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It’s Apple’s New iTablet, No… iSlate, No…iPad?
27th January 2010
Update: Also, no camera and no Adobe Flash = NOT GOOD. This would be a GREAT device for Hulu or video chat…guess that won’t be happening.
First, you know I am a Linux/OpenSource advocate, user, and fan. That said, I have no small amount of respect for the design aesthetic and usability leaps that Apple often makes with its products. I am trying the watch the live stream of the announcement, but it’s buggy…I think because it’s being hammered so hard by the geeks of the world right now. Anyway, so here’s a few thoughts I’m having as I watch this thing:
- The name: iPad. Really? Sounds a lot like the iPod, only not nearly as cool. I was partial to the “iSlate” rumor myself.
- This is basically just a huge iPod touch.
- Since Apple sets trends, I am excited about the movement toward an all-purpose, touch-screen, always-connected device.
- The iBooks application will complete what Amazon started with the publishing industry in terms of making most books (if not all) available digitally. This is great.
- You’re reading on a light-emitting screen though…not sure how that plays out in the long run compared to e-Ink.
- Haven’t really seen text-input demonstrated yet…how is this going work? Since it is a capacitative touch screen, how can artists accomplish detailed work without a stylus?
- They are really pimping games. This is interesting to because I wouldn’t really see this as a gaming device. But whatever.
- Okay here we go with the iWork demo. Let’s see some text-input! No, still no demo. I think this is where the device could sink or swim.
I am not sure what this means for Linux/OSS, but I am sure Google will be adapting Android into something like this soon. Looking forward to seeing the open source community respond with hardware and software.
Ipad? That has to be the worst name they could have chosen. This is almost like the Mac Book Wheel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuVbrm_GqhM I mean, c’mon, this is just stupid.
Haha I’ve seen that vid. Awesome. Sent you link to another vid on Facebook.
Nathan, I had similar thoughts about the iPad at first, but truthfully, I’ve come to hate flash. Adobe blames Apple for its poor performance on OS X, but I don’t know or care, I just know it’s a pig. Even on windows (when I have to use it), the only times I get browser crashes in FF or Safari for windows, it’s because of Flash. Waiting for something in Flash to load makes the whole computer unusable.
The thing about Apple is that they make stuff eminently usable. Sure, the app store and other aspects have people crying “control freaks,” but the truth is that for their target audience with devices like the iPad, stability and performance trump huge feature lists and hackability. Honestly, my parents don’t care about hackability, nor do I for those times I would be using one in place of a laptop or desktop machine.
I share Apple’s distaste for netbooks, which is odd because my employer is big into them. But truly, they provide a wretched user experience. I’d rather tote my 15″ macbook pro around than use a netbook for a minute. YMMV.
I think that the applications and whatever content deals Apple comes up with will make the difference. Apple makes devices that are not overly feature laden, but do certain things very well. Then they slowly add more and more functionality. This is nothing new to people who’ve been using Apple products for years and years.
I don’t think it will be a flop. I think at a minimum, it will do quite well. I think in a year’s time, the iPad will be something that I could give my mom in lieu of her Windows laptop, and she’d be perfectly content with it.
Cheers!
Hi Scott,
Thanks for reading and commenting! You bring up some really good points. I agree that Flash is horrible. I am hoping for and more open standard for video as HTML 5 gets adopted, one that actually works works well! ;) That said, to get the “best” internet experience (if you want to stream any commercial video – news, hulu, etc) you pretty much have to use flash. Otherwise you’re done. This may change in the future but makes it pretty difficult for many people to really think of the iPad as truly excellent for web browsing.
I also agree that Apple is great at user-experience. They know how to make stuff become a pleasure to use. But-crazy as this sounds-I could not give this my grandmother because she enjoys lots of flash video from major content producers as well as flash animation e-cards, etc. The iPad just couldn’t fulfill her needs. Same for my wife…she has an Asus netbook running Ubuntu though, and loves it. It has a full keyboard, and completely rich Internet experience, but weighs less than 2lbs and fits in her purse.
I certainly think there is is niche that the iPad is perfect for, and that niche will broaden as the product and technology becomes even more mature…maybe (hopefully!) bringing larger-scale touch-screen computing to the mainstream. We saw this kind of progression with the iPod and iPhone. I am glad Apple introduced this product, and I am looking forward to where it will lead.