“The target market for the iPad isn’t as clearly defined as it is for most Apple products,” Ryan Faas writes for Computerworld. “Is it appropriate for business use? Is it a media player or e-reader? How would it be used in educational environments? Is it just an oversized iPod Touch? Exactly what needs does it meet that a smartphone or notebook can’t fulfill?”
“We won’t fully know the answer to those questions until the iPad hits the market in March or April or for a little while after it’s released,” Faas writes. “But maybe the point isn’t what the iPad is, but what it represents.”
Faas writes, “The iPad is the latest and most striking example of Apple’s use of multi-touch technology. True multi-touch capability was more concept than reality before the iPhone’s debut in 2007. In less than three years, Apple has taken that technology and baked it into every one of its product lines. After the iPhone came multi-touch trackpads on Apple’s laptops. Then, last fall, came the new magic mouse. And now it’s being used in a full tablet. With each advance, Apple rolls out new ways to interact with devices.”
“The iPad’s arrival also demonstrates Apple’s continued ability to push the envelope in other technologies, including battery life,” Fass writes. “Over the past year or so, Apple has pioneered the concept that innovative battery design can lead to better battery life and better design. Not everyone is happy about the trend toward built-in, nonreplaceable batteries, but Apple at least makes the concept seem feasible, and even desirable.”
“Finally, the iPad is proof positive that Apple has the financial resources to develop completely new products from the ground up,” Fass writes. “The fact that Apple designed and manufactured its own processor specifically for the iPad speaks volumes about the company’s vitality, even in an uncertain economy. And it bodes well for Apple’s ability to innovate in the years ahead.”
Fass writes, “All that said, I have no doubt that even if the immediate market for the iPad isn’t obvious, Apple wouldn’t have developed the device without believing it could be a vital product… So, what sweet spot is Apple aiming for?”
Full article, in which Fass looks at all of the markets to which iPad appeals (entertainment, business, education, etc.), here.
MacDailyNews Take: It’s simple really, just look at it when it’s off: iPad is a blank slate. Apple’s iPad is for moms, dads, grandparents, kids, teens, and single adults. It’s basically for humans (and some primates) ages 1-100+.
Oh boy, Dallasm is here.
What are you going to complain about today?
“Really stupid people. With more money than brains.”
Incredibly misguided, egotistical, stupid, ass-holish, un-American thing to post.
Complainers just don’t have an open mind.
They don’t know how to learn about new technology and would rather tinker with dos and the registry.
Can’t do that with this product.
Apple is getting closer and closer to selling something as simple as a toaster. You just plug it in and push this button. (Almost idiot proof, except for PC geeks) It just works, little or no support needed.
Me, as soon it has a webcam. iPass until then, but I still can’t wait to play with the first generation models.
@ Giles
“I prefer a real camera, my small Leica D-Lux.”
I have lots of real cameras. By coincidence, I was just looking at a Leica M9. Currently waiting for the next version of the Canon 1Ds. Anyway, but look, you can have a blast with the iPhone camera, and all the apps that can apply to it. Really amazing things possible. Some iPhone shots have even found their way into the portfolio. I want to do that with the iPad.
Now this has been a worthwhile thread to follow… no US political jibber-jabber, minimal name calling, no PeeCee trolls and lots of good ideas.
Two concepts mentioned resonate with me – the iPad as a clean slate and as enabling technology. Just watch what will come of this.
Thanks all!
What Was Old Is New Again
@ Nina Neenah-Neener: “…..no US political jibber-jabber….”
Give them time. We’re only on page 2.
In the meantime, like you, I’m enjoying the on-topic discussion.
@ TT and C1
I shoot in the raw.
@ Dallasm
Your posts remind me of the old story about the tech support droid telling the dweeb on the phone to rebox his computer and send it back as he was too stupid to have one. That wasn’t you calling for support, was it?
I can put an apple logo on a turd and you guys would still think its the best thing ever, the truth is that this iPad is a total FAIL simply because it can not multitask, take pics, play flash, cant dawnload from other than the apple app store… not to say that its better than a netbook… it is not!!!! There fore it has failed. Now I am a big apple fan but i can at least see when i see a piece of shit. I just dont get a company as big ass apple can come up with such a crappy product when it could have obviously been soooo much better. so so sad.
Folks, this is the start of a revolution!
This is my prediction and my estimates.
The iPad right out of the box could be the primary computing device for at least 50% of computer users. Lots’ of users mainly surf the web, do email, read books and light word processing etc. It will replace the landline for many.
When the iPad and/or it’s brothers and sisters are able to do Photoshop type and art and graphics programs I personally would not have a great need for my desktop or a laptop.
