[geeks] iPad - NOT a 'Miss' for me I'm afraid

[Lionel Peterson]

On Jan 30, 2010, at 12:31 PM, "Jon Gilbert" <jjj at io.com> wrote:

> ll I can say is that the iPad is going to end up in a lot of college  
> dorm
> rooms. Ultimate college tool... think about it.

No, it won't. Those who buy it will buy it because they are Mac fan- 
boys (or girls), and until $100+ textbooks suddenly become $10 ebooks,  
electronic college textbooks won't drive these devices into the hands  
of college students.

The same $500 would buy one heck of a netbook OR a pretty capable  
laptop with larger display and an actual keyboard.

Carrying one of these devices around *almost* requires a 'man purse',  
and only the most ardent Apple fan will endure such an addition to  
their wardrobe... IMHO

> The other thing it will be huge for is musicians.

Again, no. Anything this uPas can do, a full-function laptop/netbook  
can do. iPad is a new architecture, not a new form-factor for a  
MacBook...

> I think business people
> will use them for on-the-spot sales presentations.

And again, no. They will be used in tradeshows on stands/docks for  
their novelty factor, much like the old "lamp base" iMacs were for a  
while... It's size undermines it's usefulness, IMHO - it is very  
nearly the same size as a clipboard, and as functional as an iPhone  
with a larger display.

The iPad is useful in those cases where you look at your iPhone and  
say to yourself 'I wish the screen was bigger', which, BTW is NEVER  
when you slip your iPhone in your pocket and leave your bulky laptop/ 
tablet/netbook at home/office.

As a parent I can see loading this up with movies/shows for my 6 year- 
old, but having to buy content from Apple or figuring out the ripping  
process for converting my already purchased VHS tapes and DVDs are  
barriers to adoption by me, and many other buyers I suspect...

Lionel