Sounds like Apple has allowed the lucky few who received an iPad early to post their initial reviews. PC World has a good overview of the reviews.
Andy Ihnatko, Chicago Sun-Times: “iPad is Pure Innovation-One of the Best Computers Ever“Star rating equivalent: *****
The good: “It’s a computer that many people have been wanting for years: a slim, ten-hour computer that can hold every document, book, movie, CD, email, picture, or other scrap of data they’re ever likely to want to have at hand; with a huge library of apps that will ultimately allow it to fulfill nearly any function; and which nonetheless covers the dull compulsories of computing (Mail, the web, and Microsoft Office-style apps) so well that there will be many situations in which this 1.5-pound slate can handily take the place of a laptop bag filled with hardware and accessories.”
The bad: “When compared with a netbook on the netbook’s terms, the iPad is a mixed bag. Even the cheapest $499 model is close to twice the cost of a decent netbook. The iPad has a terrific library of software, but a netbook can run most of the same software you’re running on your Windows desktop. And its open file system is reassuring.”
Battery life: “…the iPad has a solid, real-world 10-hour battery…”
The last paragraph (after telling story of turning down chance to be movie critic for a different paper a decade ago): “Hardware like the iPad confirms that I made the right choice.”
