Reactions to Apple’s iPad
This post will just be a stream-of-consciousness on the news from Apple today announcing the iPad. There has been a TON of hype and to give Apple credit they usually deliver. What most people don’t understand is they actually rarely invent these products, typically they are actually already out there on the market (liket he iPod, iPhone and now iPad) but they advance the concepts and add their own style to them. Their innovations are more in the user interface and actually giving customers what they need, before they know they need it. Oh and we can’t overlook all the eye-candy they build into their products. You have to admit their products just LOOK cool.
There has been a lot of talk about how this announcement might change the world etc. But I ask people to stop and think for a second. What are they actually going to announce? Basically a lightweight super portable laptop. Not necessarily a netbook as they are just a cheaper version of a laptop. This to me seems to be a way for Apple to get their hands into everything, music, movies, tv, books, and not limit themselves to any single format. They did this with the iPod starting with just music and moving to TV and video. There was a ceiling to what they could there so naturally they have looked to move to a new, bigger (literally), better platform.
- For me it’s all about the price-point. Which at this point we don’t know anything about. If they come in competitive with netbooks then I would probably go and get one. For me using this in the field when on demo’s with clients etc and just flipping it around and showing them would be cool. Another cost consideration are the data plans. I am already paying what I feel is quite a bit for my iPhone and as this new iPad wont replace that, will I carry both? If it’s anything crazy probably not.
- It does look fairly ideal as a couch surfer. Small and lightweight, easily slid into the drawer of the coffee table. The power supply would be a huge hurdle for this usage because if it has to be plugged in most of the time it loses it’s edge in this department.
- A huge factor will be the keyboard. The keyboard on the iPhone is ok, for a cell phone. But it will not be good enough for anything used as a workstation or real usage with word processing etc. I think that Apple would know this so I have hope, but this could easily make or break this product.
- Camera? Why no mention of a camera? You can’t possibly ship this thing without a digital camera and a webcam? In this day and age that’s crazy. Or is it a big hook to get you to buy the 2nd generation of the product like they did with the iPhone.
- There is no new revolutionary technology with this announcement. I think the revolution, if there is one, will be in the user interface.
- This thing could be a godsend for magazines and newspapers. This thing seems ideal as a reader for these formats. Even more then the Kindle DX. This would give the newspaper/magazine companies the ability to produce a format that looks/reads like their print version but have video elements and more importantly media ads. This, if harnessed correctly could be HUGE. As a big of a designer I am kind of excited by these possibilities.
Now while not an Apple fanboy I do have to admit I own and LOVE my iPhone. It was the first phone that enabled me to actually be productive on the go, after trying several phones. The iPod wont be any different then both the iPod and the iPhone were and I will probably wait for the second generation of the iPad. Let them work out the bugs, let them realize what they forgot, and let the application market mature so that when you do plunk down that cash you are able to fully take advantage. Basically let people figure out exactly what you can do with this!
***Updated: 2:22pm EST****
Apple just announce the low iPad model price of $499. This is brilliant on their point. Very aggressive pricing. Allows them to compete directly with the Kindle, and yet offer many many more features. Basically they are giving away the iPad to make it the standard platform, and making their real money on ibooks, music, tv shows, movies, and apps. Not to mention they are making it very hard for people like me to keep from buying it out of shear curiosity.
*** Updated 3:30pm EST ***
Word is that the iPad will have it’s 3G supplied by AT&T. I have all kinds of issues with this though none of them being with Apple so I will leave that for another post. I have serious concerns on how well AT&T can handle the iPad though as it struggles to handle the iPhone and the demands for the iPad will be MUCH MUCH greater. Not a major vote of confidence.
Basically you can get an unlimited data plan through AT&T for $29.99 a month (via TechCrunch.com. For me that’s a bit pricey. I am hoping that it will be cheaper for those of us already paying a ton for our iPhone plans and will be able to bundle it in, but we will see. $30 for a 3G connection is just too much, I pay slightly more then that for my home access and it’s MUCH better connection. If this was anyone other then AT&T maybe I would maybe think differently but it’s hard to accept this with them.
As it stands right now – for me – the $499 price tag is not a deal breaker – it would be the data plan. Unless it turns out that iPad can be used as a substantial business platform I just wont be able to justify the added fee. It seems perfect for an entertainment gadget but I have enough of those, it needs to be able to help make me money to justify that price tag.
*** Updated 3:40pm EST ***
Just noticed that I failed to see that this was a “no contract” service through AT&T. That IS a nice touch. Definitely enable people to use it out of curiosity and if they don’t use it out and about as much they can just cancel it because you would still be able to use the WiFi from your home network. Interesting….
*** Updated 4:34pm EST ***
Great post by David Pogue on his first thoughts on the iPad as he hits the nail on the head with: “the iPad seems like a dream screen for reading and watching—at some loss of convenience in creating.” So perfectly summed up my feelings.