iPad from Woodrow Jang on Vimeo.
Well it's been a few days since the coming of the iPad. Let's get it out right now. That is the stupidest name Apple has come out with for this product. Beyond that let's explore exactly what it isn't.
It's not a full fledged laptop. For Apple to undercut their own laptop lines would not make any business sense.
It's not the iPhone/iTouch though it share many of it's characteristics, except for the phone and camera portions.
It's a closed OS that restricts you from playing with it's internals, like the iPhone/iTouch. Expect that to be jailbroken once devs get ahold of it.
What is it then? The iPad is a closed electronic device, much like the PSP or the DS in that yes you can install/insert programs but only Manufacturer approved products. No one bemoans Sony/Nintendo that but complains when Apple does it. Apple is doing the exact same thing with the App store. Every piece of software that the above three mentioned companies approve for their device guarantees that it will work and you won't have to worry about compatibility issues. Like a phone, tv, car, you pick up the item turn it on and expect instant usability. Apple's iPad was made, in this ever complex world to simplify and distill your user experience to something enjoyable.
Sure we'll have the open source guys, the tech nerds, gadget geeks complaining and moaning how they can get a full feature laptop running XXX OS system for less. There is no arguement there what they say is true. I sure as heck would have added some USB ports and a camera to the device to give it more functionality. Truthfully this is a Apple's MO. They'll come out with a revision next year with these options. As a business they need to fund R&D somehow and they product that they have put out isn't that bad. On the other had if you want to hear some negative words ask me about the iPhone 3G vs 3GS.
What we are getting from Apple with the iPad is exactly what people have been asking for. Let's ignore all the techy people out there who can and will dive into a computers guts. What are the responses non-tech people give you when you ask them what exactly are they buying a computer for. The most common answers are, "Internet. Email. Office suite. Playing a little games on the side". Let's include some extras like music, photos, and watching videos/movies. So what does the iPad do? Internet. Check. Email. Check. Office suite(iWorks). Check. Games. Game Apps-check. Music. Check. Photos. Check. So far it does what the layman essentially wants,a stripped down computer that does all of the above without having to learn what DLL's are virus problem or worse. Tech-savvy people should be praising this device because what it's going to do is give you back your weekends. No more, "Hi it's Mom/Dad/GF/BF/Parrot/Ape. My PC doesn't work. Can you come fix it?" calls anymore. That should be a plus in and of itself.
So why are the armchair tech pundits on the bloggerspheres calling this a failure? Well it's because it's too simple and doesn't do what THEY want. This is the exact same argument they used when the iPods and iPhones came out. Not enough features. Too simple. Not complicated enough so that laymen couldn't use it so techs are the only recourse for people when they don't get how to use it. Well we all know how that ended and who's the undisputed champion of the personal music player. People like gadgets that just work. No fancy instructions, no pre-startup rituals. Just pick up and go.
It all boils down to keeping things simple and simple is exactly what people like my parents need.
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