Thursday’s Charlie Rose show featured a discussion with Walt Mossberg, David Carr and Michael Arrington about the upcoming Apple iPad.
Their wide-ranging discussion covered topics such as the iPad’s surprisingly low starting price, Apple’s decision not to support Adobe’s Flash in iPad’s iPhone OS, and Apple’s challenges in this new market.
Mossberg began with, “First of all, I think people who are focused on the hardware — they say, you know, it just looks like a big iPhone — are missing the key thing here. The key thing here is going to be the software and the services that it will deliver… The other thing I will say is, from the short time I’ve used it, it feels great in the hand, it’s wicked fast — I mean it’s really fast — and it has software flourishes that are more like a Mac… than they are like an iPhone. The photo app on there looks more like the one you would get on your… Mac computer than it does what you would get on an… iPhone. And they have a full-blown productivity suite [iWork for iPad] on there; word processor [Pages for iPad], spreadsheet [Numbers for iPad], slide presentation program [Keynote for iPad], so it’s a different animal than an iPhone.”
Mossberg also said, “The price point shocked me… When [Jobs] said $499, I was amazed… It’s going to make it harder for competitors… under $499 is going to be hard [for competitors] to make a profit.”
During the discussion, both Carr and Arrington explain why they think iPad will be a hit.
See the entire video (23:36, in Adobe’s shitastic Flash, so crank up those CPUs and cooling fans!) via AllThingsD – highly recommended – here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “dslarsen” for the heads up.]
Boy I sure hope the iPad includes red-underline spell check, I confess I depend on that.
“Small fee, but not included like the quote above implies”
The quote above implies, “They have”, as in, “they’ve built a productivity suite.”
The fact that its a 10 dollar charge for Keynote is of little consequence.
People who want it will pay and those who don’t care won’t.
One of the best quotes by Moss…
“people don’t care about formats, they just want to watch the video.”
Take that further and think about it this way
Most of us in this forum are very competent with our computers
We can also diagnose and repair most problems.
The general computer using masses are not.
They just want to watch movies, email, be social twits;) don’t want the technology in their face and want to consume content easily, anywhere.
It is an interesting diorama when a high technology company can take the technology out of the way in their products.
that is why this product is so sublime.
Go
@DL Meyer. ; ) Most MDN takes + most Comments have a need not only Apple to be successful, but everything other company to fail too.
kevt, I am very much aware of this pathetic need. That wasn’t what I was addressing. Bezos made a sucky argument with most points totally missing the mark.
I don’t think there will be a lot of competition between the Kindle and the iPad. I expect that the iPad will actually boost Kindle sales! Despite the fact that there will be a <u>FREE</u> Kindle app – with color – available for the iPad on Day One. It’s already on the iPhone!
His arguments, though, implied that the Kindle was “old school” and that this would limit its ability to compete. If sales of the hardware drop, Amazon will not suffer terribly if it drops the line. They make their profit from the sale of the content!
I think Bezos was being sarcaaaarstic.
3Q 2012… end of the world?
@DLMeyer
Ahh, struck a nerve there I see. Obviously you’re a Kindle owner desperately hoping to justify your purchase but your end arguement actually concedes that the Kindle is destined to succumb. Alas, that was the point of my entire post but you chose to focus on the fact that the Kindle is a superior reader when, if you had any foresight, you would realize that this one trick pony will soon be hitting eBay by the thousands.
Michael Arrington said it – “You’re looking at a clear window into the software…”
<snicker> Isn’t this what Windows was originally supposed to be about?
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Hazzah.
I liked the comment in the video about Jobs keeping the Kindle on screen for a couple of minutes, and how “it looked like something the mennonites made 100 years ago”
But Mossberg saying Kindle can make a new color model too. Right, just anyone can make an iPad killer and an iTunes store killer and 140,000 apps. Just take a month or two. They could beat Apple to the punch if they hurry.
Oops.. actually David Carr said that.
@ DLMeyer
” … I expect that the iPad will actually boost Kindle sales! …”
My Meyer: Did you actually write that? I’ve read a lot of bullshit, pro and con, about the iPad but this remark is freakin hilarious!
So I’ll be a potential customer for a second with no predisposed opinions.
Okay, let’s check out this Kindle. Hmmm… looks cool … that’d be great to be able to read all my books wherever I go. $489, ouch, quite a bit more than I thought it’d be.
Okay, let’s look at this iPad I’ve heard so much about. Hmm… okay, I can read books – in color – with video, web access, email, 150,000 apps, office suite, touch screen, all my photos and videos, youtube, iPod, Google Maps, GPS, Calendar, search, …. Whoa!! How much is this thing gonna cost?! $499 … huh … WTF! $10 more than a Kindle? Screw that. Kindle FTW!
Is this how you see it playing out? Please tell me you’re not a financial advisor.
Here’s the deal – my mom just bought a Nook. Yeah, I tried to talk her out of it, but she had to have one.
My dad asked me about the iPad (on his own) and got excited when I showed it to him. He was going to buy a laptop but he suddenly forgot all about that – he’s waiting for the iPad to come out and we’re going to go take a look at one, but I’m pretty sure he’s sold.
When he gets one, my mother is going to look at her Nook and decide it’s a failure, and want an iPad so my dad doesn’t have a better toy.
I have seen them play this game over and over, btw.
@ChrissyOne
“I expect that the iPad will actually boost Nook sales!”
– DLMeyer
People missing the point is correct.
Think about the percentage of computer users that only use the types of apps you’ll be able to get on the iPad. Web, email, photos, music, videos and an office suite. Industry specific apps will fill in a lot of the gaps. It’s a smaller percentage of users that need apps outside of these bounds.
iChat and a video camera are about the only things I see missing. That will surely be added soon.
Holy crap, are families going to love the iPad?
But if it doesn’t have a caaaaamoa that shows a shaking ceiling light while I type, its a NO GO FOR ME!
@DLMeyer
The Kindle is a limited, short-term, one-note stopgap type of transitional product, not something of the breadth and capabilities of the iPad.
One of the reasons the iPhone took off is the fact that not only does act as phone, media player, internet appliance, but with the addition of different apps, one is able to create a fantastic pocket tool.
We already have and manage multiple devices with separate cables, chargers and sync devices for each. The more ONE device can do in cutting down on all the junk, the simpler all the rest can be.
The Kindle will have a very limited run.
@ Bill
I’m certain the iPad will have a camera before long.
And stop calling me Shirley.
Isn’t Michael Arrington the guy from TechCrunch who usually takes any chance he gets to sh*t all over Apple? If even he thinks the iPad is going to be a hit, Apple must have something here.
——RM
@Ampar…
You completely missed TT’s Monty Python’s Life of Brian reference.
I never believed in Brian.
Mossberg, however, has his times.
Even though he’s with the Journal..
MDN word “church’
How appropriate.
My wife gave me that nickname on our honeymoon.
Good one, BTO, but are you sure you want that to be known?
Meanwhile, Bill Gates’ wife found out where he got the name for his company on their honeymoon. Or so I hear…
You are aware that I cannot either view this video or comment via my iPod Touch.
Wait a few days and Mossberg’s video will show up on YouTube –then with Click to Flash blocker you’ll be able to see it in H.264 instead of Flash.
To Michael and your iPod touch, check YouTube. There you’ll be able to access Charlie Rose shows Flash free.