More than a year later and I’m still unsure what problems the iPad solves for me. Here’s what I blogged back in January 2010 as the original iPad was announced:
I’m undecided at this point. The iPad 1.0 looks promising, but I don’t see it replacing my 13″ laptop and/or my 3.5″ iPhone. Which means one more device to charge and carry… with very little new functionality. Yet when I watch the iPad video, I feel strangely compelled to pull out my wallet. Hm.
There’s no question Apple has sold a ton of 10″ tablets and created a new computing category (that Microsoft actually pioneered but failed to take mainstream). Yet, even after having lived with a loaner iPad for over two months, I’m not convinced I need one. Early on, I only reached for it when my iPhone was out of juice. Towards the end, I was using it more… and more voluntarily. Yet, since it’s been gone, I haven’t really missed its presence. If I still commuted by subway, as I did for about 6 years, or traveled via airplane extensively for work, like those 200 nights on the road in 2007, I might feel differently. If I hadn’t mastered the IBM Selectric in middle school, perhaps I’d also be more adaptable to this new fangled touch technology.
So for me, with my mindset and workflow, the iPad is still a (redundant) media consumption device… despite apps to the contrary, like the new iOS iMovie (above). An iPad with integrated SD slot that didn’t require a computer running iTunes to sync with might open my mind further. But, as it stands with the iPad 2 running iOS 4, it seems my feelings haven’t changed all that much over the intervening months: A smartphone and laptop have me sufficiently covered.
As noted by Steve Jobs – I am pretty certain I read it somewhere – the iPad is not a computer per say, but a computing appliance; a media consumption device. While I think it can replace a laptop/netbook in most cases, I don’t believe it is intended to replace a desktop computer. For me, the iPad is a perfect device for fast, lightweight browsing while watching TV and for consuming music and movies while traveling. In both cases it is more lightweight, faster and more convenient than a laptop/netbook.
If someone can imagine at least three ways they would use an iPad in the home (I use it for lightweight browsing, checking email and with apps such as DVPRemote and Apple’s Remote) and they travel frequently (long commutes on a bus/train or multiple airline trips annually), an iPad is great…along with a good pair of noise cancellation headphones I might add. If their job rarely requires them to travel by air, they drive their own car to work and they already have a laptop on hand in the home, an iPad purchase should probably be skipped.
“If I hadn’t mastered the IBM Selectric in middle school, perhaps I’d be more adaptable to this new fangled touch technology.”
In an odd way, all the New Age is about is perfecting the most wondrous IBM Selectric by adding first a file cabinet, and then a great reference library to the typewriter.
My first Powerbook 100 was a nice attempt.
My current MBP with SSD is a better attempt.
iPads are nice toys. People like toys. Ain’t nothing wrong with toys. You can make a lot of money selling toys. But improved IBM Selectrics are something better and more important than toys.
(My biggest worry about Cupertino these days is that they are going to toy-ify OS X in a short-term goldrush, and thus screw up the important things…)
I fully agree with you, Dave, which is why I purchased a 11″ MacBook Air soon after it was released. It’s only marginally larger and heavier than an iPad, but far more powerful and versatile. Yet though I skipped the 1st generation iPad, I’m still planning to buy a 2nd generation one. Why? For the household, so to speak. For example, my wife doesn’t have a personal laptop, so it will give her something to access email, Facebook, etc. from the couch or while traveling. And my son could use it to watch movies while traveling on a plane or in the backseat of a car. I’d probably use it occasionally when I don’t need the full MacBook Air.
Bottom line: it seems wonderful for casual users though less useful for power users.
“For me, the iPad is a perfect device for fast, lightweight browsing while watching TV and for consuming music and movies while traveling. In both cases it is more lightweight, faster and more convenient than a laptop/netbook.”
What I’d really like, and what I assume won’t happen, at least in the short-run, is a tablet device that I could drive from my laptop.
If I see a ZNF post I find interesting while on my laptop, I toss it onto a virtualized spot on my laptop. When I’m working on a word processing doc, I toss it onto the virtualized tablet. I want to be able to zap growl-style notifications that will show on the tablet. Etcetera, etcetera.
That way, when I close my laptop. Go prepare some salmon and kale, and move around, I can grab my tablet, pick up exactly where I left off on the laptop, and be able to further surf, see the weather, see my inboxes, see the reminders I’ve left, etcetera, etcetera.
