# 16 Years Ago, Our Reviewer Saw the iPad's Infinite Potential

> 16 years ago, an iPad review predicted its lasting impact on tablets.
- Title: 16 Years Ago, Our Reviewer Saw the iPad's Infinite Potential
- Summary: 16 years ago, an iPad review predicted its lasting impact on tablets. The iPad's 2010 launch became a dominant device, selling 677 million units by 2022.
- Keywords: ipad, apple, tablet, 2010, review, sales, apps, flash, html5, retina, technology, Years
- Source: PCMAG — https://pcmag.com/articles/our-reviewer-saw-apple-ipads-infinite-potential
- Author: Jamie Lendino
- Published: 2026-09-24T12:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ipad, apple, tablet, 2010, review, sales, apps, flash, html5, retina, technology
## Review of the iPad
In 2010, PCMag reviewed Apple's new iPad, praising its simple design and touch screen.
## Apple Unveils iPad
On January 27, 2010, Steve Jobs introduced the iPad in San Francisco, sparking excitement.
## Tim Gideon's Review
Tim Gideon wrote that the iPad 'will undoubtedly be a driving force in shaping the emerging tablet landscape.'

> The iPad will undoubtedly be a driving force in shaping the emerging tablet landscape.
## iPad's Design
The iPad weighed 1.5 pounds with a 9.7-inch capacitive touch screen and 16GB base storage.
## Typing on iPad
Gideon found typing on the iPad's larger keyboard easier than expected, writing he'd 'written this review on the iPad's horizontal keyboard.'

> I'm writing this review on the iPad's horizontal keyboard, in which the keys are large and nicely spaced... If it weren't comfortable, I would have abandoned the iPad for my laptop 1,000 words ago.
## Why Apple Succeeded
Apple succeeded where others failed with its software and developer guidelines for iPad apps.
## Steve Jobs' Vision
Steve Jobs envisioned an Apple tablet as early as 1983, a year before the Macintosh debuted.
## Early Tablet Attempts
Companies like Grid Systems and Go Corporation tried creating tablets but failed, as did Apple's Newton MessagePad.
## iPad's Impact
The iPad sold 3 million units in its first three months, becoming a key device for web browsing and entertainment.
## Flash Support Issue
Adobe criticized Apple for excluding Flash support, leading to a letter from Steve Jobs about Flash's security and performance.
## HTML5 Takes Over
HTML5 replaced Flash as the dominant web technology, supporting responsive designs across devices.
## iPad Evolution
The iPad has evolved with Retina displays, Pro models, and ultralight Air models while maintaining its core concept.
## Sales Figures
By 2022, 677 million iPads had been sold, with 60 million sold last year alone.
## Lasting Impact
The iPad's 2010 launch became a dominant device, selling 677 million units by 2022.
## Key takeaway

The iPad's 2010 launch became a dominant device, selling 677 million units by 2022.