Yes, the fucking iPad is finally here. Now, at least, the craptastic blog posts and articles can have some basis in reality…or not, this is the blogosphere we’re talking about here. As we all know, the question burning up the intar-tubes is, what does Darby think of this thing. Well, dear readers fear not, for all shall be revealed. Read on to learn the truth.
iPad: When Myth Becomes Reality
While Apple may not have participated in the pre-announcement collective loss of sanity, they certainly haven’t tried to calm the hysterical masses post-announcement. Calling your new product “Magical and revolutionary” takes balls; giant cast-iron testicles. But this is Apple we’re talking about, when they roll the bones they go all in. And good on them for doing so. Half measures are for losers. My, far saner take is this: Steve Jobs came down from the mountain to reveal the mythical Apple unicorn, and it turns out that the unicorn was actually a horse. The thing is, there is nothing wrong with that. See, unicorns aren’t real, horses are.
So what does this horse look like. You can read the official feature list here, the tech specs here, and the pricing breakdown here. I won’t regurgitate the bullet lists, but the short version is:
- 9.7” IPS Multi-Touch screen at 1024×768 resolution
- Custom Apple built processor which is apparently crazy fast
- Available in 16, 32 and 64 GB configurations
- Apparently runs a close variant of the iPhone OS
- Can run most extant iPhone applications either in a 1 to 1 pixel mapping or a pixel doubled mode.
- Accompanied by a new iPhone OS SDK to allow developers to leverage iPad specific features.
- 802.11n standard on all models
- 3G available as an option on all models
- 3G service by AT&T in the U.S. on a non-contract pay as you go basis
- Bluetooth (including the ability to use a BT keyboard)
- All of the various crap that people complain about regarding the iPhone and iPod Touch remains the case
- OMG No camera!
In my opinion, an overall good first outing. The key thing to take away from the design and specs of the iPad is that it isn’t intended to be a netbook. It’s Apple’s answer to the use-cases that spawned netbooks. Nor should the iPad be looked at as a laptop replacement. Instead, I think that the iPad should be viewed as a laptop alternative.
The $10,000 Question
Of course, the only question that really matters is: am I, The Angry Drunk, going to buy one. Let’s begin to answer that by asking a question: What possible use would I have for this product? To answer that, let’s look at my use-case.
I’m not looking for a replacement computer. My 2006 24” Core2 Duo iMac works sufficiently. When I do replace the iMac, it will probably be with the 27” quad-core i7 iMac. The iMac is the core of my “digital life.” I record the Angry Mac Bastards podcast there. I write these brilliant blog posts there. It’s where I store all of my music, photos and videos. It’s where I do the vast majority of my web browsing. No tablet computer, no netbook, no laptop can really replace that for me.
I’m also not looking for a new communications device.I have an iPhone, and what it does it does brilliantly. The iPhone is perfect for mobile communications. I use the iPhone to update Twitter and the various social networks and to interact with a number of various services. When I’m bored I have a selection of games to divert me. I also have a brace of eReaders so I can access my large library of eBooks on the go. In fact, I do my eReading almost exclusively on the iPhone. What I don’t do on my iPhone is create content or do intensive web browsing. Sure, the iPhone can do those things, but for me at least, it doesn’t do them well.
So, what do I want? Between my iMac and my iPhone there are two basic gaps. The first is the reading component. I hate reading books on the iMac; it just isn’t comfortable. Currently my iPhone, with the addition of various eReader software, makes a serviceable eBook reader, but it’s not ideal. Mainly, it’s the size. The iPhone’s screen is just too small for comfortable reading. Prior to yesterday I would have said that I was the perfect audience for the Kindle…nah, who am I kidding, I would have bought a Nook.
The second gap is the mobile consumption of “stuff,” and content creation. Part of that “stuff” is eBooks, so the prior statements apply there. Another part of “stuff” is the web. Mobile Safari is a fine browser. In fact, one could go so far as to say that it set the standard for mobile browsing. Unfortunately, Mobile Safari (on the iPhone) is insufficient for the bulk of my browsing. Sure, it’s wonderful for the quick look-up or to settle a bar bet, but it quickly becomes impractical when trying to browse forums or read longer content. The iPhone’s mail client suffers from similar issues. It’s great for a quick check of the inbox, but a pain for longer email sessions including drafting in-depth responses Then there is the “content creation” piece. Sure, the tools exist that would have allowed me to write this article on my iPhone. Had I attempted such though, I would have probably killed myself by now. The iPhone form factor just isn’t right for that.
So what device should I get to fill this huge gap in my soul? Prior to yesterday I would have said a Macbook. The thing is, I don’t want a Macbook, or any laptop for that matter. First there is the price. $1000 dollars to start is too much moolah for a device that is only going to be used on my patio, in a pub or when I travel (which is rare). Second, I don’t want to deal with the hassle of maintaining a second, fully functional computer. Sure, iTunes sharing and Mobile Me sync help with this, but the bottom line is that I would still be running a full OS X instance just to browse the web, read a book, draft an email or write a blog post. For those who would counter, “get a netbook,” I would respond, “Fuck you in the ear, asshole.” My hands are already too fucked up, last thing I need is typing on a netbook.
Which brings us to the iPad. For me, for my use cases, since I don’t already own a laptop the iPad looks to be perfect for me. For other people, and other use cases that may not be so. As a laptop alternative I think the iPad is wonderful. It has just enough of the horsepower, and very little of the overhead of a Macbook. Now, someone click the Paypal button and send me $830.
disclaimer…don’t actually send me $800.
Bing Winner. And i also dont want to carry my fucking laptop around when im doig 2-3 hour walkthrough of 50-100k sq ft warehouses and i get a call that someone cant figure out where they saved their fucking word document.
