Given Apple's recent track record, what is surprising is how much skepticism and disappointment greeted the iPad. Much of the criticism surrounding the iPad has been focused on the technical characteristics of the device. Bloggers curb-stomped it for its shortcomings:

iPad Name & Jokes:

This highly anticipated gadget had been blogged about well before its official unveiling in January 2010. Before the 'iPad' name was confirmed during the Apple Event, it was rumored to have been called the iSlate. Once the long-awaited Apple tablet rolled out with the name 'iPad', several bloggers, as well as respected journalists, noted that the name was the subject of much scorn and mockery given its proximity to feminine hygiene products.

Lack of Functions:

Many have complained about the iPad's lack of features. Among the missing features that techies wanted to see were a camera, adobe flash support and the ability to multi-task. A Gizmodo blogger called the lack of features a "backbreaking failure". According to the post "8 Things That Suck About the iPad," without the ability to multi-task, users cannot use a Twitter app at the same time they are browsing the web or listen to music while using iWork.

No support for Flash

An Engadget blogger expressed his disappointment at the lack of a camera and the fact that the iPad doesn't support flash. Upon getting a first hand look at the iPad at the Apple event, the blogger wrote, "No flash confirmed, so Hulu is out for you folks!" Another critic, Aaron Vronko of Rapid Repair was also at the initial revealing of the iPad. Vronko said, "Without Flash, it's really not a full web experience." So ipad users have to use mac ipad video converter to convert their video to ipad.

No Built-in Camera

Another noted drawback is the lack of a built-in camera or webcam. Because most netbooks, as well as Apple's iPhone come with a camera, it was expected that the iPad would include this feature. A blogger from PopPhoto.com writes, "Now that the iPad is official, there isn't a camera to be found. It seems almost shocking, especially when you consider that Apple found a way to cram a VGV video shooter into their minuscule iPod Nano."

Though the iPad does not have a built-in camera, there is a separate iPad Camera Connection Kit.

Among the chief complaints, there are still other criticisms about ipad: no monthly television service subscriptions, its lack of video conferencing capabilities, its non-existent USB ports, its closed system, 4:3 aspect ratios, dependence on adapters, etc.

Critics took a more compassionate view of the iPad. David Pogue from the New York Times outlined three phases of "the standard Apple new-category roll-out," starting with feverish speculation and hype, then hands-off negativity, then release-date positivity.

Michael Hiltzik of the Los Angeles Times ran down the laundry list of oft-repeated iPad shortcomings, but hinted at its hopeful possibilities. "... depending on how it's exploited, eventually it could be much more."