On January 27, Apple unveiled its latest gadget, the iPad, a tablet computer. The company touts the device as "the best way to experience the web, email, photos, and video. Hands down." Two of our writers butt heads over its virtues and drawbacks.

Andrew Gyorkos - Contra-iPad

For too long, Apple has been using aesthetic appeal to mask the fact that its products are lacking in hardware and customisability. The iPad proudly continues in that tradition, using the steamrolled iPod Touch look to compensate for it being underpowered, locked down, and incomplete.

The iPad is set to tackle the netbook, a device bridging the smart phone and home computer markets. The majority of netbooks (over 90 percent) are Windows-based; the remainder use an open-source platform, such as Linux. The standard netbook operating system is the complete Windows 7 OS, with which the iPad's operating system cannot compete. The iPad will be running a tweaked iPhone OS. Why an alleged netbook-killer is running a phone’s OS and not one made for a home computer is quite curious.

In terms of hardware, the iPad is far from impressive. The HP Mini Netbooks, for example, are readily available with a 1.66 GHz processor and a standard 160 GB hard drive, whereas the iPad uses a 1 GHz processor and has a 64 GB flash hard drive at best. The iPad is also a fully-fixed product, meaning that individual components cannot be upgraded. Netbook users are able to upgrade their RAM, and even beef up their hard drive.

Connectivity is also a troubling issue. There is no USB, HDMI, or FireWire; the only physical connection to the iPad is through the 30-pin connector, the same one used with the iPod. Avoiding USB is advantageous in that Apple avoids driver issues, but it is a stark inconvenience for the user. For the company, however, being fully committed to the 30-pin connector is profitable because extraneous docking devices and adaptors will become necessary for optimizing media transfer.

In addition to a litany of other negatives (no Flash media, no 16:9 aspect ratio, no camera, no multitasking), this is where my biggest quarrel with the iPad lies: It is just too expensive. While $350 will buy a customer a perfectly capable Netbook, the $500 USD iPad introductory price is far from competitive. If we consider the cost of peripherals, accessories, applications, and media, we see that consumers will invest a lot of money in something they really can live without. Then again, that is just the cost of the Apple lifestyle choice.

Amina Stella - Pro-iPad

Here are few words to describe Apple's latest creation, the iPad: beautiful, fast, and loaded with potential. The device is poised to become a huge success because it bridges the gap between the iPhone and Macbook, performing almost all of their functions in addition to new features.  It's extremely light and versatile, with an outstanding battery life compared to its counterparts.

At half an inch thin, the iPad has been described as "an iPod touch on steroids." It uses the same operating system the iPhone and iPod, running all those apps and functioning as an e-book reader.

Apple's new iBook application enhances book viewing; page turning is animated so smoothly that, if stopped in mid-turn, you can see content on both sides of the page, just like with a physical book. The iPad weighs only 1.5 lbs., yet it still looks solid with a 9.7 inch screen. Users can watch movies in high definition and store photos with ease.

Its speed and responsiveness demonstrate its high functionality and efficiency, which is especially useful for people on the go. Its ten-hour battery life and capability to remain on standby for one-month without recharging make the iPad an excellent choice for those who do not always have the time to recharge. It is possible to synchronize information with laptops and iPhones, so that there is less threat of information loss from a low-battery shutdown.

Although Apple is not known for value pricing, the iPad is an exception. Six models are available, starting at $499, which includes a 16 GB flash memory storage and WiFi connectivity. Costumers can also purchase 3G networks with unlimited data transfer, an unprecedented offer from Apple.

By adding a Bluetooth keyboard and keyboard dock, the iPad can transform into a cheaper, more functional alternative to a netbook computer, further demonstrating the device's versatility. Apple's iWork Mac productivity suite, which includes a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation program, will also be a crucial factor in its success because it shows that the device can be used for business purposes, and not just entertainment.

Apple continues its tradition of creating new technology that operates as beautifully as it looks. If the iPad sells at competitive prices and fulfills the ten-hour hour battery life promise, Apple will have given us something truly worthy of recognition: an amazing, revolutionary piece of technology. As new generations of iPad are revealed, we will see its full potential.