Yesterday I had lunch with a friend and we got in to a discussion about the upcoming Apple iPad. He considers it to be an expensive toy while I see it as something that could become the command center for your entire house. He was quick to point out that as great as my idea may sound, that’s not the types of applications that are currently being developed. While I can’t entirely disagree with him, I’d like to point out that when gMail first hit the street, there was plenty of talk about how little functionality it had.
I won’t lie, I’m strongly considering getting an iPad. But before I do, I think it’s smart to consider a few questions before dropping the cash;
- Is it just a fancy toy?
- Am I just an Apple FanBoy who has to have the new shiny gadget?
- What do I expect to use it for?
I can pretty easily answer ‘no’ to the first two questions, but it’s that third question that gets me. What DO I expect to use it for? Well, let’s see…
The Ultimate Universal Remote
Remember the Logitech Harmony remote control? You plug it in to your computer, set up a profile with all the electronics you own, download the codes to your remote and you now had buttons for “Watch TV”, “Watch a DVD”, “Play XBox Games”, etc. Well, let’s take that to the next level. Imagine a central online database of all electronic devices with an IR receiver. Menu driven selections for picking your TV brand, then model, type in the first couple letters of the model number and an auto-complete list of matches shows up for you to select from. Once all your devices are stored, control them through a simple graphic interface. TV, Stereo, lights, disco ball… anything with a remote should be in there.
Yeah, I know this isn’t going to happen immediately. But tell me that wouldn’t be a kick-ass app.
Mobile Movies
I am currently loving my Netflix subscription and the ability to stream movies directly to my TV through my xBox. But there are definitely times when being able to watch a movie away from the house would be freakin’ sweet. For example, my recent 7 hour layover at an airport in Dallas. iPad + headphones + internet connection = a way less stressed traveler. Of course it would also be nice to download movies to it for watching in spots with no internet access.
Yeah, I know I could watch movies on my iPhone. But tell me it wouldn’t be nicer to watch them on a decent sized screen without having to lug around a laptop.
Web Browsing on the Couch
My Google Reader account usually hovers at about 500 articles to read. Kicking back on the couch and scrolling through some of the many RSS feeds and getting caught up on news and blogs sounds pretty great to me. “You could do that on your iPhone”, you say. I could, but honestly, the screen size on the iPhone keeps me from using it for reading any more than I absolutely have to.
Writing/Reading Emails
This could really fall in to the previous category, I know. But, when listing activities I would use it for, this one is a biggie. I read a fair amount of emails from my iPhone already. I think the extra screen real estate on the iPad would be very helpful. Plus, I’ve heard that the iPad will support the Dvorak keyboard layout. This would make me a very happy camper.
Of course, with the good, there is also the bad… Huffington Post had an article a while back talking about the 13 things you NEED to know about the iPad. Some of the things they pointed out are definitely issues. Some, however, I think people are complaining just for the sake of complaining. I agree 100% that the lack of multitasking functionality is tragic. If there is a single deal-breaker to be found, that’s likely the one. But the fact that there is no camera or GPS, to me, I don’t really see that as an issue. I don’t usually leave the house without my iPhone which has both of those features, so not having them in this device certainly won’t stop me from buying.
I would love to tell you that I’ll be waiting for the second generation of iPads to hit the market before I dive in. But I likely won’t. I’ll probably hold out for a couple months… but then it’ll happen. Somebody will have one and let me test it out. My eyes will glaze over, my credit card will fall out of my wallet and before you know it my order will be placed.
How about you? You planning on getting an iPad? Leave a comment and tell me why… or why not.
I'm pretty sure movies are a given, and I echo the sentiments on a Universal Remote. I want to be able to turn on/off my entire house and set my security alarm with this thing, or what's the point?
Oh, there's an interesting idea. Get some of the security gadgets made by x10.com and then an app for monitoring your house from the iPad. I like it!
Actually, there is a home automation app for the iPhone. I imagine it will be available for the iPad too. Not a true remote, it still won't play your Xbox or Blu-ray player.
Actually, there is a home automation app for the iPhone. I imagine it will be available for the iPad too. Not a true remote, it still won't play your Xbox or Blu-ray player.
Oh, there's an interesting idea. Get some of the security gadgets made by x10.com and then an app for monitoring your house from the iPad. I like it!
Actually, there is a home automation app for the iPhone. I imagine it will be available for the iPad too. Not a true remote, it still won't play your Xbox or Blu-ray player.
I fully agree with you comments.
