iPad, initial thoughts
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
I’ve been watching various reactions to Apple’s new iPad and it amazes me that people don’t learn from history that Steve Jobs is a visionary and visionaries take larger steps than the rest of us. This is one of the many things I admire about Jobs and Apple. Not all of these steps work out for Apple. I think this one will.
The announcement happened yesterday while I was flying and I got at least ten emails and tweets (the Gogo wifi on the plane worked great, again) that said the thing has an “unfortunate” name because it sounds like a sanitary napkin. As someone with a nickname of “Dick” I’ve been there and all I can say is, people who see things that way see things that way. I don’t. The name is fine and this focus will die off fast as the iPad gets traction.
Then there are those who say the iPad is not a netbook or a tablet Mac, it’s missing firewire, a camera, and a real desktop OS. To them I say, that’s what you might have wanted but when did Steve Jobs ever give you exactly what you wanted? And, had he made that for you my guess is you’d have skipped buying it because these days if you want a computer you get a computer. This device, while technically a computer, defines a new category (for Apple). Maybe it is just a bigger iPod Touch but maybe the iPod touch needed a larger cousin. If so, great.
What Jobs and Apple tend to do is to project ten or more years out and make a device for that world knowing that they have enough pull, push, magnetism, cache, and cool that a good number of people will follow and the rest will catch up over time. There are always the people who can’t make the leap with Jobs and Apple: “It doesn’t have a disk drive, it’s a piece of shit.” I’ve learned, over many years of watching Apple to take a longer view and it’s paid off.
In watching Apple’s various video demos of the iPad, I find the standard applications incredibly alluring in their simplicity and functionality. The email client built in looks better than the one on both the iPhone and Mail on the Macintosh. The address book looks great. Maps look great. the Calendar looks great. The device is fast, in fact it is probably faster than any Macintosh at doing the things it does. It will run all (100,000 and growing) iPhone apps out of the box and no doubt as it becomes more popular apps will be nudged to take advantage of the larger screen.
The iPad is a platform, just like the iPhone, just like the Macintosh. It can be anything to anyone.
i agreed. people are always selfish and wanted more but is ‘more’ good?
today it may be a joke but next year i believe it wont be anymore.
iftitah: In this case, I think less is more. If the iPad just does the things Jobs demonstrated better than other devices it will be a huge success. But, given that it’s a platform, no doubt people will come up with lots of new things for it that we can’t imagine yet.
Richard
Always good to hear your take on gadgets.
I hope you don’t mind, but I posted a link to this post on the Flickr AlphaSmart forum, in the discussion called “The Apple Tablet Thread”.
Hey Richard! Great to hear your thoughts.
I was one of the immature individuals that immediately made the maxipad connection. Shame shame!
I’m not sure what to think. I need to let it sink in for a few days and ponder the possibilities this new category brings.
What I have compiled so far:
1. I am a kindle user and love the readability in different lights. I can’t imagine reading on this glossy screen in an outdoor environment.
2. The zooming of text while reading will be much nicer than the kindle and i’m assuming annotating in books will be better too.
3. The use for presentations is appealing. It does connect to projectors and as a companion while speaking at photography events this will be hugely useful.
4. Sketchbook pro which I use on the iphone will be much more enjoyable on a 10″ screen.
5. If someone would please come out with a tethering app so I can connect my Nikon to it… THAT would be HUGE!
6. I’m skeptical about using iPhoto on it. I don’t want yet another image library to have to maintain.
To correct your post, the device does have one USB 2.0 connection.
Hope you’re well my friend!
The point here is iPad is for consumption, Macbooks + iPhones are here for creation. I think most ppl who complain about the iPad fail to understand this.
I’m with you Richard. I thought Stephen Fry made some astute observations about all the nay-saying in his piece…
http://www.stephenfry.com/2010/01/28/ipad-about/
Taking a long view seems to be the appropriate response here. Maybe the first generation won’t take off like the iPhone (which I’m sure people would say indicated a flop, forgetting that it’s a fundamentally different product) but Apple are much better than most companies at responding to the needs and desires of their users, so I have no doubt it will improve quickly and significantly over time.
