Apple iPad: Legend or just another piece of expensive tech?

The first question that springs to mind when you have a look at the iPad is "Ummm...What do I actually do with it?" So, what do you do with it? You can't carry it around in your pocket because it is too big. If you just want to listen to music, an iPod is probably cheaper. You could probably watch movies on it but that can be done on an iPhone as well. You could also read books but the without an e-Ink screen, your eyes would probably start hurting you in an hour. So with no use at all for it, you would expect it to flop right? The answer quite simply is NO.

You see, this product is made by apple, and even the least popular apple product would sell more than the most popular product by any other company. Why? Because Apple knows how to market their products. I was one of the first few to start criticizing the uselessness of the iPad and the stupid stupid name but I have to confess after watching the product video on the Apple website, I still don't know what I am going to do with it but I want one.

Initial Impressions

Now lets talk more about the iPad. It can do everything that you can do with an iPhone and do a bit more. Apple has released a new eBook Reader application on the iPad which will enable you to read books on the go and also has a lot of native applications built specially for the iPad such as Netflix, Google Maps, etc. One look at them is enough to make your mouth water and might make you see some minimal usefulness in this device, so now can you go out and buy it? Read On.

Software and Hardware

The software is just the same old iPhone OS with no multi-tasking, no flash and just a few little minor mods. In a way it is good because it can run any app that you iPhone can but no one has ever looked at the iPhone and said "Hey! How would this look on a bigger screen?" If we are paying for a tablet then we would like to see more Mac OSX type functionality.

The hardware is like anything that you would find on an Apple Device, Well built and truly amazing. But no front-facing camera? Heck, thats a major letdown! The back is aluminium and the front is Apple's classic Oleophobic(Oil Repellent) Glass which makes the device feel really solid when you hold it in your hands.

Size Does Matter

The size is a big factor that might drive people off this product. It is obviously too big to fit in your pocket. A girl might be able to fit it in her purse but a guy might need a proper backpack or a man-bag. Plus holding this in your hand and moving it around to play games by tilting it right and left might make you look like a crazy person and you don't want that do you? Also the sheer size of it keeps your hands so far apart that it is impossible to type on it unless you have it in your lap.

Do I get two of those for that much?

The biggest factor why you might want to avoid the iPad is the price. It is as expensive as a mid-range netbook but nowhere near as useful. It is priced at US $499, $599 and $699 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models respectively for the Wi-Fi version and if you want 3G you have to pay an extra $130 on top of the monthly subscription costs. For that kind of moolah, you could probably get a high-end netbook or even a mid-range laptop. So I would suggest anyone to wait it out until Apple lowers the price or at least releases another model with better software and some more bang for the buck.

Final Verdict

With the lacking functionalities and the high price, anyone would be sane to move away from this until Apple can make it a bit more worthwhile. If you do not want to buy this, by all means avoid the product video on the apple website. So in the end you can call me a hypocrite but I am going to go out and buy this.

The KKR Predicament

Before I start on my thoughts, for those select few who do not watch the Indian Premier League; KKR stands for Kolkata Knight Riders, The team owned by Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan.

History

Bought for an insane amount of money and having had a number of huge superstars bought for it, this team was one of the most promising prospects for the IPL. That could have very much proven to be the truth when they won the first match of the tournament with one of the biggest margins in T20 History. From there on though, it was a downwards slump. With some of the biggest stars in their team, they started showing the kind of inconsistency that broke millions of hearts of supporters all across the world and had them end up at no.6 in the points table.

Soon after, IPL Season 2 came along and there were new hopes from the team with more stars coming along but the ghosts of the past came again as they lost 12 games in a row and managed to just win the last 2 games of the season. Things could only get better for the KKR.

Reasons for failure

There were quite a few culprits in the KKR downfall:

1. Players: Ganguly, McCullum, Gayle, Sharma, Hussey, Ponting, Hodge; these are the kind of names that can be associated with the KKR. These names all are or have been legends for their country and you would typically expect at least one or two of them to shine everytime KKR plays but has it happened? The answer quite simply is NO. The kind of inconsistency that has been shown by these players has been absolutely shocking!
2. Coach: The coach for the KKR for the first two instalments of the IPL has been John Buchanan and where do I even start about the "great" John Buchanan. The two captain theory? Removing one of Kolkata's most iconic players from captaincy? Or the fake IPL player scandal? Anywhere you look, you would just find mistakes, mistakes and bigger mistakes.
3. Shahrukh Khan: The biggest let down for this simply amazing group of players has been the great SRK. Do not get me wrong, I'm one of the greatest fans of Shahrukh and believe that he is one of the best actors to ever grace Bollywood, but I wish I could say the same about his credentials as a Team Owner. He created so much hype behind the team by making music videos, game shows, etc for the team. Everyone always wants this team to succeed so much that it feels like half the time they play with 50 kg weights on each of their heads. Also in one way or another SRK's reputation and fame have hurt the team. Knowing that this is SRK's team brings a lot of fan following but also brings a lot of weight of expectation which the team has not been able to cope with, clearly!

A New Beginning

A new season has started for the KKR. At the moment when I'm writing this, KKR have managed to beat both of last year's finalists in their first two matches. And after having played 7 matches in this year's IPL, they have a mixed bag of results, with 4 losses and 3 wins, which had a lot of matches which they should and could have won but didn't. A new coach is in charge this time around, Dav Whatmore, who loves winning with underdogs which, in case you haven't noticed, KKR are. Ganguly is back at the helm of this ship and looks as strong as ever. They have made some spectacular catches and taken some spectacular wickets and have shown glimpses of the destruction this team can cause when they start clicking. They need to win another 5 matches out of 7 remaining to even stand a chance of making the semis.

So here's hoping that the mighty KKR can show the kind of form that can help them reach the semis because with 2 new teams coming next year, things are going to be a lot more tougher.

Can KKR do it or can't they? I, as a fan, believe they can!

What do you think?

With the nature of T20 cricket anything is possible so until the end of the season:

KORBO! LORBO! JEETBO!