After a weekend of testing, Ker Than and Robert Roy Britt wrote an article for MSNBC on the “13 glaring iPad shortcomings” and they present a list of issues which I will address:

[Update] iPad will get multitasking in Fall of 2010 with OS 4. iPhone will getting it in summer.

  1. It’s awkward (to carry/hold)
  2. It’s heavy (tires your hands out)
  3. It’s slippery (unstable)
  4. The screen has too much glare
  5. Forget reading in the sun
  6. Fingerprints are annoying
  7. It does not multitask
  8. Browser is limited
  9. Virtual keyboard stinks
  10. No USB port
  11. iPhone-only apps look horrible
  12. Too Pricey
  13. Doesn’t replace anything

Numbers 1-6 are all physical grievances against the iPad where as 7-13 are more software/function related.

Glare, fingerprints and slipperiness

The glare and fingerprints issue is easy to fix. Just like the iPhone, the iPad screen is virtually scratch-proof. So if you don’t mind it, use NO screen protection at all, otherwise there are multitude of options to reduce fingerprints and glare on the screen. The concensus on the web from reviews and videos is that the Power Support Anti-Glare screen is the best at doing this job, although it does wear out over time and have to be replaced.

I show here in the photo that in fact the finger prints and the glare ARE pretty bad but even adding a cheap screen protector sample, there is noticeable improvement.

Even cheap screen protectors reduce the ugly fingerprints and glare.

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