPAD also supports the Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR Technology, and thus it can be considered to be an all-seasons communications device for sure. With a 1 Ghz processor at the heart of this Apple IPAD in providing it with the necessary speed, you are clearly sure of one thing – It can compete well amongst other tablet computers for sure.

But most people would agree that competing is one thing and being victorious in a competition is another. Does the Apple IPAD have enough in it, to knock the stuffing out of other Tablet computers? Probably yes, because the EMAIL and the browsing features are too enticing. But, at the same time when you look at some of the drawbacks of this tablet computer, you would know that it has to do some work.

One thing is for sure though – If people are only looking at email and browsing capabilities, the Apple IPAD has to be the only possible choice for them because of its features. If people are, for example, even looking to watch movies on the Apple IPAD, it may not be a sophisticated device after all, and in no time, you would find flaws.

Yes, the IPAD can be victorious in this battle of tablet computers, but it depends on which factors you look at.