And I don’t want to be forced to route all my traffic through Apple’s remote servers, by the way, if I don’t want to.
That way, the tablet just becomes an extension of my IBM Selectric workspace. A sometimes easier way of displaying the workspace, and a sometimes easier way of interacting with it in a minor key.
But Cupertino thinks there is less money in that vision than in their current vision of utterly dominating the market for Tickle Me Elmo iPads.
“the iPad is a redundant media consumption device.”
Always will be. Utterly impracticable to carry a mobile phone and an iPad.
All tablets, not just iPad, regulated to the realm of glorified, $600+ TV remote controls, which, by definition, are just toys for rich people.
“Utterly impracticable to carry a mobile phone and an iPad.”
I would have to disagree, Todd. I spend between 75-100 days a year on the road and carry both when I travel. When traveling, my iPhone generally stays put in my pocket. Being small and lightweight, it only takes a minute to pull out my iPad (and Bose noise cancellation headphones) from the side pocket of my computer bag as I am settling in for a 2-6 hour flight. I used an iPhone for media consumption prior to getting the iPad, and while it works, there is no comparison between a 3.5″ and 10″ screen. If I did not travel frequently, I probably would not have purchased the iPad. However, I do, and it is a great travel companion as well as being convenient for some uses around the home.
@ Chucky,
The iPad as an extension of a laptop/desktop is an interesting concept. If Apple chooses not to support that type of activity on the iPad, that might be a way for its competitors to differentiate their products and make headway into the lead Apple has established.
The only reason I am considering an iPad 2 over a laptop is because I have a PC in every room. I really don’t travel anymore so I am not looking for something to take on the road with me.
I am just looking for something to use while sitting on the couch. Now I wish it was Windows based only because my entire setup is Windows based so it would incorporate better, but since that really isn’t an option especially since I do want to use things like the TiVo App I am stuck with the iPad. The only other usage it will see is accessing web interfaces of programs like PyTiVo and the occasional light surfing. I have a PC at the desk behind the couch if I need anything for actual work.
“The iPad as an extension of a laptop/desktop is an interesting concept. If Apple chooses not to support that type of activity on the iPad, that might be a way for its competitors to differentiate their products and make headway into the lead Apple has established.”
Yup. It just might be a while. Everyone else’s first attempt will be to simply recreate the Tickle Me Elmo iPad.
If Microsoft weren’t so dysfunctional, they’d be the natural candidate to figure it out first and get there first. (In which case, people like me would abandon the OS X platform and go over to Windows.) But I’m not sure Microsoft is capable of the vision thing.
“So for me, with my mindset and workflow, the iPad is still a (redundant) media consumption device”
Dave, will you please make up your mind?
Is it a redundant media consumption device? Or is it my kitchen and den “television”?
Or is it a floor wax and a dessert topping?
I thought my iPad would replace my laptop for a lot of things but it hasn’t quite done that yet. I still prefer typing on a full-size keyboard (or my iPhone). What it does do is a lot of remote control functions. Not with an IR transmitter, but with VNC and custom control apps for lyric presentation software and (soon for me) lighting system and sound board control.
It’s also a great second Netflix device, mostly for my kids, but for my wife and me as well when we want to watch a movie in bed.
Greg, yeah I hear you on the household usage. My wife will have an iPad soon, instead of a new laptop or netbook, and I suspect she’ll really enjoy it. Which ties into both yours and Chucky’s point…
When she isn’t surfing the web, I imagine it’ll be our kitchen TV. Or at least it will be if/when Verizon simulcasts live content. And assuming the audio quality is decent.
Incidentally, that’s what this post was supposed to be about… some open iPad 2 questions I have. But I let the writing take me where it will. Perhaps I’ll get back to that topic on Tuesday. Or perhaps my questions will be answered by then.
I’ve been able to resist the iPad so far. I’ve been holding out for the higher resolution version as I want to get one, and just use it without caring about the next newer one coming out the door. I’d bet dollars-to-donuts the next refresh will include Retina-Display graphics.
Purchasers of the iPad-2 are going to feel compelled to purchase the iPad-3 to get a bump in screen display whereas I think iPad-3 buyers can hold out a couple of product-line refreshes.
Join a health club, go three or four times a week for an hour or so. You’ll quickly find a need for an iPad.
Aside from travel, commuting on public transportation and couch surfing, using it at a health club to stave off boredom is the best reason for having one.
