Impolite Company

This makes perfect sense. I think what people are starting to understand is that the iPad is not for everything, nor for everyone. If it doesn’t fill a hole in your digital life, then don’t buy one! Thing is, I prefer products that are not for everyone. I think that all the buzz around the iPad’s debut made people think that it was some sort of wonder product that would be all things to all people — regardless of the fact that Apple told them exactly what it does and doesn’t do from the start. It’s not a laptop. It won’t magically become a laptop because you want to use it that way. And frankly, I think the genius of the iPad (like so many Apple products) is that it actually has focus. It’s not trying to be all things to all people.

And frankly, Apple isn’t to blame for that “laptop killer” perception, in my opinion. If you do real work on a laptop, the iPad won’t replace that. If you thought it would, that’s YOUR fault for not doing your homework. That would be like me complaining that my MINI can’t haul a palette of plywood while towing a yacht. What did you think you bought?

What the backlash does reveal is that Apple has missed a real opportunity: people want a relatively inexpensive touch-screen Mac computer. Count me in that group. That’s what I wanted the iPad to be too. Thing is, I think a lot of people bought one projecting that wish upon it and ignoring what the device really is and really does — only to then gripe about it after the fact. 

I agree with our re-boxer here. The iPad is not something that absolutely everyone will find an essential use for — especially if they’re projecting their touch-screen laptop aspirations onto it. If you have a good laptop, you don’t need an iPad. If you have a good smartphone and a Kindle, you don’t need an iPad. If you don’t travel much, you don’t need an iPad. But here’s my gripe with this sort of backlash. It’s not Apple’s fault you don’t need an iPad. That doesn’t invalidate the iPad’s existence. Get over yourself. 

The last thing I’ll say is that I’ve been thinking pretty seriously about getting an iPad for myself. Here’s why:

1. I don’t own a laptop. I have an iMac at home. Having some basic, for-fun computing ability on the go would be pretty cool. I have no delusions that it will run Photoshop or InDesign (the tools I use for work) in some sort of useful way. I want to use the internet on my couch on a nice, big screen.
2. I commute to work by train about three times a week. Our corporate headquarters are 5 hours away. I’m going to be traveling more than I used to.
3. I do UI for a living. I really do think this thing has a future, so I need to understand it. It won’t be long until our company will need to build iPad apps.
4. I don’t own an eReader and I’d like to read more. (see #2) 

dbwilldo:

I get this.

Reboxing my iPad (via jeffjarvis)

dbwilldo:

I get this.

Reboxing my iPad (via jeffjarvis)