Apple iPad First ImpressionsApple iPad First Impressions

UPS delivered my iPad at about 2PM this afternoon. I've spent several hours configuring it and playing around. So far, I've found it to be an impressive piece of technology that will change the way I work.I woke up bright and early this morning and have been enjoying iPad mania all day long. It's been hard to avoid. The mainstream news organizations are covering the lines of people at Apple stores across the country. The tech press has literally written about nothing else all day. My RSS feed, Twitter stream and even Facebook updates have been jam packed with iPad posts. And with good reason.

For the latest Apple tablet news, opinion and conversation, be sure to check out information's Special Report: Tablet Wars -- Can Apple Three-peat?

The early reviewers weren't so far off the mark to call the iPad a "large iPhone", but that's really not being fair to the iPad. In the short time I've used it, I have found it to be a much better productivity tool than the iPhone is. Case in point, this blog post, which I wrote on the iPad.

As with all Apple products, opening the IPad's box for the first time is a bit of a magical experience. Yes, magical. The device feels strong, tough, and even at 1.5 pounds, fairly heavy. It is solid, and the build quality is of the highest calibre. The aluminum and glass design language for which Apple has become known in recent years may be a bit plain, but it is all class. Apple's competitors need to do better when it comes to design.

I plugged mine into my laptop right away, synced it with iTunes and have been flying ever since. Syncing works exactly as with the iPhone, and I was up and running in no time.

One thing I will say about it, it is faster than hell. Everything about it works lickety split. Screen transitions are instantaneous, applications open quickly, and all the menus respond quickly and without hesitation. The basic UI is faster than my laptop, which has dual-core Intel 2.4GHz processors inside.

All the Apple-designed experiences -- apps and services -- are executed with minimal flaws. The third party apps are plentiful, though the iPad apps definitely outclass the unconverted iPhone apps on the iPad. The resolution on non-iPad apps looks horrendous on some, and merely acceptable on others.

As for the keyboard, so far, so good. I am typing at light speed. After spending three years typing on glass screens, I am used to the experience. Apple's corrective software does an excellent job at fixing mistakes as you go.

After just a few hours with the iPad I know it is going to change the way i do my job, especially when on the road. Be sure to look for information's full review of the iPad in the next few days.