Before I talk about the Ipad, let me tell you a little about my computing background. I have always been a PC user with good knowledge of the PC. I built and service my own PC and very seldom use it for gaming anymore as I am more into console gaming. I have always wanted a Mac but have never bought a Mac because I cannot justify paying a lot more money for similarly spec PC. Same goes for the Iphone which I think is a cool phone but just cannot justify paying RM2500 for a hp.

Then Apple launch the Ipad and I think its really cool tablet PC. I knew it won't replace my Corei5 laptop but somehow I just feels like buying the Ipad. Then I came up with lousy excuse to justify the purchase i.e. its for my 2 little girls.

So I bought a 64GB Wifi Ipad (sg set) from a lelong seller for RM2420 about 2 weeks ago. Have been tinkering with it for the past 2 weeks and this is what I think about the Ipad.

Built quality is excellent. This is my first Apple product and I am really impress with the built quality. Its is very solid with very minimalist design. Only apple connection and no mini usb. One thing I don't like about the Ipad is that its too heavy...yes you heard me right its too heavy. The Ipad looks small but somehow its quite heavy to even for short period of time. Its comfortable to hold but i cannot imagine anyone can really hold it for too long during normal usage. It woul be better resting on the lap or on a stand. The multi-touch screen is also a joy to use. It is just so responsive. No complaint here.

The Ipad software is very simple and this itself is a double edge sword. It really simple to operate as everything is lay out in Icons on the screen. Scrolling between page is buttery smooth with no lag at all. However it can to too simple that you really don't have much options to play with. I am so surprise when I first turn on the ipad as there are only a few software preloaded. You get a movie player, an ipod for playing music, Settings, email, Safary browser and that is about it. What really surprise me is that there is not a single music or movie file (not even sample) to let you try out. I went to the setting and there is really not much there to change too. I can't even change the font as I find it too small for me.

So now I have the ipad but there is really nothing to play with now. So that leave me to plug in to i-tune download some apps to try out. After trying out some games, I am starting to feel that there isn't much the Ipad has to offer. Its got a lot of games but all of them are just so simple that it won't really have a lasting appeal. I am a gamer and I have console like the Xbox 360 and the PS3 and maybe that is why I find all the Ipad games just very shallow without much depth at all. Since I am buying it for my 2 girls age 3+ and 5+, I guess those simple game will do just fine. So far my wife and kids have been playing games on it most of the time so I guess that is what the Ipad will be use for mostly.

The next thing I did was jailbreak my Ipad. Install Categories that allow me to create folder and category for me to group my icons. What surprise me is that the Ipad lacks software as compared to the Iphone. Even programs like Categories are not optimized for the Ipad yet after 6 months in the market. It works but I only only a tiny iphone sized window.

Browsing the web with safary is pretty good except that it won't support flash and java. That is a big disadvantages as I can't use it to view live stock market feed as almost all of them require java runtime. So if you need to view realtime stock prices, the Ipad is just not up to the task.

The unit I bought is Wifi only so I can only access the internet in areas with hotspot. However I have discover that I don't need 3G at all as I can easily convert my Nokia 5800 to a wireless hotspot with Juikuspot software. What juikospot did is that it will use your handphone 3G and creat a wifi hotspot with your phone. I can then use my ipad to access the internet via my handphone wifi....really cool. You can do the same with the Iphone. Just download myfi sofware for the Iphone to convert your Iphone to a wifi hotspot.

I got a TM Hotspot account but there is a problem with the ipad browser display at the login page which make it impossible to click on the "accept" button. The term and condition text just overlap into the "accept" button therefore the is no way to accept it.

Anyone with hotspot account got a way around this problem? Heard my friend having the same problem with Iphone too.