What is an iPad? Simply explained

After Apple released the first iPad in 2010, the market for portable computers has changed significantly. What exactly an iPad is and what you can do with it, we show you in this practical tip. We also introduce you to alternative tablets to the iPad.

iPad: The tablet from Apple

The Apple iPad is a so-called tablet PC. Tablet computers are particularly handy computers, but they do not have a built-in keyboard and are operated by touch display instead. Tablet PCs are thus an alternative to conventional notebooks.

• The iPad was introduced in 2010. The most recent versions are the “iPad 10th Generation” and the “iPad Mini 6”. The tech giant has also launched other models, named “iPad Pro” and “iPad Air” respectively. The devices run Apple’s familiar iOS operating system.
• You usually operate an iPad by touch input only. A mouse is therefore superfluous. When you want to enter text, a virtual keyboard appears on the display with the layout you are used to on your PC.
• With the help of programmes, the apps, you can do many things with the iPad that you can also do on the PC. You can download the apps from the App Store. You can get many apps for the iPad free of charge.

What you can do with the iPad

As the name “Tablet PC” suggests, you can do the most important things with the iPad that you also do on the PC. There are also many Bluetooth keyboards on the market already, with which you can turn the iPad into a real laptop, with mouse pad and everything.

• You can easily tackle everyday tasks like checking email, composing documents, watching videos or surfing the web with the iPad.
• You can also often use your iPad for more complex applications. For example, check out the best photo editing apps for iOS. It’s a quick way to edit your snapshots.
• Game lovers don’t miss out on the iPad either. Thanks to the large selection in the Appstore, you have access to a wide variety of games such as Angry Birds or Temple Run
• You can do the same things with an iPad as you can with an iPhone. Even video telephony is possible via Facetime. Some apps, such as “Paper by FiftyThree”, are even only available exclusively for the iPad.
• In the meantime, the Apple tablets with the Pro models have already come so far that they can partially replace professional computers in the graphics area, due to the strong computing power and the combination with the Apple Pencil.