Why the iPad is a "Big Deal"

When I first heard about Apple's iPad I said, (like many others) "It's just a big iPod Touch. Why not get a netbook? Do I need another device that's somewhere between my iPod Touch and my laptop? Do I really want to write code for yet another platform? What's the big deal?"

But, after spending quality time with the iPad over the last several weeks, I can report that the big deal is that... (drum roll, please):

The iPad is a big iPod Touch

No, really. That is a big deal.

The iPod Touch (like its iPhone sibling) is an awesome device - it plays music and videos, it can manage your contact lists, emails, and photo albums. It has an accelerometer that detects screen orientation and user movement. The user interface is easy to use with simple, intuitive navigation. Oh yeah, and I almost forgot: it has a nifty little touch screen that's leveraged by a bazillion or so AppStore apps.

The iPod's only major shortcoming comes from its fit-in-your-pocket design: the small screen size limits what developers can offer in one app. Thus, the iPod is great for on-the-go use, but not as great for high-content and feature-intensive apps.

So along comes the iPad. It's just like the iPod Touch, but bigger. Although you can't put the iPad in your pocket it's still small enough to tuck into a student's notebook. And like the Touch, the iPad is easy to use and has access to a bazillion iTunes apps, the email features, and the accelerometer.

But it's the expanded touch screen that makes it a Big Deal.

The larger screen dramatically sweetens the user experience. For an example, let's compare difference between our FLVS Algebra app on the iPod and iPad versions. First, let's look at the iPhone/iPod Touch app:


This app is a nice little mobile utility used by students to practice Algebra. Now, let's look at the same app on the iPad.



On the iPad, everything is easily accessible - categories, questions, answers, and explanations. There's even room for a calculator.



And check out the scratch pad shown below - users can write directly on the screen to work out equations. It's not a feature that you'd find on a laptop, and it wouldn't work very well on the small iPhone screen, but on the iPad...




"But it's just a big iPod Touch!"

Yup.