Last year I read a post where someone compared their iPhone to a newspaper, in how the apps are able to duplicate everything they wanted from a newspaper. There are apps for news, sports, business, stocks, weather, etc… The iPad takes this to the next level. Dilip Muralidaran nailed it for me when he said the iPad is for consumption and a MacBook is for creation.
Chet: Of course, thank you.
Greg: I stand corrected about USB (maybe folks are saying “not enough ports”). Edited, thanks. I do think there’s enough space for both Kindle and iPad to co-exist, at least for a few years and we’ll see how that plays out. I’m no fan of reading on a glossy screen either and the iBook piece may not be the strong point of the iPad but so what? This piece of it could fall away quietly and the device would still be a hit.
Dilip: Well said. However, iWork on the cloud will enable the iPad to be used as a creation tool. Remember, we’ve only seen a presentation of a skeletal device with the bare essentials. What it has that leads me to think it will be more than a “reader” is a very fast CPU, the ability to run all iPhone apps out of the box, and an SDK for both adapting existing iPhone apps to it and building new apps just for it. But, even if it was just a reader I think it would be successful. I don’t think, however, it’s built to compete with laptops and your point is right on the money relative to that.
Andrew: I read Fry’s post and the comments under it and he nails it by noting that most people commenting on this thing have never held or used one, once they do they change their tune.
Jim: Yes, my point exactly: a visionary device is out in front of what we now have and use, not an incremental step forward (a newspaper with bells and whistles).
Everyone: The first iPod was predicted to be a huge failure. People thought the iPhone with no apps would die in one year. Hello? Doesn’t anyone have a memory? It boggles the mind how we don’t learn from even recent experience.
Whilst I usually applaud apple for their devices, I can’t help but think this is a little lacking? Before I get ripped into, I’ll explain:
The iPod solved a problem, it enabled people to carry around all their music in a stylish platform offering a great fusion of technology and style to give something which (although misunderstood at the time) was always going to succeed, as it solved a worthy problem.
The iPhone offered a usable smart-phone, albeit not that smart, the interface has been designed for the way people use the phone and it is again, yet another triumph.
iMac = Power in a small space + brilliant software
Macbook – portable power + brilliant software
I may be being a little narrow minded with this one, but it seems people are putting uses to the iPad as opposed to the iPad being a solution to a problem. The tablet world did need a shake-up and I’m glad to see this come about, but I can’t help but think it feels a bit rushed. I have no doubt people will buy it, people bought the iPhone despite it’s inherent flaws purely on the user experience. But carrying around a slab like this, which (please correct me if I’m wrong) can’t play flash, feels a little limited.
I love the idea of interactive media and games on there, but by the time it comes to the UK, I expect the prices to be a little less favourable.
It just feels to me like the iPad offers an alternative, rather than a solution. You’re still going to have to carry your iPhone, you’re still going to want your macbook, in the home, you can browse the web, play games etc. It falls into the luxury gadget category for me, nothing that will revolutionise your life all that much, but would be nice to have… It just feels a little too restricted. But then, maybe I was expecting too much?
Gow: You make great points and time will tell.
The flash issue is a no brainer for me, I hate it, think it sucks and is one of the reasons many browsers crash as often as they do. I wish someone would kill it already and maybe Apple is hoping to do that here.
Again, this device isn’t attempting to replace a computer, it’s really attempting to be a larger alternative to an iPod touch, or, maybe, a Palm Pilot on steroids.
I bought the initial Palm Pilot and if memory serves, it was quite expensive when it came out and all it did was personal organization. It had no connectivity except shitty wired syncing to a computer and IR beaming (which was wicked cool and I wish iPhones had it). So, the $499 wifi version of this device will do all of that and when in a wifi network, allow the reading of the web.
