The hype in the online community has been building for the last year about Apples latest creation, a super-secret tablet device they were working on. Today they revealed this new product, the “iPad”.
In my opinion this isn’t exactly the same kind of home run Apple has hit with their last few launches. The product development plan probably went something like this: “Guys the iPod touch and iPhones are a huge hit. Stay with me here, what if, just what if we took the iPod touch, and made everything 3x larger.” 
The Macbook Air pictured below was met with the same kind of fanfare when it was released, but how many people do you know that actually went out and bought one?
Do you think the iPad is going to go the same route as the Macbook Air?
For me there’s a few things a tablet computer can’t ever live up to:
- A physical keyboard
- A lid that keeps the device protected when closed/traveling
- A hinged display that is freestanding and can be adjusted
Now you could make the argument that it is not meant to replace a laptop or netbook, but it wouldn’t replace an ebook reader for me either. An e-Ink display without a back-light like on the Amazon kindle makes reading on an electronic device bearable.
There are options that include 3G wireless access at a cost of $29.99 unlimited data access (in the US), but if you’re going to be doing some serious work, you’d probably use a laptop anyways.
What do you think?
Here’s Hitlers thoughts:
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Loading ...
I usually think Apple stuff is cool, although due to being overpriced I’ve never bought anything from them, but I really don’t see the appeal of the iPad, apart from the interface and being nice and light.
It’s alright for Jobs to slag off netbooks, but a netbook will run any windows app, that’s tens of thousands of apps, many of which are free and I already know how to use. A netbook also has much better connectivity, a real keyboard (not a seperate keyboard dock at additional cost), far more storage for the price etc. I can also change the OS on a netbook. The latest netbooks like the EEE 1201N with the dual core CPUs and nVidia Ion (8400M GPU) even have respectible gaming performance (search for 1201N on youtube). I’d take features and versatility over cool anyday.
You know I watched the video on the Apple website and I bet its a pretty cool device. I have no doubt that for casual internet surfing there is nothing easier or more fun to use. The problem is that it’s such a low priority luxury item. It doesn’t replace an iPhone. Most people I think feel they still want to have a regular computer, and not that many people are going to be able to justify owning both a regular computer and a tablet just to browse the net.
It seems like a pretty sick device but unfortunately not something I see a lot of people needing.
It looks pretty, as does most Apple stuff, but I think I’ll be sticking to a laptop/netbook.
It’ll be interesting to see if they do any better than Microsoft et al. did when they tried to promote tablet PC’s a few years back.
In their defense, I have to say that the folks that this gadget is marketed towards, the lack of multitasking isn’t that big of a whoop. This gadget is meant for very simple tasks, web surfing, email, watching videos. It isn’t going to be a monster computer, meant to take on the fastest laptops of the world.
And if they did have to put in a much more powerful CPU to get it to multitask, then possibly the price wouldn’t be $500. It would be more.
Till then,
Jean
I am in complete agreement with your points. A tablet computer is basically an inconvenient laptop. You can’t type on it much with proper ergonomic form. Your point about the lid protecting the screen is a valid point too. When you have that big a touchscreen, you want it protected.
I’m willing to bet the novelty of this new “gadget”, at a low price for the basic web surfer, will produce a ton of sales. I would consider making the purchase if it has been on the market for a year or so (to the bugs are worked out).
I doubt it will take off and become popular. It’s basically just an over sized ipod touch that can’t do as much as a laptop computer. I love my ipod touch (that I won here at whydowork) but I won’t be buying the ipad.
The iTampon is the subject of much debate, and I see the Blackberry and iPhone generation readily upgrading to one of these. Downgrading from a laptop or desktop doesn’t make sense to me as a more serious user.
The price is right at $499 and the bragging rights associated with owning an aspirationally branded item such as this is guaranteed to stimulate sales though.
I am in complete agreement with your points. A tablet computer is basically an inconvenient laptop. You can’t type on it much with proper ergonomic form. Your point about the lid protecting the screen is a valid point too.
There are nice articles. Thanks you 
In the meantime, I like follow to your site
I think it will be a hit. That doesn’t necessarily make it a great product. I think it will be big with the young adult and college crowd. If they have book publishers jump on the wagon and produce books with color it will be hot.
I have a kindle and love it. If college students can put all there text books on it – watch out!
Forgot to add that I loved the “Hitler Video” also. Loved the movie from which the video originated. My vote for best picture and supporting actor.
I think this was a serious messup on Apple’s part. why not just use snow leopard as the os
it is great looking, but i dont necessary. i think generate better than that. i like notebook
I think they are going after the user with a social persona – book reader, itunes listener, facebook fanatic, non-power computer user. The iPod may not be excellently at any of them but good enough to satisfy many people.
I think the fee’s could be a great hurdle to overcome.