Jesus Geek

Don’t take any wooden nickels – you could get a splinter.

Apple’s iPad is certainly a game-changer in the arena of portable computing.

Though I’m impressed with their first release of the device, there are some essential features missing from it like USB support, handwriting recognition, and video output (HDMI or or DVI). I discuss this and more in this special episode of Jesus Geek.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:02 — 23.4MB)

Today Apple announced they will release the iPad, a tablet-style computer meant to fill the gap between two of their popular platforms (the iPhone/iTouch and Macbook).

60 days from now, you’ll be able to purchase an iPad for as little as $499 for a 16GB version. A 32GB version will set you back $599 and a 64GB model will start at $699. If you’d like to add 3G connectivity, there will be an additional $130 for each model making the price $629, $729 & $829, respectively.

The 3G version uses AT&T’s network and data plans start at $14.99/month for 250MB of data and $29.99 for an unlimited data plan with no contract.

An optional keyboard dock will also be available.

Here’s a brief rundown of some of the iPad’s specifications:

Apple’s own 1 GHz Apple A4 chip
16 – 64 GB of Flash storage
Bluetooth 2.1
802.11n
10 hours of battery life
Speaker, microphone and 30-pin connector
Fully multi-touch
9.7 inch IPS LCD
Half an inch thick
Accelerometer and Compass

More technical specs are available on Apple’s website.

Although the iPad lacks some very important features (a camera, a SD slot and mini-USB port for expandability) I think this device is a game-changer. Unlike Windows-based tablet PC’s there is no keyboard or moving parts that can break. The OS is simple to use and it works with an existing, well-established platform (iTunes) for accessing digital media. In addition, the iPad is big enough to read a digital book yet small enough to carry around with you as a supplemental device for doing presentations, checking email or doing light productivity work.

Personally, I won’t get this device. I’ll wait for hardware and OS improvements before I jump into these waters. The lack of a camera really shows a lack of customer-focus and you’d think Apple would have learned their lesson when they released the iPhone without a video camera that this is something people want to see in their portable devices. I’ll let Apple hammer out the bugs before I adopt this technology but i do suspect I’ll have one in a year or two.

Do you have any thoughts or opinions about the iPad? Share them with me by leaving a comment here or calling my voice mail number: 518-290-0228. I’ll release a special episode of the podcast on Friday sharing your thoughts and mine.

This week I finally get around to reviewing Covenant Eyes and X3 Watch for the iPhone. Both are great tools if you’re looking for accountability on your iPhone and each has some desirable features I’d like to see in the other. Listen in for details.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:14 — 18.7MB)

 Today I beg you for money and just generally babble about random stuff. I do answer a question about Audacity from Travis of the Thin Ice Podcast.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:08 — 27.0MB)