IPad does play Ares music and video downloads

I spent all Saturday playing with my new IPad and must say, I LOVE it! And yes, the first thing I tested was whether the IPad played my music and movies I downloaded with Ares. It did, but more about that later.

As I said, I do love my IPad (hope the Macbook isn’t too jealous). Mostly because of it’s ease of use, but I must admit it’s partly just because it is downright sexy! I’ve seen a lot of people question what the market is for it, and I don’t think they will “get” it until they get their hands on one.

Things I REALLY like about the IPad

Superfast startup – almost instantaneous
Superfast opening applications – less than 5 seconds for most
NO heat generated, so very comfortable on your lap
Awesome screen resolution/picture
Easy navigation – combines the best of macbook and Iphone nav ideas
Long battery life. May reach the 10 hours of usage they claim, but even better for me, it last MUCH longer if just sitting on the desk but not plugged in (unlike the macbook which takes a lot of juice to hibernate).

As for things I REALLY don’t like about the IPad? Not too much yet

Screen too small – I’d add another inch or 2
Some apps not available yet, like openoffice

A couple things others don’t like, but not a big deal for me

lack of USB port. Ok, I can understand that, but not a huge deal for me.
Can only run ONE app at a time.

For the most part, that is ok with me. Since it opens apps instantly, you can jump back and forth between apps – you just have to tailer your work habits a little. It is a shame though that you can’t use it as a music player while you are working.

For me, it doesn’t replace anything, but is a nice addition. I leave it on the coffee table and use it for browsing email and the web while watching TV. I think mostly at night, but is good to check the days news in the morning with my oatmeal. Also do a little light work on it sitting in a comfy patio chair out back, as it is much easier to see in bright light than my macbook. The total lack of heat makes also helps a lot. I’ll also bring it on travel and use it in the airport or on the plane as the 10 hour battery life is super convenient.

The biggest “WOW” factor was as a photo viewer or for watching movies. Colors and resolution are spectacular. And that brings us to the headline of this article. YES, the movies and music I downloaded using Ares Vista do play on the IPad just fine. I had read some speculation that it would have some special anti-piracy software that prevented “unauthorized” files (not from the Istore) from playing, but I’m happy to report that is definately not the case. Of course, Ares doesn’t run on the IPad, as it is a windows only application, but the IPad isn’t intended as the sole PC in a home. But that doesn’t mean you need a microsoft machine either. I run Aresvista on my Macbook pro using bootcamp.

IPad does play Ares music and video downloads

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