(Even for the iPad?)

iPad or MacBook? That was the question I had in mind while I was waiting for my tax refund to arrive. It wasn’t until the announcement of the iPad and what it would have (and not have, for that matter,) that resulted in my decision to get a MacBook instead.

With last Saturday’s launch of the iPad, I looked at the device and realized the best thing for me to do is hold off for the time being. After all, I have a 1st generation iPod touch, and aside from the larger screen and the faster processor (a 1 GHz Apple A4,) there really wasn’t much incentive on getting it. After all, no Flash support would make web pages look incomplete, the small storage space (up to 64 GB) would pale in comparison to the 250 GB I would get for my MacBook (not including my USB drives). And the lack of a camera was also a huge factor.

Still, that didn’t stop Apple from selling 450,000 iPads. I wasn’t able to get a chance to check it out at the local Apple Store (because I knew the place would be a mob,) and when I tried to look for them at a local "blue shirt" retailer, I couldn’t find any demo units to test out. It doesn’t help that the same retailer has a launch plan that actually tells their employees to HOLD any extra stock they would carry until the following week. Sure you don’t want to sell it to anyone who would just walk in ready to purchase. (Then again, you have to wonder if said retailers are hoarding the iPods to sell on eBay? After all, they are currently going for upwards of $1,000!)

But I digress. The fact is I don’t need the iPad just yet. I’m perfectly happy with the iPod touch I currently own. I figured that the eventual 4.0 release of the iPhone OS software would be worth keeping it a bit longer.

And that’s what I expected upon hearing the announcement of 4.0 today. It started off with some promise, with adding the GameCenter social network, offering a friend system, leaderboards, achievements, and matchmaking. Almost like the iPhone equivalent of Xbox Live, and I can easily approve of that. After all, I had a taste of this type of network when playing Cobra Command on my iTouch, and it worked out quite well.

Then it gets bad. We are introduced to the iAd platform, where developers would be able to put ad content in their apps, which could appear as often as once every three minutes. I understand the concept of advertising to draw more revenue for a developer, but as far as I’m concerned, this feels like the second coming of Gizmondo. Remember how they had the gall to sell a cheaper handheld that forced you to watch ads before playing. Is that what the iPhone market is going to come to?

Even worse, is something that looked promising at first. iPhone OS 4.0 finally brings us what we have been demanding right from the beginning…multitasking! But wait you ask, why am I so against the whole multitasking concept? I’m not. As I said, it’s been a long time coming, and is a much welcomed addition. The problem with it, however, is it will only work on the CURRENT GENERATION of products, namely the iPhone 3GS and the 3rd generation iPod touch.

What about those of us with the previous generation models such as myself? You’re screwed!

I don’t get why we have to suffer for being those who adopt Apple’s earlier products and show dedication, aside from the "master plan" to sell the most current hardware.

Oh wait a second, I thought the most current piece of hardware was the iPad? Aren’t they getting the update as well? After all, it runs on iPhone OS 3.2, doesn’t it? Yes it does, but it won’t be getting the update until the Fall, way after the iPhone and iPod touch units get theirs, and way after the iPhone 4G (or whatever it will be called) comes out.

Ironic that Steve Jobs, during the iPhone OS 4G announcement today said, "In multitasking, if you see a task manager…they blew it." What I’d say in response is "If you don’t offer the same functionality to all your iPhone OS devices, YOU blew it!"
Oh well, I guess if I’m going to want multitasking in my portable device, I will have to go back to my trusty Palm Pre. After all, it had multitasking out of the box, something that a lot of iPhone and iPhone 3G users would love to have in the first place!
Currently Playing: MLB 2K10 (360)

Waiting For: Splinter Cell Conviction (360,) Alan Wake (360, if it EVER comes out. Don’t trust that launch date!)