“Join a health club, go three or four times a week for an hour or so. You’ll quickly find a need for an iPad.”
I most definitely hear you. But that’s an argument for dead-tree newspapers and magazines, not tablets. A proper health club has a sauna for the last ten or fifteen minutes of your routine, y’know…
Chucky — Does something like Instapaper automatically syncing between multiple devices get close to what you are looking for with this statement?
“If I see a ZNF post I find interesting while on my laptop, I toss it onto a virtualized spot on my laptop. When I’m working on a word processing doc, I toss it onto the virtualized tablet. I want to be able to zap growl-style notifications that will show on the tablet. Etcetera, etcetera.”
Funny, Dave, but I feel nearly the same way you do. The iPad is a cool, and well executed device that certainly has some great use-cases.
But my wife and I already have our own MacBook Pro machines which we use as our couch computers (mine doubles as my work machine). We also have an iMac with the really large disk to serve as the home ‘server.’ The iPhone does a pretty good job as a mobile computer.
As JCM mentioned above, if I regularly took the train, bus or airplane, I think the quick on/off combined with the smaller (non-clamshell) form factor might be a winner.
Right now I’m on the fence as I -do- have one use-case that puts me over the top. That is as as moving map GPS enabled device to use as a pilot and when flight instructing. I may get it just for that (primarily) but then I expect I would find some other uses. As others have mentioned, I don’t know how many days I could leave my laptop at home and just use the iPad (at least on work days). So — on the fence as well…
And if I do buy it as an additional device, you have the additional problems you mentioned – another device to sync/change, etc.
I dunno, I dunno, I dunno… :)
“Chucky — Does something like Instapaper automatically syncing between multiple devices get close to what you are looking for with this statement?”
Stuff like Instapaper and Dropbox are the manual typewriter of the genre. It works, but it ain’t an IBM Selectric by any means.
I want so very much more out of the tablet form factor genre…
What amazes me is the longevity these devices will likely have and their long term relevance. Used iPad 1s selling for under $300 and prob much less in the near future. I own the 16gb version and if I only used it for media consumption / media control (sonos) than it would be well worth it. But as a twitter client, light gamer, kid entertainer, etc… It really does have several use cases beyond what a PC can do. The touch interface alone creates too many long term benefits of the device and enable many things that a PC cannot.
Think about the # of discarded iPods and related gadgets we all have around and think that these high functioning devices will be the 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation discards. Old PCs never had this residual utility. I believe this will have interesting long terms consequences / implications, but haven’t thought it through yet.
Gear, on the occasions I manage to make it to the gym, I usually watch Hulu on my iPhone while on the cardio gear. Then throw it in my pocket and stream XM when using the resistance machines. A bigger screen on the cardio gear would be nice, but I’d rather not mess with the bulk and obviously can’t drop an iPad in my pocket. Not to mention my gym just received a $2.5 million facelift and a lot of the gear now has individual televisions with cable. So I’m pretty well covered in that regard. :)
andy, yes very good point on a potential secondary market resulting in an iPad footprint expansion.
These are my purposes i use my ipad heavily
– watching slingbox in any room in the house
– controlling my computers remotely
– controlling my television remotely
– controlling my music library or sound system when guests visits remotely.
– presentation purposes for family/friends/work
– browsing the web (this includes everything / bank, ebay, etc…. everything)
– checking and responding to e-mail (who doesn’t?)
– watching movies on netflix in bed
– using everything over bluetooth.
– listening/watching podcasts/audio books and reading books
these are my purposes of using the ipad lighting
– listening to music privately. i use my iphone more for this
– playing games. although i use my iphone a lot for this, but never my mac do i play games.
– reading the news, which i also do heavily on my iphone.
things i use my mac for
– creating / editing videos
– photoshop editing
– css / html / jquery coding for work
– occasional news reading
– connecting it to a television wirelessly or tethering
– watching slingbox
– controlling other computers remotely
– organize and manage photos
– organize and manage music
————
my wife on the other hand, who i bought her a macbook 2 years ago, gave using my ipad a shot. she’s just not interested and there’s really nothing i can do to convince her. she doesn’t care to watch tv on it, control computers or manage the dvr on it. doesn’t care to watch videos either. she can do everything she needs on a computer, which she seldom uses.
me other than hand, i’m very efficient with my uses. for example, my laptop would travel all around the house with me. in doing so, i would also have to carry the power supply with me, which i loathed. so i bought a lot of them
1. for bedroom
2. for the desk in the basement
3. for the living room couch.
