Welcome to CNET Top 5, where each time we meet, we count down another hot CNET list. I'm Tom
Merritt.
Apple's iPad. You can love it or you can hate it. This time, we're
going to hate it. There's another Top 5 that lists the reasons to get
the latest Apple ubergadget.
That's not this episode.
let's count down the Top 5 reasons NOT to get an Apple iPad
At No. 5, No camera. My iPhone can take pictures and video. My MacBook
can take pictures and video. Why must Apple just mess with us by
putting no camera in the iPad?
Coming in at No. 4, no multitasking. This device is supposed to be more
like a computer. Great! Can't wait to sit down and use iWork while
listening to Pandora. Oops! Can't. You are not allowed to do more
than one thing at a time.
Up to No. 3, no replaceable battery. Yeah, yeah, the battery should
last decades and they'll give you a whole new iPad if it fails. That
doesn't help me at the airport when the battery's dead and there are no
available power outlets.
Sliding in at No. 2, app lock-in. You're locked into iTunes for
syncing. You're locked into the App Store for getting software. And
you're locked into Apple for approved peripherals and attachments. Why
chain yourself down?
Before we get to No. 1, it's time for another lame prize.
No trivia question this time, just an open-ended request for comment.
What do you think are the worst things are about the iPad. Comment on
the post for this video at blog.cnettv.com. I'll choose from the first
30 posters a lucky winner to get...this Yahoo baseball! Because it's
spring and because you can throw it at people who won't stop trying to
talk you into buying an iPad.
All right. Let's get to our No. 1. The best reason not to buy an iPad
At No. 1, it's...You. You don't need one. What are you going to use
this for? Sitting on the couch doing spreadsheets in iWork? Sitting at
a desk wishing you didn't have to buy the physical keyboard?
Standing on a crowded train or bus wishing you could slip it in a
pocket? Where's the compelling use case for needing to drop several
hundred bucks on this? Until you can answer that, you should keep that
green in your jeans.
Well That's it for this edition of CNET Top 5.
All you Apple fanboys that are all crazy angry at this episode should
go watch our Top 5 reasons you should get the iPad. If nothing else, it
shows just how MPD I can be.
I'm Tom Merritt. See you next time.