iPad
I've been away from LiveJournal for too long. I have been reading everyone's posts while making very few comments.
So, everyone has been expecting big things from the Apple announcement this morning.
iTablet sounded too much like medicine, iSlate sounds like it belongs in Flintstone land. The iPad is a true Maxi Pad! My guess is it'll be a significant change in how we consume media.
When Apple first introduced the iPod, it was rather bulky, could hold 5 GB and it cost $500. I couldn't imagine why anyone could would pay that much for a music player. After all, I had just paid $299 for a top of the line, portable CD player that could play four hours of music with a rechargeable battery. Sure, it was a great deal heavier than an iPod. Add to that, I had to carry a case holding CDs, but $500 for a plastic box that plays music? Prior to that Apple had introduced iTunes and iPhoto and some other software, but I certainly wasn't interested in listening to music at the computer.
Then I realized that I could organize my music library and find any track from my hundreds of CDs in seconds if i put them in iTunes... and all the sudden, the iPod became a source of desire. I had no idea that iTunes and iPhoto would be an advanced preview of things to come. Later on they added the photo capabilities and changes to the iTunes store; they added video then games.
When the iPhone was introduced, I thought is was slick, but didn't see a need for a super phone. Steve Balmer said it best, "Who's going to pay $600 for a phone?" Of course, I was thinking, "Who's going to pay $600 for Windows Vista Ultimate?" I knew I wouldn't be buying either Windows Vista or an iPhone. That lasted for two weeks. Once I got my hands on an iPhone, it was irresistible. One I got my chance to use Windows Vista, I knew I'd never switch over.
The few applications that came with the phone became immensely integrated into my life. Then the App Store opened and the phone function became the least used part of the iPhone.
I remember when Sony introduced their PlayStation Portable. Roughly the same screen size as an iPhone, but movies were on those stupid discs, games on RAM cards. The iTunes Store and the App Store was just a much more elegant way to purchase media. The cost of the media was significantly lower.
So now they've introduced the iPad. I have the same feeling that I had with the iPhone. Slick, but not much else.
I guess I'd rather pay $499 for a color e-reader that plays music and video, surfs the web, lets you read and send email, and has lots of games and application. It's lighter and thinner than a netbook.
It all depends on how it feels in the hands. Photo viewing and web functions are already a great experience when using an iPhone. I can only imagine what it's like with a larger screen.
It's so much better than a netbook. I looks like it's more readable than e-paper electronics (and you can read in a darkened room, but I doubt it would be much fun reading out in the sun).
The real advantage will be for college students who will be able to buy their textbooks for a fraction of their price, not have a pile of books to have to lug around as well as having a research device, game machine and media center. One semester of text books would pay for the lower end iPad.
Professionals such as doctors, salespeople will have a larger workspace than the iPhone screen, and the thing is incredibly affordable for professional use.
It's not a geek device, but like the iPhone, the iPad will fill an interesting niche.
The iPad will be common place in a few years, it'll be hard to imagine how we lived without it. Apple did what no other company seems capable of doing. Through vertical integration, they have reimagined the hardware, software and deployment of both to carve new inroads into how we live.
Everyone else has produced a tablet in the past. Apple has created something much more. I'm guessing fast initial sales, then when people see their friends with one and get it in their hands, growth in sales will be exponential.
So, everyone has been expecting big things from the Apple announcement this morning.
iTablet sounded too much like medicine, iSlate sounds like it belongs in Flintstone land. The iPad is a true Maxi Pad! My guess is it'll be a significant change in how we consume media.
When Apple first introduced the iPod, it was rather bulky, could hold 5 GB and it cost $500. I couldn't imagine why anyone could would pay that much for a music player. After all, I had just paid $299 for a top of the line, portable CD player that could play four hours of music with a rechargeable battery. Sure, it was a great deal heavier than an iPod. Add to that, I had to carry a case holding CDs, but $500 for a plastic box that plays music? Prior to that Apple had introduced iTunes and iPhoto and some other software, but I certainly wasn't interested in listening to music at the computer.
Then I realized that I could organize my music library and find any track from my hundreds of CDs in seconds if i put them in iTunes... and all the sudden, the iPod became a source of desire. I had no idea that iTunes and iPhoto would be an advanced preview of things to come. Later on they added the photo capabilities and changes to the iTunes store; they added video then games.
When the iPhone was introduced, I thought is was slick, but didn't see a need for a super phone. Steve Balmer said it best, "Who's going to pay $600 for a phone?" Of course, I was thinking, "Who's going to pay $600 for Windows Vista Ultimate?" I knew I wouldn't be buying either Windows Vista or an iPhone. That lasted for two weeks. Once I got my hands on an iPhone, it was irresistible. One I got my chance to use Windows Vista, I knew I'd never switch over.
The few applications that came with the phone became immensely integrated into my life. Then the App Store opened and the phone function became the least used part of the iPhone.
I remember when Sony introduced their PlayStation Portable. Roughly the same screen size as an iPhone, but movies were on those stupid discs, games on RAM cards. The iTunes Store and the App Store was just a much more elegant way to purchase media. The cost of the media was significantly lower.
So now they've introduced the iPad. I have the same feeling that I had with the iPhone. Slick, but not much else.
I guess I'd rather pay $499 for a color e-reader that plays music and video, surfs the web, lets you read and send email, and has lots of games and application. It's lighter and thinner than a netbook.
It all depends on how it feels in the hands. Photo viewing and web functions are already a great experience when using an iPhone. I can only imagine what it's like with a larger screen.
It's so much better than a netbook. I looks like it's more readable than e-paper electronics (and you can read in a darkened room, but I doubt it would be much fun reading out in the sun).
The real advantage will be for college students who will be able to buy their textbooks for a fraction of their price, not have a pile of books to have to lug around as well as having a research device, game machine and media center. One semester of text books would pay for the lower end iPad.
Professionals such as doctors, salespeople will have a larger workspace than the iPhone screen, and the thing is incredibly affordable for professional use.
It's not a geek device, but like the iPhone, the iPad will fill an interesting niche.
The iPad will be common place in a few years, it'll be hard to imagine how we lived without it. Apple did what no other company seems capable of doing. Through vertical integration, they have reimagined the hardware, software and deployment of both to carve new inroads into how we live.
Everyone else has produced a tablet in the past. Apple has created something much more. I'm guessing fast initial sales, then when people see their friends with one and get it in their hands, growth in sales will be exponential.