iPad reality
Here is what I know based on having an iPad in my hands for two weeks…
This from the perspective of a businessman (me) – or, perhaps a field researcher, doctor, traveling salesman, even a warehouse supervisor – anyone whose job offers them an opportunity to get away from a desk. The iPad runs hundreds of iPhone apps, and you can bet thousands of more are under development. The productivity and multi-revenue opportunities around the iPad are potentially inconceivable as of the writing of this post. Many of those apps are tailored to specialized lines-of-work. And, it’s more powerful hardware (I’m drawing the compaison to the iPhone) should inspire developers to be relentless in their pursuit of innovation.
But it’s iWork that sets the standard. It comes with attention-grabbing presentation tools. For example, the laser pointer effect in Keynote is slick, bad-ass, awesome, cool. iWork beats Microsoft Office for usability anyway – and, we like our videos. And, the iPad’s size, weight, and battery life make it a natural for the field and travel.
Prediction: “iPadders” will leave their Macbooks at home and the office when they go any where.
One determined piece of advice from a self-acknowledged know-it-all… Don’t skimp and settle for the WiFi-only version and fool yourself into thinking you don’t, or won’t, care about 3G. When you grasp the potential of this device for communication (i.e. VoIP), and the aforementioned Apps currently under development around that potential, “the game” (gaming is a whole other topic) changes completely.
Peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.
Brian Patrick Cork
I just thought of something with regard to the iPad.
For whatever reason, there is a contingent of people who refuse to make the jump from PC to Mac. But, some of those same people carry an iPhone around as their cellular device.
At first, I was rather disheartened by the fact that the iPad would carry a simple iPhone interace, as opposed to a trimmed down version of Snow Leopard (the Mac OS, for those who don’t follow Mac). Having read this post, however, the reason for the interface decision sort of makes sense, so I’ll alter one line of your original post.
“Prediction: “iPadders” will leave their Macbooks AND PC LAPTOPS at home and the office when they go any where.”
Maybe the genius of Jobs was to realize that the iPhone sort of crossed a barrier between PC and Mac and that the iPad could do the same. If he had put the Snow Leopard OS on it, people may have said, “No way, I don’t know how to use a Mac!” But, everyone can use an iPhone – so, everyone can use an iPad.
Sure, “it’s a sterile Disney-filled walled garden surrounded by sharp-toothed lawyers, and the people who create the apps serve at the landlord’s pleasure and fear his anger,” but I’ll go on enjoying his products until such time as a viable (and by viable I really mean – as good as or better than) open source alternative materializes. I just wish that Jobs would realize that “even though the iPhone hardware and software are great, freedom’s not just another word for anything, nor is it an optional ingredient.” Just as in society, freedom over tyranny flourishes in the long run. – Quotes by Tim Bray
Excellent points all Nicholas.
And, wait until everyone see the practical utilization of the iPad relative to making wireless presentations and lectures.
Cork