4. for the living room chase.
5. for work at the office.
6. an extra for my bag on the go.
i don’t have to carry my macbook pro every where with me now that i have an ipad. my ipad’s battery lasts for so long, that i don’t need to carry power every where i go anymore.
i use my ipad for controlling and sharing while i use my computer for managing and creating. i won’t for a long time be able to give up my mac, since i use it to create so much, but now that my ipad has opened so many options for managing my accessories remotely, i’m not able to give up my ipad either.
evan
JCM is correct. I’ve counted 60+ commuters using his setup. It’s a fashion statement the closer one gets to the Seattle U-District. They get on/off the light rail and Metro.
I’ve seen similar numbers on the Bainbridge run.
Disclaimer: I use the Bremerton route.
Some, a good portion have sold their 1st gen, and are eagerly waiting 2g.
The students use these things as they scan their course packs, and the frat boys scan the whole textbook.
What this device does well is to carry music, movies, and edocuments. This device allows the musician to tune, read, and perform music. For others, it’s a device to get all readings for classes centralized. Keynote and Pages serve real world needs for basic WP and presentations. It works fine on the library projectors.
Printing is the only downer at this point. I will concede that I use a laptop a lot. Particularly for large scale projects and papers. But the iPad has my assigned readings, needed media, and basic WP/presentation. That plus less weight and size make it a mandatory item for me.
I find myself bringing a tablet with me when I want a larger screen for web browsing but don’t want to bring my macbook pro along. I’d rather not have another laptop, so tablets are great in this regard.
Its also great on the bus I take daily, its more like a motor coach and while a laptop does work well enough — the tablet doesn’t make it feel like im cramming a device in-between myself and the seat in front of me.
Dave, as you noted in your post – here is the ipad problem. Within 20 miles of home (places like the gym) it is just a bit too large to wnat to carry around. People are finding that ~3 inch screen OK for media since it is typically not a primary focus about town.
Now, once you break that 20 miles via a long commute or overnight stays out of the house then that tablet is a perfect size to slip in along with a laptop and carry. The ability to choose you own entertainment along with an easier to view size is now perfect. Bonus points to those who can swap out the laptop if all they need is email, web and doc viewing.
So in that old debate you and I had over who would watch the samll screen on a phone – it turns out not ot be who, but where that makes the difference.
I think I’m with Dave on this one.
I kind of want an iPad2 because:
– It looks like a really nice way to share pictures: “here’s my iPad – just flip through them”
– some of the apps look compelling
– I think I’d like it for games
but I think that:
– I’m fantasizing about using it more than I really would
– My iPhone does the apps/games really well and fits in my pocket
– while the above uses sound compelling (photos, apps, games) I tend to think it’d be more of a closet toy that I’d only occasionally pick up after the initial newness wore off.
As for allowing guests to control music in your home: Here’s something I found out about 2 weeks back – iTunes has a DJ mode. If you have a large collection of music and your guests have iPhones or iPod touches iTunes will:
– randomly select your music if nothing is requested
– allow others on your network to request songs
– allow you (and your guests) to look at ‘like songs’ (you need to have Genius enabled).
Anyway – it works -really- well. I had a game-night here a week or so back and people were happily picking up their phones to send song requests to my mini which was then spitting out the music (via AirTunes/Airport Express) on a nearby bookshelf stereo.
I was initially going to buy the iPad2; and still might. But those little iPad3 rumors that crept up right before the iPad2 announcement did get me thinking just a little bit about this purchase. And the reported lack of ram in this device also concerns me. My current gen iPad seems fine for now and upgrading @ christmas seems more than feasible.
“I was initially going to buy the iPad2; and still might. But those little iPad3 rumors that crept up right before the iPad2 announcement did get me thinking just a little bit about this purchase.”
Did you carefully read page 26 of the EULA you pressed “I agree” to on your iPad 1?
Apple will deduct 30% of the cost of the iPad 2 from your iTunes account whether you buy the iPad 2 or not.
However, if you purchase an iPad 2 within eight hours of its official release, Apple will generously apply that 30% towards your new purchase. So get in line early!
Now that they’ve got 200 million active credit card numbers on file, they have decided to use them to good effect. 30% your base are belong to us.