Thoughts on the Apple iPad

 What can be said about the Apple iPad?  I got asked over the weekend in person and via email: So mip?  What do you think of the iPad?  

In truth I haven't written anything since I heard about it for a number of reasons:

1) what else is there to say at this point that hasn't already been said about the specifics of the device.  

2) I haven't used it or seen it, so it's hard to comment, beyond what the tech specs are

3) I wanted to mull it over a bit; it left a deep impression on me.

Let's get a few things out of the way straight-off the bat.  Of course, I'm excited about the iPad.  I'm looking forward to buying one.  For all those people who want to complain about it's lack of camera or lack of GPS, or lack of [insert whatever you like here] - they are the same people who would have complained about the price, about the battery life, about the resolution of the camera, about [insert what you like here].  Many people are going to bash the iPad - they did the same thing when the iPhone came out and look foolish for it now.

I think that the iPad will surprise us, like the iPhone did.  I believe that somewhere out there, someone is creating an app right now that will take advantage of this new category of device and unlock potential we haven't yet thought of.  There will be an ah-ha moment like so many of us have had when we use our iPhones with that certain app that is just perfect for us.  I believe that certain industries will suddenly have ah-ha moments and be able to leverage the device in unexpected ways.

The other thing that amazes me when I watch the video of the iPad is that it is really freeing the Internet.  The Internet has been "stuck" in our computers - we have gone to it. Smartphones have given us some mobility, but their smaller size limits that experience.  The iPhone browser has done a decent job of tackling that size problem.  The applification of aspects of the web via the iPhone apps has further liberated the web.  The iPad, however, changes the game further.  It allows the Internet to come to us.  In a sense, when I look at the iPad, I don't see a piece of a hardware that has been elegantly engineered.  I don't see beautiful, user-friendly software.  I see the Internet incarnate.  You are holding the web in your hands.  That will change the way we interact, use, leverage, contribute, and consume the "Internet".  I will change the way we think about it.  

And that is really what Apple causes us to do - to think differently.  

Comments

[Droid Rules!]

Classic apple-fan-boy. You guys go on paying for overpriced underpowered shit from apple. I'll stick to my inexpensive and way more functional netbook! I'll do more in my day than you will with you ipad.

[Stephen Hayward]

Not being an iPhone user, I will be interested to see how this changes the landscape of usability. This will be the real test. Certainly not a laptop killer, but very interesting when I look at how execs and non power users of heavier weighted apps will be able to change what they need in their hands. Always love a little disruption

[Pyxor]

If you were doing real business work you'd carry a Blackberry. Its the only real tool for business-types. The iphone is flashy bling carried by those people who have no corporate need. Agree with the comments above.....the ipad will not kill the laptop.

[mip]

Good conversation starting off here. Apple related posts typically strike a nerve; you either love them or hate them. To be clear, I, nor Apple ever said that the iPad would displace (or kill) laptops. It was clear that this device is to sit between the laptop and the smartphone. I think that is why Apple stayed away from the "tablet" name - it would imply a device that is a full powered laptop in a slate-like device. Time and time again, that model has failed.

The iPad is addressing what people are trying to do with netbooks. A netbook is a low cost, low powered laptop. I own two. I use them both. The aren't any good as a laptop but they are good to take on vacation for a little internet browsing and email checking. I took my netbook with me on a recent conference and it never came out of the bag. When I need to do things like podcasting and blogging, I used my laptop. When I needed to check email and Twitter, I used my phone. Could I have used an iPad? You bet. I wouldn't lug my laptop to an informal meeting over coffee/drinks at the Wynn (where I stayed) but I would have brought an iPad down to look at presentation slides. I could look at those slides on my iPhone, but that would be limited by the screen size.

As for the Blackberry comment, what can I say. I carried Blackberries for a long time, having gotten my first one in 2000 when it was a small, phone-less device dedicated to just email. Over the years I tried other phones and always went back to the Blackberry. It was great. Until January 11, 2007....when I wrote about the original iPhone. Go ahead, read it here http://www.mipsscan.com/2007/01/a_true_thing_of.html

Back then, three years ago, the same things were being said about the iPhone that are being said about the iPad. It was dismissed as "nothing new" and people felt "it wouldn't change things". Three years later, the whole smartphone market is different because of what Apple introduced. If you like the Droid - great! I carried an HTC Hero for about two months recently and it was a nice device. It exists though because of Apple's innovations. In the end, the Hero wasn't an iPhone and I happily went back.

Will the iPad have the same effect. I can't say for sure. From past experience I think it will. I could be wrong of course, but if, who cares. I'll have broadened my experience and my thinking. The market itself will broaden its innovation (look at how many slate-like devices are popping up now). It'll be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

As Stephen said above...."always love a little disruption".

[Sams]

Don't think it'll be as revolutionary as the iPhone was but do think Apple will sell enough of the iPads to cause a ripple in this category they are creating. I think there second generation iPad will introduce more functionality, especially since so many other vendors (Android devices) are trying to get in quickly so Apple doesn't get a lead like they did with the iPhones.

[Hector]

way to much cheering and deriding for a device that hasn't even sold 1 unit yet. lol

[Shawn]

You'd think they'd have learned from the iPhone.
The should have given the iPad a physical keyboard.
Sliders rule - soft keyboards suck.

[Tom Semadeni]

Agree that the conversation is interesting and hope that it progresses beyond Flash bashing/defending, hard/soft keyboards and other sorts of baggage-toting.

I am interested in what this device and its OS will do to:

1. facilitate new forms of file organization beyond traditional HFSs,

2. contribute to new UIs which are not so finger/eye dependent,

3. improve the quality of shared experiences amoung family members, groups of students, colleagues or buddies.

4. stimulate visual design/art creativity.

I don't intend to constrain the discussion to the above but this is one of the few groups that seems able to get past all the excessive device/OS loyalty that we see in too many others.

Let me give a comment about Item 1: As an old guy who first started using FORTRAN in the mid '60s I had no difficulty keeping up with operating systems for personal use until now. Mainly because I always had control! Nowadays I am having difficulties adjusting to the newer systems which transfer more control to the OS. iPhoto is a classic example. That was a big bump for old guys like me. What bumps can I expect in a year or two?

Thanks.