Basically the reading part on the couch is number one usage I see for me
. Also I like to watch a movie while in bed. I have an Archos 5 today which is already great but the iPad screen is so much better and gorgeous. I've never thought about the central remote but that would be a killer app.
What stops me from buying an iPad? The price plus the fact that I'll be frustrated with everything that drives me crazy today on the iPhone: no multi-tasking, the fact that we fully depend on Steve Jobs mood to get something or not and the extreme control that Apple has over the iPad. I'm not just talking technology here but also business and how they milk the cow … I mean us the end-users. Although I don't really care about Flash here is an example: why not Flash? Because if you get flash you don't need to pay to play games, or watch movies, you're not tied to iTunes and the App Store anymore, Apple would loose its total control on the money flow … this is no technology issue, this is all business, I don't like being lied to.
The point is, I'm sure the day I have one in hands, I'll want it because there is something about the iPad, and I'm not sure I'll have the strength to wait for a second version (although it's a known fact that you should never buy Apple product first versions), or for the competition. I'd love to see a similar product from Google, but since they're targeting the notepad with Chrome OS, I'm unsure if and how they're gonna fight back.
Ha, you're baiting me with posts about Apple products. Ok, I'll bite but I'm leaving the exact same comment as I did on Facebook.
I'm lazy like that…
"Am I just an Apple FanBoy who has to have the new shiny gadget?" Hmm… you have a Macbook Pro and an iPhone, and probably other iPods in your home. Add an iPad at the head and you become Fanboy Voltron! Just sayin.
You provide valid points, especially about the camera, GPS, and movies, but you haven't compared to other devices on the market.
There's a multitude of tablets that run on Android, Jolicloud, or even Windows 7 tablet edition that are viable competitors and offer full browsers and plugins for those browsers (flash, silverlight). There's nothing an iPad can do that these can't. You can even have your iTunes library (music, videos, AND LPs) on the windows 7 devices. Even the iPad won't support Apples own LPs.
My biggest grief about the iphone OS is that of video support. Yeah yeah yeah, I heard all the comeback rhetoric about "but it will support HTML5 – that's a flash killer!"… problem is, it isn't. Flash is the standard. It's what people use. 75% of all video on the web is encoded in Flash. The fact the iphone/ipad doesn't support it is a huge deal to me. I avoid watching Youtube videos on my iphone because its painful.
Watch this video, it's enlightening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p-RZAwQq0E
Final thought: the HP Slate is cheaper than the iPad. And proposed Android and Windows tablets that will come to market at the end of the year will be even cheaper than the Slate."
Ha, you're baiting me with posts about Apple products. Ok, I'll bite but I'm leaving the exact same comment as I did on Facebook.
I'm lazy like that…
"Am I just an Apple FanBoy who has to have the new shiny gadget?" Hmm… you have a Macbook Pro and an iPhone, and probably other iPods in your home. Add an iPad at the head and you become Fanboy Voltron! Just sayin.
You provide valid points, especially about the camera, GPS, and movies, but you haven't compared to other devices on the market.
There's a multitude of tablets that run on Android, Jolicloud, or even Windows 7 tablet edition that are viable competitors and offer full browsers and plugins for those browsers (flash, silverlight). There's nothing an iPad can do that these can't. You can even have your iTunes library (music, videos, AND LPs) on the windows 7 devices. Even the iPad won't support Apples own LPs.
My biggest grief about the iphone OS is that of video support. Yeah yeah yeah, I heard all the comeback rhetoric about "but it will support HTML5 – that's a flash killer!"… problem is, it isn't. Flash is the standard. It's what people use. 75% of all video on the web is encoded in Flash. The fact the iphone/ipad doesn't support it is a huge deal to me. I avoid watching Youtube videos on my iphone because its painful.
Watch this video, it's enlightening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p-RZAwQq0E
Final thought: the HP Slate is cheaper than the iPad. And proposed Android and Windows tablets that will come to market at the end of the year will be even cheaper than the Slate."
I'm about as un-Fanboy as they come. I'm not at all happy with my switch to Mac last year. I hate many things about the iPhone which is why I have a Nexus One.
I've preordered an iPad that I should have in 9 days (not that I'm counting). I see two potential "killer uses" for the iPad and have decided they're useful enough to get one.
I expect the iPad will be a really great conference device. I just got done carrying my MacBook Pro around SXSW. That thing is heavy, and meant I needed to carry a bag that was bigger than it could've been. What do I do with a computer at conferences? I read Twitter. I read blogs. Take care of the occasional email. Perhaps I'm presenting so I need a device that can handle my Keynote presentation. The iPad will meet these needs in a (relatively) lightweight, compact form factor while still letting me get things done on a screen bigger than my phone.