Add comic reading to that and im a happy person.
The fact that I'll be able to read more easily on this device is the clincher for me. I read a lot on my iPhone between emails, RSS feeds, and news websites. I also read paper books and magazines. I'll soon be able to do all that on one easy to read device.
Also, 40 is just around the corner for me, and that iPhone print isn't getting any bigger. I'm getting the 16GB WiFi version as soon as it's available.
Bingo. The “it's just a big iPod Touch” crowd don't understand that. They are judging the iPad through the narrow lens of what components it contains and what they wanted, not what it could be used for and by whom else.
The iPad is a bigger canvas, and I don't just mean “in pixels”.
I only ever use my laptop when I'm walking around the house, travelling, or doing some research at the library. And I really don't need any of my big existing desktop apps like the Adobe Suite for that. This thing really is a laptop alternative that looks like it should work out perfectly.
I dunno if I'd call that a narrow lens but that's just me. They just wanted a little more than what was there. In regards to the use-case that spawned the netbook, people were looking for a cheap laptop. The netbook solution was simple, do more for less. The iPad's solution is to do less for more in a large scale version of iPhone's OS.
I've haven't really been surprised that the geeks are disappointed by the iPad. They always claim to be disappointed by Apple products, but I'm a little taken back by the level of anger I've seen on the net. You would think Apple came by their houses and raped their pet dog, the way geeks have been acting.
I also see this as a perfect solution for the chore that is browsing on an iPhone or iPod Touch. Browsing on a three inch screen hurts. The 3G component totally wipes out the need for a cell phone contract in my opinion. I already use Skype over Wi-Fi on my Touch. If I get the iPad, I can make VoIP calls anywhere. This is very attractive to me and I'm surprised that more people haven't picked up on it. Apple just removed the restriction on making VoIP calls over 3G. This is a huge deal.
The geeks are too obsessed with finding their stupid HDMI and SD cards slots to pay attention.
“in regards to the use-case that spawned the netbook, people were looking for a cheap laptop.”
Says you. What most people obviously fail to get is that there are actually two markets for netbooks. One is the “cheap laptop” chumps you reference, the other is people looking for an ultraportable machine. Go back and read John Negroponte's early statements regarding the One Laptop per Child stuff, that was the true genesis of netbooks, and cheap was one of many factors.
“The iPad's solution is to do less for more in a large scale version of iPhone's OS.”
This “the iPad is just a big expensive iPod Touch” crap is already played out just a day in. Get back to me when you've actually used one.
This is nothing new; the same thing happened with the iPhone release. The greater dorkosphere creates a product in their collective noggins that Prometheus himself couldn't deliver, the freaks the fuck out when reality sets in. The fun part is that they will all own one in six months and be pontificating about how they knew that the iPad was “game changer” all along.
Hmm, I've been using a laptop for years because it takes care of all of my use cases for computer use. I've always bought relatively small laptops with decent performance. I dock them for desktop use with a large monitor. I can unplug and go in a few seconds. Since I just use a laptop for everything, I don't have to worry about syncing anything. And since the introduction of the x86 line, performance has never been an issue. I had a Titanium G4 before the first 15″ MacBook Pro that was getting to be a little bit under performing. But it was never really a big problem. Now I have a 13″ MacBook (aluminum) that easily exceeds my needs performance wise.
Having said all that, in most cases I do not really need a laptop. It normally sits on my desk in my home office. Even if I take it to work, I generally don't use it much (depending on the job.) So, can I convince myself to get an iPad for those times when I need a computer when away from my desk at home? I'm not sure.
My last contract (I'm a software developer) was at a place where I could use my own laptop for Java development. Using my own computer was far superior to the piece of junk 3 GHz Pentium 5 they gave me to use. That thing was so slow it was hard to imagine that the CPU could really have been the 3 GHz that Windows claimed it was. So in that case, the laptop was invaluable to me but that situation has never happened before or since so I don't think it is a common use case for me at all.
This is going to take some thought but luckily the iPad with 3G isn't due until spring so I have time to consider.
The iPad is good for executives, traveling sales persons, etc. who don't need a lot of horsepower that laptops provide. Further, it has iWork that provides enough power to make presentations, write memos, capture expenses etc. that is more than adequate for people who travel a lot. With 3G they don't need to be tethered to a wired connection to communicate with their more computing power that is available back at their bases.
Plus, remember half the internet trashing the iPhone because it had a camera, and would get confiscated at the security desk at a lot of companies? Now they're in a froth about the iPad not having a camera. Getting your phone nicked would be annoying, but what if it was your iPad you were going to make your Keynote presentation from? Oopsie doodle!
I find it amusing that geeks criticize the iPad for being just like the iPhone, as if it were a huge failure. And then you have these people who wanted the Mac OS on the thing. The iPhone is what everyone on the internet has been constantly talking about for three years. It has a buttload of developers and 140,000 apps. Why the heck would Apple go with anything else?
Let's be honest, the iPad was really made for one thing. Reading crap while taking one. No one wants a laptop in the bathroom and an iPhone is a bit tedious, plus you could lose it in the bowl far too easily. iPad fills the void.
Let’s be honest, the iPad was really made for one thing. Reading crap while taking one. No one wants a laptop in the bathroom and an iPhone is a bit tedious, plus you could lose it in the bowl far too easily. iPad fills the void.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Darby Lines, Max Roeleveld and Cory Anotado, André Knoche. André Knoche said: The @angry_drunk has the same idea as I: instead of owning a desktop & a laptop, keep the desktop & get an iPad http://is.gd/7hpm1 [...]
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by Angry_Drunk: The Drunk speaks: iPad Calculus http://bit.ly/aeaCIN...