The iPad, What is it Good For?: Steven “Grundy” Murphy
The Apple iPad, what is it good for? The haters say absolutely nothing, the fanboys say it’s the second coming. The following is my quasi-subjective, under-informed prognostications of what exactly the iPad is good for.
Reading: The iPad appears to be the ideal device to revive the dying newspaper and magazine industry, assuming a decent percentage of the market buys it. The New York Times app, as seen on Steve Jobs‘ keynote, looks very slick. I don’t read the paper, but I might if it wasn’t actually on paper. Newspapers and magazines that incorporate video on an iPad seems like a clear win to me.
eBooks (or iBooks in this case) is a big selling point of the device. So far, I’m not impressed. Newspapers and magazines are read more like blogs, in brief periods in which you can consume the whole story. I don’t know if the book-reading public are going to embrace reading novels on a computer screen, regardless if it is on your desk or in your hands. The real advantage of the Kindle, the Nook, and Sony eReaders is e-ink. E-ink is a technology that simulates ink on paper to reduce eye-strain. The competition isn’t iPad pretty, but it is literally easy on the eyes.
As far are iPad reading goes, it’s comic books FTW. The big comic book publishers have been hesitant to move to digital distribution for fear of piracy, but I don’t see how they could avoid it any longer if the iPad becomes popular. It is the perfect comic reading device. I could see publishers inovating with motion within their panels or audio narration in place of text boxes–the multimedia uses are wide-open. If digital distribution means the price of comics go down, I could see graphic arts fans buying the device for that fact alone.
Watching: While some say it is unfair to call the iPad a big iPod touch, in this case it’s true. A bigger screen for movies and TV is awesome…unless you need more portability. I could see purchasing an iPad as an alternative to installing screens in your car. Can you say road trip?
The downside? No Flash. As sites move to HTML5, plug-ins like Adobe Flash will be a thing of the past, but until then you can’t watch Hulu on the thing. Also, I would have preferred a wider screen.
Listening: Again, it’s a BIG iPod. You’re not bringing this to the gym.
Computing: I don’t anyone trading in their computer for an iPad. I don’t see anyone replacing their computer with an iPad when it is time to upgrade. I can see an older generation using the iPad for email and photos. I can see geeks using an iPad to supplement their computer. Leo Laporte of the TWiT Network extensively covered the iPad launch. He referred to it as a content consumption device rather than a content creation device. I agree, with two exceptions.
The first exception is text. The iPad can connect to the keyboard dock (sold separately) making it a word processor just like any other computer. The second exception is music. Thinking to the future, when app developers create musical instruments for the iPad, I can see a keyboard or DJ setup or something completely different work well with multi-touch composition.
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I for one can think of so many advantages for the iPad. Most of them have to do with a reader. As you said Comics, Books, Magazines, Newspapers, and the Web are yours all at the flick of a finger. I think the iPad is going to be for reading, what the iPod was for music. Its light and gives you so many more options, while at the same time creating less clutter.
I read the paper every morning and the second I saw the iPad I knew that it was perfect for my morning routine. I also got excited on it 10 hour battery life for watching video. That thing is perfect for the plane, and for a person who flies way too much its heaven.
I can already see benefits in podcasting as well, being able to hold the iPad like a piece of paper/note pad reading emails, the latest news ect. without having to hunch over a lap top.
I for one am already in the line for the awesome iPad!
we’ll make more trash gadgets for you guys, pollute everything, and then take them all back in trash piles - or India will. k thanks.
Remember what I said about fanboys?
If you have $500 plus to burn on a reader, yes, it’s an awesome reader. You won’t be producing your podcast on it…unless there’s a app for that.
If I really was a fanboy I would have gotten an iPhone but i have resisted
No iPhone yet? I retract my fanboy accusation.
By all means, get an iPad. I think every tech fan should have one of the new Apple devices (iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch) just because it feels like a more modern way to interact with the computer (their multi-touch screen OS.) I just don’t think you need all three.
I will be getting an iPad for the sole reason to be able to carry my tens of thousands of photographs I have taken and being able to display them to my family, friends and potential clients. The beautiful 10 inch screen will replace the need for me to ever carry a physical photobook.
The iPhone works for me right now, but it is very impractical if you are trying to “wow” someone with photographs that are only 3 inches big. And of course you always run the risk of getting an inappropriate text message while showing your mom family pictures.
Everything else is merely icing on the cake for me - including what Jay said. I am heavily invested in the iTunes model and constantly purchase music, tv shows and often rent movies.
I know of a device with
super black and white contrast
touch screen
ability to fly through the pages at high speed
unlimited battery power
on an ultra flexible screen
small and portable
FAA approved
How much would you pay for a device like this?
500
700
1,000
more?
No, its around $30 in the US and $40 in Canada and it is called BOOK. From the makers of SCROLL and Writings on Cave Wall comes this revolutionary new technology that will change your life, you can buy BOOK at what is called a BOOK Store, or you can get BOOK for free by going to a government funded organization called a “Library”
Hmm, excellent points Michael.
Though let me know when your $30 “book” can play movies, tv shows, podcasts, music, browse the internet, display all my photography, play games, has a GPS, develop a keynote, watch youtube and send emails.
you want to play movies, tv shows, podcasts, music, browse the internet, display all my photography, play games, has a GPS, develop a keynote, watch youtube and send emails? I have just the device for you it’s called a computer, any computer made between now and 2002 can do that and can multitask. Even laptops and the tablet computers that Microsoft put out way back in 2003 can multitask, the iPad isn’t just a lesser computer it’s a lesser tablet even tablets from 2003 can do better. I have owned one of those tablets back in 2003.
Whoa, you need to tone it down Michael. Take a step back, breathe and chill out.
Not everyone wants to lug around a laptop everywhere they go. Not everyone feels like busting out a laptop, wait for it to boot up just to check/write an email. Not everyone owns an iPhone (shockingly enough) or any smartphone for that matter. The comment about tablets from “2003″ is quite interesting, but they still fall short for one reason - No multi touch. Anyone who has owned an iPhone can very easily tell you the difference between a multi touch device and one without.
The iPad fits in a space between the iPhone/Touch and a full fledged laptop like the macbook pro. I own both of these devices, and I can’t even begin to describe how annoying it is to deal with a laptop sometimes, even a beautiful, thin one like the Macbook Air in an airplane. Half of the time I use my iPhone instead.
And at the end of the day, the best things about the iPad that a “Microsoft” tablet could never, ever do is: Run OSX and have seamless integration with iTunes/App Store. And no, I’m not the least interested in some janky, jerry-rigged, unstable, “hakintosh” project. You need to open your eyes and realize that there’s people for which an iPad will fit their needs, and there’ll be people for who a 2003 tablet will do fine.
Yeah Michael it really comes down to ease of use. Look at the iPod remember having to lug around those big cd cases to have all of your songs with you? on top of that a bulky cd walkman? The iPod made it posible to carry an entire music collection of nearly anysize in your pocket.
By your logic why by an iPod when we already have cds, and portable cd players?
The iPad has the same benifits for print, and all other media that the iPod gave for music.
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