Whether or not you or I might buy one in addition to or to replace a laptop isn’t that important, many people will and once it becomes a platform more and more appropriate and interesting apps will be written for it, one of which may tickle our fancies.
Again, the idea is to establish a new platform for innovative developers including Apple. I think they’ve done that very well here and with their experience with the iPhone and iPod touch, they’re in a great position to build a very useful system and one that will make them a lot of money, not just from the device but from more music, video, and book downloads than would have happened on iPods and iPhones alone.
I may be wrong, time will tell.
well I think the ipad is a great device but it is a device that people can read information on view movie and image i would say it is a media solution because it will be nice to have the device on your lap or in bed and it is not so nice to have a laptop when in bed or when on the move. also when traveling it is a lot nicer to take the ipad vs a macbook.
I think the kindle DV is dead now.
Edward: Be careful. Kindle has an e-ink screen and many people will prefer reading on that. Given that you’re not a big reader your opinion of screen readability may be less meaningful.
I do think the iPad will be great in the way you say: as a portable reading machine, among many other things.
well i do not get what someone would pay $10 less for the same back and white screen that only lets you read books (so far)
Edward: Because e-ink is easier to read than a glossy screen in outside light. And, the Kindle runs for a week or two on a charge where the iPad runs for ten hours. Greg alluded to these reasons above and he has a Kindle and is a Mac guy.
yes I agree with you Richard but I think that your reasoning applies for the small kindle but for the DX i think the price is just too similar but I would bet that if they do not change there pricing the sales are going to slow down but on another hand I think there is room for both product.
and by the way that name is terrible in my opinion.
for me the big question is can it print and does it have text to speech for books?
interesting demo
http://www.slashgear.com/apple-redefines-a-market-hands-on-with-ipad-2871864/
@Edward: My take is windows based tablets which are a few months away will pose stiff competition on the areas you have addressed. For a bit bulkier than the iPad but far lighter than the lightest laptop windows based “slate” devices would run a stripped down version of full blown Windows 7 OS. That means pretty much all basic functionality of a windows pc is offered in terms of what a net-book can do. Printing/FTP/Messenger/Chat etc.,
As far as games are concerned on the iPad i don’t think any sane minded serious gamer would want to buy an iPad. Perhaps Solitaire, Freecell and Snake would work well. Oh wait, your cellphone already has that :)
Dilip: Time will tell. Few in the windows world took the iPod seriously. Few took the iPhone seriously. Both of them have done quite well. I’m pretty sure this device will do well too. Again, time will tell.
Be careful you don’t sound like the person who complains because the iPhone doesn’t have a disk drive, so to speak.
from my point of view this is not a computer this is a media device. yes MS will come out with a device that if more powerful but I am not sure window is the right OS to run a mobile app. MS have some brilliant people working there but why window as a mobile platform. I think the power of ipad/ipod/iphone is that it changed the way you interact with the device. I think where MS went wrong is that the took windows and made a mobile version of it.
Well said Edward. When Dilip finds this there will be OS wars. Batten down the hatches.
This looks interesting, no doubt everyone will be in the act soon:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/29/michael-dell-pulls-mini-5-android-tablet-from-his-parka-offers/
and also another advantage is that if you own the app on the iphone you own it on the ipad I think this could be a saving.
http://mossblog.allthingsd.com/20100127/apple-ipad-impressions/?mod=ATD_iphone
David Clark sent me this well written O’Reilly piece:
Check Mate: Apple’s iPad and Google’s Next Move
@Edward: Having Windows as the OS means the same thing as Apple having the same iPhone like OS on the iPad. You can run what you run on your PC on the Slate device. Availability of the rich Application Ecosystem from Day #1.
Many people ask my why windows on Mobile Phones. I own a Windows Mobile phone. When it comes to performance it has stability issues, no debates. However i have the same apps like Office, Winzip, Media Player et all on My PC on the phone and it works the same way. Familiarity means almost “0%” learning curve and easy adoption.
