Steve Jobs referred to the iPad as the ultimate internet experience. There is also buzz being generated on the potential of iPad as a gaming device. However due to the limited functionality and the steep price for the iPad, there are better and cheaper alternatives to satisfy both computer and gaming needs.

The Price Tag:

The price starts at $499 for a 16GB and $599 and $699 for a 32GB and 64GB respectively. In this day and age 16GB of memory falls short. However an extra $100 for only an increase in 16GB in memory is a rip-off.

iPad as a Computer:

The potential of the iPad is significantly hampered due to the lack of the following features:

• No multitasking, meaning can only have one application running at a time
• No USB, this prevents the use of connecting external hard disks and printers
• No Flash

Like it or hate it, Flash is used in a large portion of the internet. I do not know how a device can be called an ultimate internet experience if it does not support flash. People tend to use the internet as a research tool while they write their papers. The lack of multitasking means that people will be able to both those tasks simultaneously. Users will not even be able to listen to music, chat or be on twitter while they browse the internet.

In addition people like to print things from the internet. No USB ports mean that the iPad will not be able to be connected directly to a printer. I can’t help but think a USB was not included so as to prevent it from being connected to external hard disks that offer 500GB of space for less than $100.

One other disadvantage the iPad has compared to laptops and netbooks is that the latter can be kept on your laps and have the screen tilted in a comfortable position. Keeping the iPad on your lap will require you to arch your back to properly view the screen. Furthermore keeping the iPad tilted will force the user to restrict typing to only one hand.

For a price range of $499 to $599, someone can instead buy a high end netbook or a low end decent laptop. These will offer a lot more functionality and utility compared to the iPad.

iPad as a Gaming Device:

For $600 people can either purchase both a PlayStation 3 and an Xbox 360 or one of the major consoles with extra controller/s and a solid library of games. Although the iPad and its software are not yet released, I highly doubt that it would be able to offer a deeper, richer and broader gaming experience as compared to the above two consoles.

But perhaps the iPad should instead be compared to the portable gaming devices. But yet again the iPad is severely disadvantaged compared to the PSP, Nitendo DS and ironically even the iPod touch and iPhone as the iPad can not be kept in your pocket and therefore not as portable as the rest. This is added to the fact that the iPad costs twice as much as the other devices.

Final Word:

If it is both a gaming experience and a functionality of a computer you seek, you would be better off buying a netbook and one of the major consoles. The point is that there are significantly better computer, internet browsing and gaming experiences offered at the price range of the iPad.

The iPad would have had greater potential had it not been intentionally handicapped. Due to its fairly large screen and touch screen function, it may be able to offer a unique gaming experience. However as it stands at the moment, it is an oversized iPod touch at an oversized price. I personally would not be willing to dish out more than $200 for this device. But if there is anyone that can give the Xbox and PlayStation fanboys a run for their money, it’s the Apple loyalists.