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iPad – pretty, pointless

January 27th, 2010 · by David Bradley >> 12 Comments

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Is there a killer app for Steve Jobs’ new baby, the long-awaited and uber-hyped Apple iPad (clever name, eh, and what were the splotches of paint and the mention of creativity all about in the press release?). Am I just being an Apple unfan boy? Am I missing the point. It’s essentially a giant iPhone or iPod touch for browsing the web, storing photos, reading books, and media player. Big deal.

According to Jobs’ speech it fills the gap between the smart phone and laptop. Presumably, without all the silliness of the netbook. But, for what purpose?

Can anyone say why this mashup device between smartphone and laptop exists and who is actually going to buy one and use it? Sure it’s pretty. Pretty pointless.

iPad? iNot!

Meanwhile, here’s the Apple iPad 2010 (BCE)

12 responses so far ↓

  • Greg // Jan 28, 2010 at 12:15 pm

    I understand what you mean, I can’t work out it’s reason yet. Surely you’re still better off buying a laptop? The ipad can do things but not life changing tasks, I can’t really see the practicality behind it

  • David Bradley // Jan 28, 2010 at 2:07 pm

    I *can* some reasons to buy this device if you’re hooked on the portability of your iPhone/iPod Touch but would prefer a bigger screen, but it’s going to be awkward to work with and certainly not one you’d be able to type on comfortably for any length of time, especially if you’re perching it on your lap (doubly awkward for men, I’d say). As a “cool” lifestyle gadget to show off at dinner parties and conferences fine, but it’s not a workhorse, it’s not a games console, and it’s not a phone, even if it is all three of those things rolled into one…

    Mind you, at less than $500 for the basic non-3G model, that’s a nice toy for those who like shiny things, right?

  • Roy Scribner // Jan 28, 2010 at 3:58 pm

    I’ve played with tablets for 10 years, but the bottom line is that a pen and paper are still faster and more accurate for taking notes and anything that does not fit in your pocket tends to get left on the desk.

    There might be an entertainment niche for this type of product, but I would have expected a 16:9 aspect ratio and the requisite I/O ports to support the transfer of photos and video from cameras.

  • David Bradley // Jan 28, 2010 at 4:58 pm

    It doesn’t have ports? That’s just silly. But, even if it did, they wouldn’t be standard USB or whatever anyway, look at the stupid connection you get with an iPod, for instance.

  • Mike // Jan 29, 2010 at 4:36 am

    The iPad is a dud. Apple knows it, but they have to keep pumping new products out. Some folks will drink the kool-aid for sure, but this will turn out to be a flop.

  • Werbeartikel // Jan 29, 2010 at 8:35 am

    I typed in “ipad pointless” into google because I wanted to see if I was the only one who thought this – glad I’m not the only one! Who in their right mind wants to whip this out on a train and fear it being robbed, in the same respect, who’d want to use this to write emails in a clumsy way over using a computer. Jack of all trades, master of none!!

  • Eugene // Feb 1, 2010 at 1:25 am

    To me it seems like a step backwards. The iphone does the same crap and it fits in your pocket. I don’t see the point in it.

  • Tyler // Feb 1, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    It should have been a full-out computer running the newest version of Leopard. It literally is just a super sized iPod Touch, I’d rather have the Touch that can fit in the palm of my hand and pocket. The iPad was a great idea but like Eugene said it’s a step back or in the same place.

  • David Bradley // Feb 2, 2010 at 8:03 am

    The app 2x zoom offers one advantage for anyone middle-aged (such as myself) whose eyes are starting to fail and cannot focus on 1:1 screens on a Touch but doesn’t want to succumb to prescription glasses…

  • John Jenkinson // Feb 13, 2010 at 10:25 am

    the one thing that could’ve made this product something that you really needed to have was if it had a word processor on it, only then would it cross the bridge between a net book and a laptop.

  • Mark // Feb 26, 2010 at 11:40 pm

    I agree with Eugene, the iPad is just like going back in time, the whole point of the iPhone and iPod touch is that it’s small, not the size of a dinner plate. How are you going to be able to conveniantly carry one round anyway?

  • Jaysquared // Mar 9, 2010 at 2:07 am

    And what’s more, if you do find a way to carry it around, it’s so thin you’ll constantly worry about breaking it…

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