iPad is not on my wish list
Thursday, January 28, 2010 by Stewart Baines
This will probably come back to bite me….
I love my iPhone, it’s indispensible. I run with it (tracking my distance and speed), i’ve used it when i’ve been lost in the mountains, i’ve checked train times, used maps, watched TV episodes when I’m on the treadmill in the gym, search recipes in the supermarket, found recommended cocktails when wandering around the West End, and listen to audio books on the Tube. I’ve even used it to have multi-way, international Skype conferences while I’m stuck in a service station on the M1. It’s properly integrated with out MS Exchange, so i have pretty seamless communications.
For me, its the personal and portable nature of the iPhone which has become indispensable – and i think augmented reality apps (when mature) will entrench the addiction even further.
So what of the iPad? Its seems to me predominately a device for using at home – although yes it would make a great accompanyment to a long haul flight if the 10 hour battery life for video playback is a genuine.
So what would I use the iPad? Which of the dozens of location and office productivity tools that i have on my iPhone will be useful on a tablet that spends most of its time in the living room?
I’m sure that the enduringly innovative app developer community will prove me wrong, and before you know it there will be a plethora of compelling and addictive iPad apps – but it seems to me that the most likely use of the iPad in my home will be the web and possibly TV series. I already purchase TV through the iPhone and connect to my giant plasma screen using an AV out cable so that’s not nessarily a new feature. The iPad doesn’t have HDMI either. Or USB. And its 4:3, so not great for most of today’s video content.
And so to the Web – the Web that requires so many plugins and updates that allow you to view the broad spectrum of file formats. Like Flash – the iPad does not offer in-browser Flash. Kind of dumb in my humble opinion.
Apple in its rather closed, limited environment, would rather that you were a viewer or consumer of the Web rather than a contributor to it, they would rather you purchase your leisure time through iTunes than finding you pleasure spread throughout the four corners on obscure site. I cannot believe that the iPad will offer me a sufficiently flexible and rewarding experience as my £500 laptop, with which i can download all manner of content and plugins. My cheapo Dell Vostro is light enough, with a long enough battery life, to support most of the living room browsing I need. A Windows tablet would probably do the trick if i really wanted a tablet. Or maybe the new Chrome OS ultra-mobile PCs.
So for me, the iPad is just a little bit too much. Just like the Touch, and the Apple TV. A profitable niche perhaps, but unless you are a Mac lover (I’m not), the tablet in my living room will need to be a lot more open than an iPad.
There are some more objections here: http://technologizer.com/2010/01/27/my-first-25-questions-about-apples-ipad/ and this wonderful sanitary towel courtesy of failblog.
@stewartbaines
Anthony Plewes says on January 29th, 2010 at 11:39 am :
And more insidiously, if the iPad does actually get popular, then the Apple closed garden model will start to become accepted, which I think is a brake on actual innovation. It calls for an anti-trust investigation if you ask me.
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Mark McClure says on January 31st, 2010 at 4:52 am :
Some interesting comments on that Technologizer post… Kindles for under $100? :-)
Bill Mackin says on February 4th, 2010 at 12:08 am :
I have no doubt that Apple will find initial success with the iPad, based primarily on the buzz they’ve been able to create, but lasting success for the iPad is still open for discussion as far as I’m concerned. The iPad represents a new product category and therefore to gain lasting commercial success, Apple must convince people they need a new product. For people that already own a computer and an iPhone this may be difficult. Will the touch experience and increased portability be enough motivation for people to purchase a third computer? One that doesn’t yet offer any new features, only an improved experience. I’m not sure.
For people who only use a computer to send e-mail, surf the internet, play music and manage photos the iPad may be the perfect solution. The iPad will allow them to do these things while also providing them with a great eBook reader and access to some great software via the app store. For more demanding consumers, I believe iPad adoption will be based on Apple’s ability to continue adding value while also keeping the price down. Something very difficult to do.
For me personally, while I love Apple products and would love to get my hands on an iPad, I can’t find an excuse to purchase one. I love the idea of having the internet in my hands but without the ability to watch videos at funnyordie.com, browse sites like nike.com, order a pizza from dominos.com or let my kids play on disney.com I’m not sure it would really meet my needs.