Yes some graphics users will insist for a while they need the larger screens. Their maybe larger screen iPads in the future. The ability to work so closely with the ipad devices may greatly reduce the need for the larger screens for many.
At that point however 90% of home users and 50%-75% of business users will not need laptops or desktops. They will need iPads.
This seachange will occur and be completed within the next 5 to 10 years.
When the dust clears, which company will own the biggest market share of pad like devices? You know who.
It is the company with the proprietary OS and chip and their successor OSes and chips; Apple.
More and more people will eschew the inevitable knockoffs for the real thing.
Their will be little need for software out of Redmond!
Google will be the dear caught in the headlights.
Apple/Steve Jobs and the iPad, is like a broken field runner (football) with the ball tucked securely under his arm knocking over wouldbe tacklers and leaving air, as he sidesteps others while streaking for the goaline.
Touchdown!
This will be big.
No registry
No vacuum tubes
No wooden handles
No aerials
No magneto
No punch cards (for real!?)
No firebox
and lastly no wheels
No sale
@Ampar – agree with everything except the “un-“
Ok, I think the I-pad is a terrible device, before you yell this is what apple will do and that is introduce a 5″ version. If they brand it as a new I-Touch or a mini Pad it will be a huge success.
The I touch was an is a winner, the Maxi Pad is too big, bulky and ignored the problems of no keyboard. Its impossible to predict how many people will initially buy the I-Pad turkeys and surprised that Jobs thought his marketing hype could turn this into a success. Offer me a larger I-Touch and you got a sale. I have no need or desire for an I-Pad and even my nice expense account or early adapter tendencies will change my mind.
@ Zura & Geek,
After perusing your posts I have come to the conclusion that your parents and elementary school teachers really let you down. And vice versa.
As soon as the name is replaced with a reference to something other then a feminine hygiene product, I will consider it. Until then, the device will continue to be the laughing stock of the world. Amazing, how one ill-informed decision, has resulted in near universal condemnation. People are not even getting to the iPad itself, as the name is just too absurd. Features? Who cares. The association leaves one sneering in disbelief!
ChrissyOne:
Lightroom???Adobe????
What about Apple’s Aperture – You can bet it’s iPad derivative will be there….
U. R. Jokking:
Long before feminine pads there were writing pads, would you know that basic fact of life?
@ U. R. Jokking,
Ever ate a roll (as in toilet paper) or a bun (as in ass cheek)?
Yeah, that’s just as stupid as your comment.
U. R. Stoopid
@ Giles
“If you own an oven it does not make you a top chef” likewise, “if you own a camera, it does not make you a professional photographer”. – Giles Christopher
Giles where can we view your photographs, could you post a link to a blog or maybe a photo sharing site like Photo.net
@ U. R. Jokking
Did nobody get the point of showing Star Trek on it??
What has been a device that is used in the show and movies over all these years? The PADD.
Google it. Apple just put an i in from of it and removed a D.
This is right from Star Trek, and yes a pad of paper also works too.
Think:
So is the iPod…
I can’t wait for the voice recognition to get better.
The ability to always listen for the keyword or phrase by the one and only voice that can activate it, then be able to listen perfectly in a noisy room to your request.
Many people often ask why processors need to be faster. Voice and sound processing for recognition is still to slow. (Yes I know voice and speech software exists. But try that stuff in everyday environments with lots of background noise.) Once that is perfected, then that’s one more feature Apple could add to their products.
Can’t wait to see and touch the iPad. Apple is moving ever so slowly to certain product ideas that they envision. Just one step at a time.
Might have to watch the Knowledge Navigator clip again. Haven’t looked at that in a year or two.
@Giles
Thanks, Giles, for the link below. Went there and spent 1.5 hours at least on the literate, informed, philosophical, passionate, and unpaid comments on the insightful article. It’s a pity MDN attracts so many trolls; it’s too like surfing cable TV which has a high percentage of tripe. For you who missed it, here ya go–
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Comment from: Giles
Fraser Speirs sait it best :
The Real Work is not formatting the margins, installing the printer driver, uploading the document, finishing the PowerPoint slides, running the software update or reinstalling the OS.
The Real Work is teaching the child, healing the patient, selling the house, logging the road defects, fixing the car at the roadside, capturing the table’s order, designing the house and organising the party.
Think of the millions of hours of human effort spent on preventing and recovering from the problems caused by completely open computer systems. Think of the lengths that people have gone to in order to acquire skills that are orthogonal to their core interests and their job, just so they can get their job done.
If the iPad and its successor devices free these people to focus on what they do best, it will dramatically change people’s perceptions of computing from something to fear to something to engage enthusiastically with.
— Article Future Shock on his blog.
@ breeze
Matter of taster here, but personally I don’t like Aperture. I’ve used Lightroom since before it was released.