As the rumored iPad preorder date draws near, I feel it is my duty to get something off my chest in hopes that “something” I have to in fact “get off my chest” helps somebody who hasn’t decided whether or not they are gonna go out and buy the iPad…

THE IPAD IS NOT A COMPUTER!

The Lowdown:

It will not replace your laptop and it is not slated to abolish the netbook or tablet pc category. I hear the next question coming:

“Well if it’s not a computer, then what is it?” Good question! I will attempt to answer this to the best of my abilities.

- It’s a web browser
Apple has one of the smoothest, easiest to use browsers out there with Safari. That statement will be amplified when you use it on the iPad. The ability to browse multiple graphically enhanced websites, save bookmarks with ease, waste time watching youtube videos, and tackle just about any other web-based task will be one of the iPad’s strongpoints.

- It’s an e-book reader
For those of us who haven’t picked up an actual hard-copy book in years will welcome the iPad and the new iBooks ebook store launched simultaneously. You will be able to purchase books the same way you purchase songs via iTunes and then the books are neatly displayed on the iPad via a virtual bookshelf similar to your average retail bookstore isle.

- It’s a music/picture viewer
No surprise there. Everything you can currently do with an iPod or iPod Touch, you can do with the iPad…only bigger (you eyes will thank you)

- It’s a Mobile Application Device AKA, “MAD” (I just coined a new acronym for the iPad…I need to get on that trademark ASAP!)
Mobile Apps have taken smartphone devices by storm. The ability to buy and use an app in seconds to assist in everyday activities (directions, weather, communications, news, etc.) has revolutionized the way software is being developed and deployed. I see a day where electronic app stores that enable you to gain access to software immediately will replace ENTIRE software departments of brick and mortar electronics stores! (If there are any still around). Devices like the iPad will take full advantage of the simplicity of using apps in place of big and clunky devices and software that takes up a ton of space on a computer.

Now I do have some gripes about the iPad that should’ve been seriously considered before launch:

- No Multi-tasking
I switch between my Twitter app, RSS reader app, and mobile browser on my smartphone like a madman. Not to be able to quickly copy/paste a web link to Twitter (after I have shrunk the URL with yet another app) will be something that will irk me if I am using the iPad. But hopefully the folks at Apple wise up and update the OS to enable those of us WITHOUT one track minds to multi-task ’til our hearts content

- No Flash
Since a nice piece of video on the web is in Adobe Flash format, watching “Family Guy” via HULU is a NO GO for me via iPad as it stands. But watching YouTube will be in full force, so I will just have to search through the regular youtube crap to get to the goodies…until HTML5 takes off.

To summarize, if you think you will be able to use your iPad to stay home from work and still telecommute during an 1″ Atlanta snowstorm, you will be sadly mistaken…even that may change as Cloud Computing gains steam.

But if you want to do any other sort of entertainment, communication, or App Store-related task (there is an App for just about everything) WITHOUT squinting at your smartphone, lugging around your laptop, or waiting for your netbook to power up, the new iPad “MAD” will fit the bill perfectly! Once folks get out of the mindset that the iPad will be the end all be all of ALL computing, I think they will appreciate what the iPad is and what it has to offer.

All of the world is a buzz of the coming of Apple’s iPad. For the next month, all the blogs will be talking this thing to death. I am gonna try not to joining the ranks, but I do feel I need to say what I feel about Apple’s new Rookie (that will soon be the wise elder). So I am gonna be quick, accurate, and not-too-fanboyish in my assessment of the new Apple iPad.

The Lowdown:

Looks
I followed along virtually in real-time with all the millions of other folks via Twitter as Stevie-J and his guest of iPad hardware/software developers as the did their presentation. From the pics I saw to put it mildly, “the damn-thing is sexy.”

The exterior specs are: 0.5 inches thin, 1.5 pounds, 9.7 inch display. I can’t confirm, but word on the street is it will come in different finishes. (White, black, chrome/silver)

The iPad runs ALL of the apps currently found in the Apple App Store, plus iBooks, a new Apple app store for (you guessed it) books that Jobs unveiled alongside of the iPad, and a full-blown iTunes store. Based on the images I saw, the apps look crisp and clear and should give your eyes a much-needed break from squinting at the iPhone and other smart phone screens.

Functionality

The iPad is multi-touch (like the iPhone), and runs on a new 1GHz Apple A4 of the company’s own design. Onboard storage ranges from 16GB to 64GB, and the whole thing runs the iPhone OS with a new, custom UI. It will come automatically with Wi-Fi and you can add 3G connectivity for extra, of course. Now I haven’t gotten my hands on one yet (I smell family Christmas gift – I’m looking at you Mrs. Tech), so I can only speak to the functionality side to say it should integrate seamlessly with all your current Apple products (iPhone, iPod touch, Mac’s, etc in addition to all of the software you can download from their stores). Additionally, Apple has tweaked iWork (Apple’s “Office Suite”) to integrate with the iPad. The biggie for me is that Apple Claims that the iPod has a usable battery life of 10 hours…and an astonishing month of standby time!

Practicality (that’s a word right?)

Like I mentioned earlier, it will come Wi-Fi ready, so out of the box, you can connect it to you home network, or if you wanna handle some ‘bidness’ on the go, you can find and connect to any Wi-Fi hotspot. If you need access anywhere, anytime, you can opt to purchase one loaded with 3G (for an extra $130 bucks) exclusively from AT&T (ugh!). The fees for 3G are $14.99/month for 250MB of data – You might as well spring for the unlimited data plan for $30.00/month. No voice plans available! So don’t think you can make a phone call while you are reading your copy of “How to Make Ba-Jillions in this jacked up Real-Estate Market”. Finally, if you own or are familiar with an iPhone or iPod Touch, you should be able to get accustomed to the iPad without hardly any learning curve due to the same type of gestures utilized to operate the iPad’s smaller predecessors.

The iPad will come in three versions:

16GB – $499
32GB – $599
64GB – $699

Again, if you want 3G, take any of those numbers and add another $130 bucks + which ever monthly plan your choose – Pretty reasonable if you ask me. Shipping will start as early as March.

My overall verdict: If you are not trying to do any heaving computing/multitasking or expect to take high-res photos of your family trip to Epcot Center, while video-conferencing Grandma who couldn’t make the trip due to her bad knee, the iPad will be a definite crowd-pleaser. If you expected the iPad to do EVERYTHING (including help Obama win a second term), you will be sadly let down by its capabilities.

I hate to say it, but it will hard to stay away from keeping close tabs on the iPad, so stay tuned, ’cause I will probably publish several more entries on the subject!

“Want To C Something Hot…Click da Button, Baby!”

Brotha Tech’s suggestion is that you NOT click da button………Baby

The Lowdown:

The folks over at AVG: Antivirus and Security Software have uncovered a Facebook worm that infects your Facebook page (and prolly your computer) and is waiting to infect all others who click on the curvy sista in the sexy undergarments that is now lamented on your FB page.

By clicking the pic you noticed on a friend’s page, it takes you to another site with a larger view of the temptress. If you roll the dice and “click da button, baby” it will take you to an adult site. After a couple more clicks, Instantly you realize that’s not where you want to be and browse back to you FB page, the image is now pasted on your wall working it’s magic, and just waiting for others to follow suit.

Here is video from AVG showing how the worm works.

Be safe out there on these social networking sites folks!