Unlike Apple the windows community is large, open and porting something to a new platform would require much effort and there is no way one can get everything right at first shot. However when things do settle down, its as good as it gets.
Like Richard said, time will tell. I would never buy a Windows Slate Device or a Apple iPad for that matter. I carry a Windows Smart Phone + a Notebook all day long (have successfully avoided the dog tag named blackberry from work!) so as of now im covered. However if i do jumps ships and go to a different company and no longer own my Work Notebook it will either be a Netbook or a Slate like Tablet Device. Its gonna be interesting to watch what happens on this platform. There is no reason why i would not buy an iPad (or the iPhone which im contemplating buying or the iPod which i will never buy :P )if it manages to beat the crap out of all Windows + Linux based devices that are about to come.
Dilip yes time will tell for sure, if I where you I would be buying stock pretty good time right now, it is down. anyways ok so your mobile device has office and windzip media player but let me ask you this can you go to a Microsoft store and with one click buy music movies I do not think so.
but the power of the ipad is not the nuts and bolt but the functionality the ability to access the ibook store with one click and with another click start reading a book can your Microsoft device do that well i think not.
the power of the device is ease of use and functionality for people that do want to know computers. this Ipad is not a computer.
people that will be using this device do not know what winzip is and thanks to it they will never need too, the stores is the real power of it.
Here’s a nice overview video by PC Magazine:
@Edward: I completely agree with the iPad not being a Computer. So is the Windows Mobile OS platform and Zune/Zune HD. The Windows 7 Tablet features are meant for the computer.
To address question #1: “can you go to a Microsoft store and with one click buy music movies”
Answer: Yes, on the Zune Marketplace. I can also go to Netflix on my XBOX and download movies as well. My XBOX + Zune + PC comprise of my Digital Media Center setup at home, all connected wireless. My Mobile Phone can plug into this setup and sync pictures + files as well. I use this everyday for a lot of things. I play games on my XBOX & download netflix movies. I can sync them to my zune and vice versa sync music content from zune to XBOX. What i cannot to go like one common store kind of a place and buy apps. Of course, i do not need that since i use Windows, the internet is my App Store and google is my search tool to get what i want.
The Windows Mobile Device platform & the Apple Mobile Device platform follow completely different strategies and cannot be compared so easily. Apple never markets its mobile devices (iPad + iPhone) as creation devices but consumption devices.
Microsoft however Markets its Windows Mobile OS as a creation platform as well and i think its been moderately good at it.
What remains to be seen is will or not the Windows Mobile platform survive? Given the fact that Apple & Google have done much to this platform its going to be a steep up-hill climb for MS. With recent developments i’ve gained a little bit of hope something very potent is coming up with the new Win 7 Mobile OS + Pink technology (Zune platform based) and i have reliable insider information that MS is working on a device to compete on the mobile platform.
End of the day, cut throat competition is always good for us as a consumer. We get to adopt the fittest ones that survived the fight.
Dilip and Edward: Never forget that while the press and some characterize this as a zero sum game, it’s not. Apple makes lots of money without owning the entire cell phone market. Apple makes lots of money on their portable computers with a relatively small percentage of that market. While Apple has the lion’s share of the portable music player and store market, what’s important is the margin they get out of selling there: much bigger than the competition.
You’re both wrong, the iPad is a computer, just a different kind of computer and Apple doesn’t have to dominate in the tablet market to do well, they simply have to carve out a place for themselves and keep those customers happy. I’m quite certain they will do that with this handheld computer and in time the way it works (simpler than other tablets) will become more and more popular.
Both of you like to tinker with your computers and because of this, the iPad may not be for you. But, many people like a simpler device, more of an appliance to both consume media and communicate with others. Apple is betting that the iPad will appeal to folks who don’t care about what’s under the hood, just getting from here to there.
mmmm richard right about e-ink: Apple’s splash not wilting e-book screen maker.
