iPad Air floats to success with lighter, thinner design

   Around the holidays, many people enjoy all the new technology that companies release.  One very popular new product that flew from store shelves this Christmas was the iPad Air.

   Personally, my experience with technology only goes as far as DVD players and Tracfones.  Up until recently, the only iPad I ever held in my hands was the one they had on display at the store.  But don’t take that as a reason to stop reading this article.  Having recently borrowed an iPad from a friend, I feel I can now describe it to those of you who may also be new to the product.

 Apple released the iPad Air November 1.  It is the successor of the iPad 4 and has fairly similar features.  The iPad Air was named as such because it is thinner and weighs less than previous iPads – only one pound, making it less awkward and easier to hold.  It holds approximately 10 hours of charge, the same as the iPad 4 was supposed to hold, though I have heard that the Air tends to hold more charge than the iPad 4.

   I found this product to be enjoyable and easy to use, even for me.  The screen was bright and clear, though not so bright that it gives you a headache.  Images were sharp.  It was equipped with dual speakers for excellent sound.  It performed tasks quickly, and true to its name, it was light enough to hold in one hand.  Using it is fairly straightforward, as long as you don’t allow yourself to be intimidated by it.  Don’t panic at the sight of a dozen buttons.  It’s an iPad, not a bomb.

There is an app for most everything in the world (or about 900,000 things), and the iPad Air is a great device to take advantage of them.  Games, taking pictures, and browsing the web are easy, and everything works nearly instantly.  Of course, many thousands of apps are considered pointless, but the ones that come with the iPad Air are basic and useful.

   If you still aren’t running to the nearest store to get an iPad Air, at least consider becoming familiar with them.  Borrow a friend’s and figure out how it works.  You will need that knowledge in our technology-reliant world.  Soon, the iPad Air will probably be used in schools, and would be very useful in college.  Entire projects can be completed on it, from essays to slideshows to videos, and it is a great way to access information.  Soon backpacks full of twenty-pound textbooks will be replaced by this one-pound device, sparing future generations from many backaches.

I would recommend the iPad Air for anyone who needs it for schoolwork or entertainment, and for anyone responsible enough to keep from breaking it.  Overall, it is a useful device that will not make you want to throw it against the wall in frustration.  I give it a rating of 10 out of 10.