iPad Thoughts After talking to others

Since Posting the article Why was the Apple iPad Announcement BORNIG I have been blasted by many of my Mac loving friends as a traitor. I am not much for drinking Kool-Aid coming from any vendor, as for the beverage, well I still keep a pitcher in the fridge. Let me be clear, I buy Apple technology. I have owned all 3 versions of the iPhone, I have at least 4 working iPods, 1 Mac Mini, 1 Apple TV, 1 iMac, 2 Mac Book Pro's, 1 Mac Book Air, 1 Airport Express, 1 Time Capsule. If there is one thing I am not is an Apple hater, but I am not a fanboy for anyone. Well at least not for free. I dumped Windows Mobile for the iPhone because Microsoft failed to innovate. I have now dumped my iPods for the Zune HD for the very same reason.

Disgusted with the tech press

I have listened to the tech press that controls the media today and I feel they report with the goal of controlling the market vs. reporting facts. I get the same feeling from the market analysts. How can you get so many people that are supposed to be intelligent and they all sing the same song? How is this possible? You might believe because it is true. No way it is. Now, I am not saying I am right, but I formed my own opinion based on what I have seen. What disappointed me the most is I listened to many top experts say, "if this is just a big iPod Touch I will be upset." During the presentation and days following I listened to the same sheep hail this as the next coming and a redefining of the tech market. What the hell are they looking at? Please tell me something revolutionary about this device! Just give me one thing. You have no idea how bad I wanted to buy one of these things. In fact, I was refreshing the Apple Store so I could place an order during the presentation before I knew all the facts. How happy I am they saved me from being teased by Chris for being an idiot. Fanboys will buy because they are fanboys. Tech junkies will buy because it is new. The average consumer will likely be smart and sit on their cash. Let this thing grow legs over the first year or so. Any bets the next model has a built-in camera...Any takers?

A wake up call to all EReaders

This will challenge the Amazon Kindle for people that want a device that can do multiple things. The Kindle is like a hammer and it does one thing amazingly well. This statement is so obvious it almost sounds stupid to state but, the success of the Kindle rides around several key items:

• Whisper sync - regardless of the device you are using, whisper sync keeps your desktop reader, Kindle reader(s), or iPhone reader all in sync.  That alone is an amazing option.  Amazon wants you as a customer, but allows you to consume on the device you want.
• E Ink - is amazing technology as it makes an electronic device look like printed paper.  I am sure at one time someone said color TV would never replace black and white.  The draw for E Ink is how easy reading is as there is no back light like computer screens
• Ease of purchase - having built-in free 3g is a killer feature.  I can buy books online or on the device and they just get there.  I have no doubt the iPad is going to kick the living day lights out of amazon when it comes to magazines.  Hopefully they do something for children books.
• No monthly cost - I am just guessing, but most people are sick of paying an additionally monthly fee for x, y, or z.  Amazon hit a home run here.  250 MB at $14.99 is a suckers deal.  You will go over with a single iTunes movie download and AT&T will stick it to you.  That is the goal.

I called some of my iPhone friends and not too surprisingly, most of them never heard of the iPad. They were not big tech junkies nor were they fanboys. This made them perfect for an experiment. I had each of them go and look at the iPad on Apple’s site. When they finished checking out the iPad all but one said the same thing, "that is a big iPhone". Only one wanted to buy it but he has almost as much disposable income as Steve Jobs.

I love the iPhone because it is sticky. The form factor allows me to keep it close regardless where I am and I can do just about anything on it (except background processes). Its success for me is because it puts so much in a device I am all ready committed to carrying, my mobile phone.  As always you get the extra Apple elegance as they are design kings.  The same does not apply to the iPad as you significantly increase the device size and it is not a laptop replacement. I can see having one around the house though.  With a NetBook or any laptop you don't have to worry about propping up the screen. I think this could make for an amazing whole house automation panel. If it goes that route, call me a buyer. I cannot see it replacing my Kindle but I need to touch it to be sure.

Amazon can turn this in their favor

If I was Amazon, I would build a better Kindle App for the iPad and give it the option to purchase titles from Amazon in the app. I would advertise a simple message, “Why pay 50% more to Apple for the same books you can get on Amazon”. I would build an iTunes Plug-in to compare every iBook to Amazon. Amazon, Sony, and Barnes and Noble need to establish a universal format that can go across all devices.  Heck, charge an additional $2-$3 to port your book to other platforms or buy the universal version.  Next allow users to share books.  I should be able to share my book with a perfect stranger for 30 days and share no private information.  If not, well the Apple runaway train is already in motion. I am not discounting the Windows Tablets but that is going after a different and larger market segment.

The Accessory Shake Down

I look at all the accessories being provided for the iPad and can only think of a couple things. They ripped all this out to drive the price lower. Remember Apple enjoys healthy margins on their device sales. Let me put it another way, Apple sticks it to their customers to make the stock holders rich regardless of the economic situation. Also, I think the accessories are being provided to allow this to compete with a Netbook on price. The brilliant thing is they get most consumers to focus on the sticker price vs the total cost. The accessories are never even considered untill after purchase.

The accessories as I recall are the camera attachment, USB Keyboard, and carrying case. Each is designed to address a fundamental flaw in what a tablet is. The camera is the exception as this was only offered as Apple wanted the highest margin possible with the lowest prices. Basically, this was removed to protect profit margins. The USB keyboard is also to compete with NetBooks. The keyboard allows the device to sit upright as no one for a length of time wants to hold this thing upright. Am I the only one thinking why did you not offer a Bluetooth keyboard option? If 3rd party hardware makers want the use the Apple's dock connector they will have a licensing fee thus Apple makes money when you make pay the vendor money.  The lack of bluetooth keyboards is not about technology, it is about profit.  The carrying case is a given but the folding option to prop it up for easy reading and watching movies is brilliant way to address the flaw.

On the surface I don’t see anything for me here. The key things they showed off are of little interest on this device. Time will tell and maybe I will look like an idiot after all. Heck I loved the Apple TV until the last update and that has been a market flop. Maybe I am getting this all wrong but I stand by my own opinion vs. following countless other sheep.

I am not alone see 10 Reasons why the iPad is an iMiss

Tagged as: Apple, Apple Tablet, iPad, iSlate, Tablet Computer