@Richard: Completely agree with whatever you have said. Personally, customization is something i can’t live without. Which explains im such a fan of the iPhone (lots of apps, gadgets out there) but the iPad sounds a bit incomplete to me. I just fail to accept the iPad to be a tablet device, its more of a Media Consumption device. Tablets have been around for about 8 years now and they do a lot compared to what the iPad now does.
Dilip: “Tablet” is a word, like “computer” that has no standard definition. A thermostat is a computer and so are many wristwatches.
So, there are no “standards” for what makes a tablet or what attributes should define the category, there are products that are successful and there are products that are less successful. Even if the iPad sells better than any other “tablet” ever made, that doesn’t make it the best “tablet.” It only makes it a successful device.
Don’t think in terms of “computer” and “tablet.” Think in terms of devices that are successful by being useful and selling well.
Of course, one person’s useful is another person’s impossible. So, there is no one right tool for everyone. Thank god for that (well, you can thank whatever you like, as god isn’t in your mix). ;)
Late the party… my thoughts are over on the blog, but have been really enjoying the well-reasoned thoughts and comments here.
Simply put, for me, my initial underwhelmed state of mind, is progressing to we will see… as you say Richard, it is a platform and will it be the apps which make it come alive.
Just remember people’s views in 2001 on the iPod and 2007 on the iPhone, and look at their success now.
The fatal blow to the wallet will be dealt in store when you pick one up and turn it on ;-)
I believe that any Macintosh user who really understands deeply why the Macintosh UI has evolved as it has will understand where Apple is going with the iPad. I got it immediately.
It may take a bit more time for the masses to get it because they’re brainwashed by feature comparison lists, not usability through a less is more philosophy. If you read my later post with link to the NY Times piece on the back story of Jobs’ aesthetic you’ll get it.
http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2010/01/30/steve-jobs-and-the-economics-of-elitism/
The question is, will enough of the buying public who really needs and whether they know it or not, really wants a device like this get it.
Time will tell.
I’m now using my MacBook mainly for web browsing and e-mails (our iMac is for everything else) and I really feel that iPad would be very wonderful for my kind of use.
I think so too Jonne and I think many people like you (and me and Edward) who are already Mac users will experiment with this new category of device and probably find good use for it.
However, I don’t think that’s where Apple will make the big money with it. They’ll make the big money by eventually appealing to people who ave not serious computer users and just need something for email and web browsing and making an occasional document. In a way, the iPad is an entry level Macintosh for many people. If they ever need more power and control and a different set of apps they can get a MacBook or an iBook but for many people this will be enough. And, there are so many of these users that the projections that Apple will sell millions of these this year are probably about right, many more millions in the next few years.
Let me know when you have yours, I’ll be anxious to hear what you think. Do you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch?
Thanks Richard. I will seriously think about to get one. I do not have iPhone because it is linked here to one phone operator only. And I do not like that operator.
Jonne: I ask because the OS is quite pared down from what you’re used to with Mac OS X. Just be aware that you don’t go “under the hood” with these devices. That’s their beauty in my opinion but some folks in the computer world believe this is a liability.
That is why I hate PCs. I have to be “under the hood” all the time!
Here’s a wonderful post that continues on this under the hood idea:
http://weblog.muledesign.com/2010/02/the_failure_of_empathy.php
wow maybe a big change in business plan for the kindle http://bit.ly/9u80xp
this sure is going to get interesting.
e- ink no better or worth then LCD it just depends of the circumstance.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/do-e-readers-cause-eye-strain/?partner=yahoofinance
Edward: I bed to differ. e-ink screens will be favored by some for their easier readability. You really should get your hands on a Kindle and try reading something on its screen, you’ll see what I mean. e-ink is very easy on the eyes compared with the iPad screen. I think Sony readers use the same technology so you might be able to check it out at a store in Boston. I think if you do you’ll see what I mean.
Edward: Here’s more on our discussion of Apple vs Amazon in the eBook world:
http://gizmodo.com/5465323/why-and-how-apple-killed-the-999-ebook