東西 | dongxi

As the Apple fever slowly returns back to its normal levels, we can look past the initial hype and digest the iPad for what it truly is. Despite several major disappointments (at least from much of the tech community), the iPad still marks a significant point for tablets, potentially doing for the netbook/casual computing industry what the iPod did for music.

1. Mass Market: As the iPad launched, many tech enthusiasts (me included) lamented at the lack of certain features (AT&T, cameras, storage, multitask, etc.).  There’s very little that the iPad offers that would replace one who already owns a netbook, iPod, and Kindle. However, like many products out of Cupertino, the iPad isn’t meant for über-techie (though most of us will end up getting one anyways); it’s for the “casual” consumer that’s been looking for something easier to use, that keeps them from buying three or four gadgets, and puts it all in one neat and pretty box.  Apple products have never been about customization or even being the “best ____” of its kind; it’s always about creating a user experience that is so simple and pleasing, anyone can pick it up. For the consumer who just needs to check email, Facebook, and the occasional website or video clip on the go, the iPad makes a lot more sense.

2. Education: Apple didn’t go into too much detail, but the iPad has a huge potential for changing the educational landscapes. With publishers already signing up, Apple’s tablet can easily replace a hundred pounds of textbooks and notebooks for each students. With the right pricing models (perhaps subsidization) where both publishers and families (though not printing houses) can benefit, we can see a whole new generation growing up with tablet devices over pen and paper. Apple’s always been strong in putting itself in education; my public school in Queens used Macintoshes (one of my first computers); there’s no reason why they wouldn’t capitalize on this opportunity.

3. Casual Gaming: Apple is NOT a competing with the Xbox 360 and PS3.  However, as we’ve seen with the iPhone, Apple is making huge strides to capture that casual gaming audience, which does encroach the Nintendo DS (and possibly Wii). The iPad is most likely not producing anything like Halo or Uncharted, but when it comes to games like Bejeweled, sudoku, and crossword puzzles, the iPad is a virtual goldmine. Personally, even I’ve moved much of my portable gaming onto my iPod Touch, enjoying SimCity, Civilization, Risk, and Settlers of Catan on the go. Both the iPhone and Nintendo DS (both with touch screens) were met with doubts when it launched as well, but has rocketed to the top of the portable gaming market.  Apple can’t touch Master Chief, but when it comes to solitaire, it’s the undisputed king.

4. eBooks: Despite early “Kindle” apps on the iPhone, Apple’s definitely made its move on the eBook market, directly facing against Amazon.  The decision to stick w/ LCD will still be a tough pill to swallow – def. far harder on the eyes than e-ink on the Kindle.  Still, it’s the little things like color and touchscreen (plus multifuctionality of the iPad) that may bring people over the fence.  Even more crucial (and what remains to be seen), is the relationship between Apple and publishers – if books, magazines, and newspapers can make that digital leap, we may see a huge shift for both the print industry, and us, the consumers in how we consume that media.

5. Competition: I can’t help but feel that the tablet was almost forced out of Apple, by both fans and competitors.  With the HP Slate and Lenovo’s netbook/tablet at CES, it was clear that everyone was trying to capture the yet-to-exist tablet market.  As Apple releases their iPad, we will see other companies (some more successful than others) bring out their version of the tablet, some of which may cater better to some of the more high-tech audience.  Personally, I’d love to see Google come up with a tablet (now that they’ve moved into hardware with the Nexus, why not a tablet as well?). With mail, search, Google Docs, calendar, GTalk, voice, and a million other services, Google is perfectly poised to move into the tablet computing market.  While Microsoft (and several other companies) have long ago looked towards tablets, it’s really Apple’s move that will pave the way for that market shift everyone’s been looking for.

Like many others, I’m not quite ready to jump on the iPad train.  It’s a nice device, but it’s not quite there yet for what I would need it to do. It’s still a first-gen device, and as it is with all of Apple’s products, their strategy has always been to get early adopters to go first, show off their device to get everyone else intrigued, and six months to a year later, bring out version 2.0 with more functionality (as well as dropped costs for 1.0) to hook everyone else in. We’ve seen Apple do it with the original iPod and the iPhone; if Apple plays their cards right, there’s no reason why we can’t expect the same from the iPad.  As for me though, while I won’t be camping out long 5th Avenue anytime soon, don’t be too surprised if you find me waiting in line a year from now.

First gen models of the iPod, iPod Mini, iPod shuffle