My Thoughts On the New iPad from Apple

So, now that a few days have passed since Steve Jobs announced the iPad from Apple, I thought I would share my thoughts about this amazing looking device.

Overall I am excited to see how well this new iPad sells. For the most part I think that the iPad hits the mark for what Steve Jobs said about it in his opening remarks… for the most part.

However, people are complaining that this device does not do a few key things like multi-task, no flash support in the browser, no camera, it is not as feature rich as a net-book, blah blah blah… let’s dig deeper shall we?

No Multitasking: OK, OK, I get it…. I hear it every day. People hate that the iPhone does not multi-task, but I have been using the iPhone for almost 2 years and I have gotten over the fact that there is no multi-tasking. The OS is so simple and elegant to use, and it is easy enough to just pop in and out of apps as needed… so get over it! Instead of having Pandora run in the background while you surf the web, or build a fancy presentation, use the little thing called the built in iPod, for the most part (at least on the iPhone) it runs in the background of many apps.

No Flash Support: Not an issue for me as I do not like flash based sites for the most part, and flash tends to crash my browsers anyway. But is this a deal breaker for the iPad… is it something that would seriously stop you from buying it? Look, if you come across a site with flash, and you just have to see it, go to your laptop or desktop and check out the site and the flash in all of it’s glory. But seriously, is no flash really that big of a deal? Where the “flash” of this device comes in is in the way of apps, the ebook reader, and all the other cool stuff it does. Hopefully in an update down the road, Apple will choose to add flash support, but until then enjoy the device.

No Camera: This omission is one thing that may stop me from buying it. Not that I will take it everywhere and want to use it as a camera, but I see great use in the business world. If I am traveling and want to use Skype for a video call, or if I was in a sales presentation and I wanted to prop the iPad up in the nifty new stand so it could make the attendees in the conference room visible to the presenter on the other end would be awesome. You know the camera is going to come out eventually, and you KNOW Apple is just sitting back and releasing this version knowing damn good and well that once the camera version comes out people will flock to it and upgrade. If you can get a camera into an iPhone, you can get it into an iPad… and the consumer has come to expect it! #BadApple

Net-books are better: This is a different device. sure on the net-book you can multi-task, and do a couple of things at the same time. Whoop dee doo, but does it have a 10″ touchscreen, or the ability to run your favorite apps, or will it act like a photo frame if you wish, can it be a killer ebook reader? The only thing I see the net-book doing better is the cameras that are built in.

Look, this iPad does so much out of the box, and is simply amazing from what I have seen so far. Can it get better… of course, and that leads me to…

Four BIG things that I think Apple did wrong in my opinion:

1. Not having the iPad ready for purchase the day of, or at least during the week of the announcement. Put this device in the hands of the people who want it! They have been waiting for years to have it. Don’t allow the rumor mills to ruin the launch, or allow another manufacturer to steal the thunder.
2. Why have 6 models? Do we need 6 versions? Not only is this a bad idea from a manufacturing standpoint, and a SKU inventory challenge, it is also just confusing to the consumer. Does anyone really need 64 gigs of memory for a device like this? Simplify the buying experience, and drop a model. Launch a 64 gig version in a year or so if you must when memory prices come down.
3. Not having additional carrier options available besides AT&T. Need I say more about that? And that kind of ties back into #2 above… why not just launch the models with wifi and 3g? Why have a wifi only version? And if I have to be stuck with AT&T offer a contract version that can help to reduce the price of the iPad… why should it be more money for that model when I am guaranteeing AT&T even more money on a monthly basis.
4. The name iPad. How about an explanation behind the name to help curb the association of the iPad to some feminine hygiene product? iSlate would have been cool, there just had to be a better name. #iBoring

I think the iPad will also be a segway or introduction device for Apple. Think of it, so many people want a Mac, but maybe can not afford a laptop or desktop. This iPad is affordable to almost anyone. If you can afford a net-book, you can afford an iPad, and I think that is a smart move by Apple. In a way is the iPad a loss leader? Hell you can’t even buy an iPhone without a contract for less than you can buy an iPad for!

In the end, is the iPad the revolutionary product Steve Jobs said it is? Time will tell… but I think it is pretty dang close. Is it a must have middle category piece of technology between the smart phone and the computer? Personally I do not think so… it is not a “must have” item for me, but I definitely “want” one.

In the end, if I was to buy an iPad, I would most likley choose the base model… and maybe upgrade it to the 3G version. If I was in the market for an eReader like a Kindle, it would be a no brainer to purchase the iPad for that function alone.

What do you think? Is this iPad all it is cracked up to be?

Until next time…

Doc

photo credit: Richard-G