The other use, and the one that I used to justify paying what is likely an early-adopter tax? I can't wait to put my photo portfolio on the device and have it to meet with photo clients. Want to sit down and talk about some portraits? Let me pull out my iPad and show you some various styles of portraiture I've done. Are we meeting for the first time and you're asking "oh, what sorts of photography are you into?"… Rather than tell you, I can show you, on a great-looking device. Yeah, I could do that with my phone, but lets face it, a 3" photo isn't that impressive.
Will I still be as excited in a couple weeks? A month? Six months? Time will tell.
Aaron, the photo aspect is something I didn't even get in to. I couldn't agree more about how awesome it will be to show photos on the large screen. Using it at a conference both from the audience and from the podium are other uses that will make it a super sexy device.
I'm looking forward to hearing your reviews of the iPad once you have it in hand. I'm most interested in the reviews after 1 week and then again after 2 months. I figure you won't put it down for the first week, but, how often you find yourself using it after 2 months, that's what I'm most curious about.
Aaron, the photo aspect is something I didn't even get in to. I couldn't agree more about how awesome it will be to show photos on the large screen. Using it at a conference both from the audience and from the podium are other uses that will make it a super sexy device.
I'm looking forward to hearing your reviews of the iPad once you have it in hand. I'm most interested in the reviews after 1 week and then again after 2 months. I figure you won't put it down for the first week, but, how often you find yourself using it after 2 months, that's what I'm most curious about.
Aaron, the photo aspect is something I didn't even get in to. I couldn't agree more about how awesome it will be to show photos on the large screen. Using it at a conference both from the audience and from the podium are other uses that will make it a super sexy device.
I'm looking forward to hearing your reviews of the iPad once you have it in hand. I'm most interested in the reviews after 1 week and then again after 2 months. I figure you won't put it down for the first week, but, how often you find yourself using it after 2 months, that's what I'm most curious about.
Well, lets talk about the App store vs the alternatives. Apple has an approval process for getting apps in to their store. It's a pain in the ass for developers because Apple plays the part of judge and jury. I've heard countless stories about apps that don't get approved or get pulled from the store for reasons that seem ridiculous. But, as an end user, I'm fine with it. It keeps out a lot of junk. Just because somebody CAN write an app doesn't mean they should make it available to everybody. It could have security issues, malware, or, it could just flat out not work. I've had amazingly good success with apps in the App store, so that argument doesn't hold much weight for me.
Now, your comment about Flash, I couldn't agree more. I think it's nothing more than a control move. It sucks and I don't like it. Alas, I likely will gloss over that as I stare blankly at the screen as my iPad order completes…
I agree with Jason 100%. There are other tablets out there that do a lot more, and Apple's refusal to include Flash and Silverlight support is just plain awful for the end user. No Netflix or Hulu will make for some angry customers, especially considering that Apple is marketing this as an internet media device.
Wait, what did you just say?? No Netflix? That would probably be a dealbreaker for me at this point.
For the record:
1. I have the baby macbook, not a macbook pro.
2. You are right, I do have ipods. But, in my defense, I tried out at least 2 dozen (not even exaggerating here) mp3 players before ever trying the iPod. Once I tried it, I loved the controls, the interface and yes, even iTunes…
You are absolutely right. There are other options out there and I will likely look at them before eventually buying the iPad anyway. But it's not about being a fanboy (no, really). I do like the way that Apple builds a product. The iPhone, for all the complaints that people throw at it, I have very very few. And really, most of my complaints are due to dropped calls which is a carrier issue, not a product issue.
I will likely check out the other similar devices that become available… and then I'll likely buy the iPad anyway. (spoken like a true fanboy)
For the record:
1. I have the baby macbook, not a macbook pro.
2. You are right, I do have ipods. But, in my defense, I tried out at least 2 dozen (not even exaggerating here) mp3 players before ever trying the iPod. Once I tried it, I loved the controls, the interface and yes, even iTunes…
You are absolutely right. There are other options out there and I will likely look at them before eventually buying the iPad anyway. But it's not about being a fanboy (no, really). I do like the way that Apple builds a product. The iPhone, for all the complaints that people throw at it, I have very very few. And really, most of my complaints are due to dropped calls which is a carrier issue, not a product issue.
I will likely check out the other similar devices that become available… and then I'll likely buy the iPad anyway. (spoken like a true fanboy)
I am excited about the iPad and it is more than just being an apple fanboy.
The area I think most people are ignoring for the iPad is for businesses & sales people in particular. The iPad 3g is an inexpensive mobile office.
