Feb 2, 2010
iDoubt
It’s been a couple weeks since my last entry. Was in AMiA 10th anniversary Winter Conference last week which is awesome and quite refreshing.
Catching up with the happenings around blogsphere, my first question is this:
Is it just me, or is the iPad a bigger version of the iPhone (minus the phone part)?
Am I the only one that is completely NOT sold as to why we need an iPad at all?
Anyone?
Filed by edmund at 4.29 pm under Culture,Tech |
7 Comments
Anson
Most people in the tech community think the iPad sucks. So you are not alone.
http://i.gizmodo.com/5458382/8-things-that-suck-about-the-ipad
But I’m with you that we need less, not more, gadgets to fill up our time or even take away our time to be relational with others. Charis gets angry when I pull out my iPhone to check email during dinners =P
Feb 2nd, 2010
阿中
I don’t think we necessarily need one, but this is a milestone in personal computing. And there’s a difference between lusting after a product, and recognizing it as an achievement in terms of design and technological progression.
The way I tell people is this: look at the demo that Apple was doing for iWork on iPad. It was about a kids’ soccer game. Imagine having a clipboard computer in that context. Or if your doctor is walking around the hospital with one. Or if restaurants, stock traders, real estate agents… You may argue that it’s a bigger iPhone – and it is – but the size really matters when it comes to human-computer interface. You won’t see an iWork on the iPhone.
And that’s pretty much why Microsoft wanted Tablets to catch on. Unfortunately they went with it in a half-hearted way, with no focus on costs, reducing weight and selling touch input as a new interaction model. Instead, Apple was able to do it, by using the iPhone as the Trojan horse. (Some analysts have said that Apple probably had the iPad in mind all along, and the iPhone was just the middle step to get people comfortable to touch.)
That is why there’s this quote: http://gigaom.com/2010/01/26/alan-kay-with-the-tablet-apple-will-rule-the-world/ , and that is why Jon Ive says this is indicative of where Apple perceives what’s next.
Computing is now accessible by anyone and available everywhere.
========
With all of that said, I’m probably the most vocal person for telling people off on Facebook when they say they want an iPad. I think in a lot of cases it’s just technology lust. Do we really have an immediate need for it? Until the software is there, until the 2.0/3.0 hardware releases, and unless you’re currently in the market for a netbook, then probably not. It’s materialism.
And Anson’s right, since this step completes the quest for the always-on device, then it means the digital-human internal conflict will only worsen. I know people who are on their laptops all day, even during dinner, so they can stay connected to work. Can you imagine how much worse this will be with an iPad?
Um, ok, this comment was a little long.
Feb 2nd, 2010
edmund
@阿中: I am seeing it from the technology perspective as well (nevertheless, I was a software analysis before). I can see your point re: iWork working through iPad. But to me, the actual spec and the technology behind is really not that appealing at all. The link that Anson provided echoed that as well. It really is just a bigger version of iPhone, minus the phone, the camera… etc! And tech-wise, where is the advancement (if not regression, given its inability the multi-task) compare to, let say, a Win tablet? Yes, the focus, the marketing, the strategy and the passion maybe; but the tech and vision? I don’t think so.
Feb 3rd, 2010
Anson
This is hilarious:
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1928558
Feb 3rd, 2010
阿中
You have a good point about vision, with the tablet example, it’s obvious that Microsoft (and others – Nokia, Archos, iRiver, etc) thought about this space as well.
With regards to hardware tech advancement, I agree it’s only an evolution, with nothing that really blew me away on that front. The interesting points are probably the battery life, and CPU speed. (http://daringfireball.net/2010/01/ipad_big_picture)
Feb 3rd, 2010
Joanna
You are not the only one…as a Graphic Designer and of course a MAC user, I don’t see the reason why we need an ipad, i think this is just some sort of gimmicks, really. nowadays people getting stuff from Apple mostly because they think it’s COOL to own one, be it a MacBook or an iPhone and i think that’s what Apple is trying to advertise. as you can see on their commercials, how nerdy that PC guy is!
people rather spend whole lot of money on these “gadgets” just to have fun and be cool, not because they actually need them.
sigh….as a poor Designer, i am indeed extremely hesitant on getting a new MacBookPro, despite the fact that i NEED one, after all, it’s more than $2600 CAD. sigh….people who don’t actually need it have the money for it; people who indeed need it just have to think twice if it’s worth or simply should say, can’t afford!
Feb 4th, 2010
edmund
@Joanna: “people who don’t actually need it have the money for it; people who indeed need it just have to think twice if it’s worth or simply should say, can’t afford!”
As a church planter, I can echo to this! Just substitute “money” with “resource”.
Need to start a fund-raising campaign for your next Mac purchase maybe!
Feb 4th, 2010
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