Passing on iTailgating: The iPad Ain’t Goin’ To The Game

Posted by Jonathan in STADIUM on 04-25-10    No Comments


Looks like “iTailgating” won’t be a word we start using anytime soon.

Now that we’ve spent some time with the iPad, it’s clear that you’d be nuts to bring one anywhere near a live sporting event.

Besides that fact that the iPad are expensive, and oddly clunky at pretty close to 2 pounds, the tablet computer is simply is not bright enough to work outside nor nimble enough to survive in a crowded stadium or arena.

Beside being sort of fragile — I would not want to drop a unit — the major issue with the iPad and live sports is the screen. It does not produce enough light to work in even average sunlight. And when there is a legible image, all that glam silveriness and awesome e-reader clarity makes the unit sort of a mirror. Like what Silver Surfer would read with. So text on the screen is difficult to interact with.

Surprisingly, portability is an issue. Sure, the iPad makes a fab eReader and chilling on the couch is fun, but you can’t jump put of your seat with this sucker since you need a hand to hold onto it with. Some sort of velcro backing that you could stick on your pants, like an iPad holder, is needed.

Now, for sure, the iPad remains the way to browse in your lap. And then watch the game on TV. Parked on the couch, stuff like the iPad MLB app is way slick. But move around in 3-D sports terrain, and suddenly the iPad is brittle, hard to use and kind of clunky, frankly.

Bring it to the game at your own risk.



Leave a Comment