The no flash argument I don't think has real merit. Todays standard is tomorrows antique. The current flash system I think is one of the biggest roadblocks in unleashing the full potential of the web. Excluding a technology today because it fails to meet tomorrows needs is how evolution is pushed. Remember when everyone was shocked by Apple not having a 3.5" Floppy in the original iMac?
Actually, the Flash argument has a lot of merit. Around 80% of the video sites on the net use flash video players, including most of the big ones like Hulu and YouTube (their HTML5 beta doesn't work without the flash player installed). How can Apple claim the iPad is an internet media device if most of the media sites won't work on it?
As for the 3.5 floppy example, there is a very important difference. People had the option of purchasing an external USB floppy drive. In this case, there is no way to get around the lack of Flash and Silverlight.
LOL – it's ok John. Fanboy or not, you're still cool in my book.
I have an iphone and a slew of iPods. But I also have an iriver and a samsung mp3 player that I love. There's pros and cons to living in Apple's world, as we all know.
I haven't had many dropped calls here in Florida. But in Vegas it was effin ridiculous. I couldn't even get a signal at most spots on the strip. The airport was marginally better. I didn't make it out south or to Henderson, but I hope for your sake AT&T is better in the neighborhoods. I had T-mobile when I lived there and had no complaints. Hope Vegas is one of the next major cities to get the upgrade like SF and NY were. It is badly in need of it, especially at conference time.
iPad: it will be interesting to see what they roll out with for added features in next generations. I know for a fact I won't be first adopter. But we'll see what they do in the future as software and processors advance. The other tablets on the market are very much what I'm looking for, as long as I don't have to use outlook (the gmail interface is awesome though!).
He's right. Same with Hulu, Blockbuster, Fancast, and any other online video store.
BUT – found an Universal Remote for you, so that might compensate: http://www.ohgizmo.com/2010/03/23/newkinetix-re-u…
He's right. Same with Hulu, Blockbuster, Fancast, and any other online video store.
BUT – found an Universal Remote for you, so that might compensate: http://www.ohgizmo.com/2010/03/23/newkinetix-re-u…
He's right. Same with Hulu, Blockbuster, Fancast, and any other online video store.
BUT – found an Universal Remote for you, so that might compensate: http://www.ohgizmo.com/2010/03/23/newkinetix-re-u…
He's right. Same with Hulu, Blockbuster, Fancast, and any other online video store.
BUT – found an Universal Remote for you, so that might compensate: http://www.ohgizmo.com/2010/03/23/newkinetix-re-u…
He's right. Same with Hulu, Blockbuster, Fancast, and any other online video store.
BUT – found an Universal Remote for you, so that might compensate: http://www.ohgizmo.com/2010/03/23/newkinetix-re-u…
That's right John, no Netflix.
This is the #1 reason I have decided not to get an iPad.
Netflix will need to write a custom player for the iPad, something they have already stated is not a priority for them. http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20100129/netfl…
Well, lets talk about the App store vs the alternatives. Apple has an approval process for getting apps in to their store. It's a pain in the ass for developers because Apple plays the part of judge and jury. I've heard countless stories about apps that don't get approved or get pulled from the store for reasons that seem ridiculous. But, as an end user, I'm fine with it. It keeps out a lot of junk. Just because somebody CAN write an app doesn't mean they should make it available to everybody. It could have security issues, malware, or, it could just flat out not work. I've had amazingly good success with apps in the App store, so that argument doesn't hold much weight for me.
Now, your comment about Flash, I couldn't agree more. I think it's nothing more than a control move. It sucks and I don't like it. Alas, I likely will gloss over that as I stare blankly at the screen as my iPad order completes…
LOL – it's ok John. Fanboy or not, you're still cool in my book.
I have an iphone and a slew of iPods. But I also have an iriver and a samsung mp3 player that I love. There's pros and cons to living in Apple's world, as we all know.
I haven't had many dropped calls here in Florida. But in Vegas it was effin ridiculous. I couldn't even get a signal at most spots on the strip. The airport was marginally better. I didn't make it out south or to Henderson, but I hope for your sake AT&T is better in the neighborhoods. I had T-mobile when I lived there and had no complaints. Hope Vegas is one of the next major cities to get the upgrade like SF and NY were. It is badly in need of it, especially at conference time.
iPad: it will be interesting to see what they roll out with for added features in next generations. I know for a fact I won't be first adopter. But we'll see what they do in the future as software and processors advance. The other tablets on the market are very much what I'm looking for, as long as I don't have to use outlook (the gmail interface is awesome though!).