“After testing the iPad out, I’m convinced that the media, the analysts, the market, and maybe even Apple themselves are missing the most important element of the device,” Jason Schwarz writes for Seeking Alpha. “We keep hearing the same theories repeated over and over that describe the iPad as a niche e-reader and gaming device that might sell a couple million units in 2010 and a few more in 2011. The prevailing assumption is that nobody really needs an iPad like they need a laptop or a phone. After all, the iPad is for entertainment purposes only, right? It’s time to correct those assumptions.”
“iPad is primed to usher in a new era of mobile computing efficiency that will take the business world by storm. Nobody is talking about the iPad as a must have business device but that is exactly what it is,” Schwarz writes. “Anyone who previously relied on a notepad or clipboard will adopt the iPad. Doctors will use the iPad as they move from room to room and interact with patients, teachers will use the iPad as they lecture, coaches will use it as an in game video/scouting tool…think of all the real estate agents and other salesmen who operate at point of sale. Anybody who walks around at work will want an iPad to hold directly in their hands.”
Schwarz writes, “I believe the iPad will increase business efficiency in a way that has never been done and because of this, it will become Apple’s flagship product.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “GetMeOnTop” for the heads up.]
Big Al, right on! Looks like some people here quit school after the eighth grade. They probably think there’s such a thing as an unborn child.
I’m concerned about the weight of the iPad. At 1.5 lb it would be too heavy to comfortably hand hold for any period of time, though a silicone rubber case like the one I have on my iPod Touch would definitely help out. Hopefully Apple can get the weight down.
@aaplsaur
I agree. I would like to take current specs, RFI’s, drawings, everything right to the job site. Fill out inspection forms, field reports, daily reports – the works. Update Gantt charts, etc. with live updating to a server. Since most construction docs are PDF’s now, this should be fairly easy to implement.
How about RSS feeds on new document availablity?
what if…
microsoft optimizes Office for iPad?
Just to add my two cents, I will be getting one, to see how it does. Then there is the potential for about 10 more. In my business, we manufacture, and it is all custom work. Each job has a 3 ring binder, detailing all of the info needed. The ipad would be a replacement for the binders, and have real time info, with omni focus showing what all the tasks for each job. The ipad would keep everyone up to date and on the same page. Any issues could be dealt with in real time, versus waiting or having to talk to someone. I’m ready for it to be here.
This will be true for a lot of business applications, but don’t expect laptops and desktops to go away so quickly. I still think creative applications like music, video, and animation will still need the raw processing power that a full computer provides. I think this would be great for typing up documents and scripts and such, but don’t expect me to run a DAW on this thing. For that I’m going to want full USB connectivity that I can plug all my instruments into.
@Think
Unfortunately, that’s not quite true. There are a couple of niche viewers, but they are not yet optimized for universal data access, and are very small players in the market, at this point. Many of them are view-only, and don’t connect to the image or record archive (ie., the files have to be sent to the device, as the device cannot call for them). There has been almost no penetration into daily use by the vast majority (>99.999%) of physicians.
Not saying it can’t or won’t happen, just saying that its an uphill struggle, since almost all systems currently in use are Windows XP based and Explorer-exclusive (can’t work with Safari or Firefox), and the involved ‘standards’ (except pdf, maybe), aren’t really as standard as you’d like to think. Even DICOM isn’t as standard as it should be.
I’m a radiologist and PACS design consultant, so I do have some knowledge of the field. I’d like to hope that the iPad will be a breakthrough device in this arena, but my fear is that Windows alternatives will become commonplace before anyone really capitalizes on the iPad advantages.
Grilla said:
“The concept is good, but the device as it is will still be too limited for usefulness in the medical field until they can sort out the compatibility issues with existing electronic medical records and archives – the most daunting of which is the security issue (having to use a browser that allows VPN, activeX, or other smart tunnel creation while also running the viewing program…”
ActiveX? You’re kidding me, right? ActiveX is the biggest security hole I have ever seen. And yet, Microsoft keeps on pushing it. He who cracks ActiveX controls, and that’s all too easy, pwns a device running it. My friend, if you drank that Kool-Aid, think again.
@@Grrrilla
I never said it (ActiveX) was good. Just that it has a presence in the industry that will be a barrier to iPad adoption. And as usual, what the professional uses is a function of what the IT department allows or requires.
@DX: When I was in school, I learned how to determine meaning by looking at context. I use my iPhone dictionary maybe once or twice a day. And who’s to say that publishers can’t build in some sort of glossary system into their books, similar to the underlined ads on the MDN pages? Click on the word, it could bring up a page with the definition, with a Back button that’ll automatically return to where you left off. Instead of being part of the OS, it would be part of the book.
This guy gets it. Though he left out an important thing. MAPS.
You could have every city and roadmap loaded on the thing and be able to travel anywhere. GPS is certainly useful, but it is wonderful to be able to see through a larger window.
I really think that maps are going to be a very useful item. That may just be me, but I don’t thhink so.
@Gilby,
“This would be great for restaurants, digital menu with graphics and video of the food and drink and info.”
And then entertains you with access to TV, news, the web, etc., while you wait for your food.
Also, think of that restaurant as being without waitresses/waiters, just people who bring out the food when it’s done and check to make sure it’s what you like. iPads would sit in docks that would scan your credit card and print out your receipt.
I hope I can afford to eat there.
Would be great.
But… need to open up a bit the option to install apps. I mean, we work with a big Oracle database on our Intranet. To have the iPad communicate with our database is one thing, to interact with it is another (beside the obvious web based javascript).
Anyway, that would be a wow thing. We already are thinking of the great possibilities.
Unfortunatly…our IT people are Windoze only. That’s gonna a be a tough sell.
*looks up William F. Buckley*
Guessing by conext is ok as a last resort, and yes schools do teach that. But they shouldn’t teach it as a first impulse, because guesses will be wrong much of the time.
In fact, I would say “guess by what’s around it” technique is responsible for the attitude (displayed by some here) that there’s nothing in the world they can’t already know!
And I agree, anyone who thinks ActiveX is coming to an iPad or anything other than the unsuspecting late nineties is a bit of a weak swimmer…
He gets it. If you don’t understand how it could be used don’t by one. That will leave more for those of us who have enough forethought to buy one.
I have watched on the sidelines for a while now and I feel its time I jump into these MDN comments.
I own a 1st Gen (2G) Iphone and a Macbook Pro. I feel that a iPad would be very useful for me. As an ESL teacher I feel an iPad would be very useful in teaching my classes. I think it compliment my Macbook Pro but not replace it during my lessons. Also I ride public transportation a lot and an iPad will be fun to use and easy to carry when going out. Since there aren’t many WIFI hotspots here the 3G feature will be very useful in many places.
As for the issue about water proofing. When I first bought my iPhone I worried about rain damaging it so i would put it in a ziplock bag. The bag protected the phone and I could still operate it through the bag. The same should work for an iPad Its not pretty but it works.
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