iPad
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
This week, Apple announced the iPad, a new device that is supposed to fall somewhere between smartphones and computers. I’m not going to go into detail about what was announced, you’ve already heard that. What I’d like to discuss is where this device might fit into your lifestyle. Spoiler alert: no one knows yet.
When you look at just the hardware, it’s not quite clear why using this device would be better than using a MacBook or an iPhone. It’s not as fast as a MacBook, and it’s not as portable as an iPhone. But as with all Apple products, looking at only the hardware is very shortsighted. The most important thing about all Apple products is the software. The reason I buy computers from Apple is because I love Mac OS X. I don’t care if there’s a faster/cheaper laptop out there. If it doesn’t run Mac OS X, I don’t want it. Same thing with the iPhone. I don’t care if another smartphone has a hardware keyboard. If it doesn’t run iPhone OS, I’m not interested. Apple puts more time into making their software pleasant to use than any other company, and it shows.
To understand how this device is different, you need to look at the software. The bundled apps on the iPad are beautiful. Calendar, Contacts, Photos, etc. These are far nicer than any apps I’ve seen for any platform. These apps have been designed to really take advantage of the larger screen on the iPad.
But, it’s not just about appearance. It’s also about the mindset you’re in when using the device. The iPhone is meant to be used on the go, when you’re in a hurry. The apps do just a few things, and do them as quickly as possible so you can direct your attention back to where it’s supposed to be. The iPad is different. It’s a more appropriate device to use when you have more time and can give more attention to using and enjoying these apps. When Steve Jobs demoed this product during his keynote, he actually sat down on a nice comfy chair on stage. You use your iPhone when you need to; you use your iPad when you want to.
Because of this, the apps for this new device will be very different than iPhone apps. Developers will take advantage of the extra attention you’re giving to this device by, perhaps, providing more information, more choices, more features, etc. It’s the software that will make this thing so much more than just an iPhone with a bigger screen.
You can’t hardly form an opinion based on the few Apple-bundled apps that we’ve seen so far. Just like with the iPhone, it’s the third-party software that will make this device worth its price. Most of the apps I use regularly on my iPod Touch are third-party apps from the App Store. Except for Safari and Mail, I hardly ever use Apple’s bundled apps.
At this point, no one, not even Apple, knows the direction that the iPad is going in. It’s the developers who will decide that. And I can’t wait to see where the iPad is headed.
