“No, it’s not because of Apple hype, fanboy delusion, media gullibility, dirty tricks or anything else,” Elgan writes. “Apple’s multi-touch user interfaces are appealing to use for reasons most users, reviewers, bloggers and journalists don’t fully understand.”
“Apple does understand,” Elgan writes. “The company knows how, why, when and where to combine multi-touch, physics and gestures and an enormous repertoire of user interface design elements into something simple and exhilarating to use. They know this because they’ve been working on the problem full-time for seven years, guided by some very clear design sensibilities.”
“Any ‘iPad Killer’ will have to at least approximate the interface sophistication of the iPad itself,” Elgan writes. “So far, nobody has come even close. Quite the contrary. Competitors thus far have demonstrated a conspicuous lack of emphasis on user interface design. And that’s why they fail.”
Elgan writes, “Apple has probably sold 2 million iPads already, and it hasn’t even starting selling it internationally. If somebody doesn’t do something quick, the iPad will become the new Microsoft Office — the standard we’ll never be able to get rid of… iPads will remain three times more expensive than rivals, and still win almost all the customers.”
MacDailyNews Take: Like iPods? Like Macs? Like iPhones? Neither of which are “three times more expensive than rivals,” Mike. Comparable rivals, not junk with stripped down features, shoddy build quality, horrible user interfaces, etc. Why would you want to “get rid of” something that’s elegant and works for people? Answer: You wouldn’t if you’re thinking clearly and/or didn’t irrationally hate Apple.
Elgan continues, “The future looks grim for real competition in the fast-growing touch tablet market. An iPad killer — or even a serious competitor — is possible. But it had better happen soon — before it’s too late.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Go for it.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Zane V.” for the heads up.]
What a God-awful loser. Period.
“The future looks grim for real competition in the fast-growing touch tablet market. An iPad killer — or even a serious competitor — is possible. But it had better happen soon — before it’s too late.”
It’s already too late.
He goes from calling it simple and exhilarating, to talking about how we’ll be stuck with it. Interesting 180.
The author does have a chip on his shoulders against Apple. His whole article is a cry for someone besides Apple to build a tablet. Why cry about it Mike? If you don’t like the iPad, simple solution – don’t get one. Plenty of the people commenting on your site say the iPad is nothing more than a netbook without a keyboard. Why don’t you get one of those? Problem solved. That will leave more iPads for the people who truly value design, thoughtfulness, and a stable OS – or at least those who have microwaves and blenders.
???Before its too late??
What the hell does that mean? Humanity as we know it will end? The earth will stop rotating on its axis? The ozone layer will dissipate and we will all be irradiated to death by cosmic rays? Microsoft will never be able to compete with a BSOD tablet that weighs 10 lbs and has 1 hour of battery life with a monthly fee that must be paid directly into MS coffers in order for us to upgrade our software whether we want to or not?
Guess which one Elgan is thinking of??????
Its already over. Game, set, match. Once the iPad sucks all the profit away from netbooks, the PC industry will implode. The government may have to bail out Microsoft to keep support coming for all their those gov’t windows computers.
So, he’s saying that the competition will be selling tablet computers, for $166? Right. They can’t even hit Apple’s $500 price point. Not to mention Apple flat out saying they could be flexible with the pricing.
@Lurker_PC: Nah. The reviewer just doesn’t want anyone else to buy one. He is begging people not to buy the iPad… buy anything but the iPad… but he can’t take that too far since there is a huge lack of viable alternatives.
I personally find it hysterical when people berate Apple on “lack of choice” and then demand people stop buying their products. You should promote choice by denying it to those who would choose?
Nice.
I like competition. When someone actually builds something better than Apple, It will be unbelievable and fantastic, and I’ll be happy to buy it. Eventually, someone will! Probably not in my lifetime, but someday.
Apple has been working on a touch user interface for more than 7 years. Also many other technologies. Look at the patent history. Apple truly explores many user interface possibilities and approaches. They passionately care about the end user experience. This is what no other company can seem to grasp (literally).
What we need is a twisted thinking killer
Bring on the competition. Nothing breeds better products & services than good competition.
“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”
– Steve Jobs
I was at a breakfast meeting this morning, and had to stop to show off the iPad 8 times to different customers that were walking by and were just mesmerized by me doing a presentation with it in keynote.
It was a bit of a hassle, but still fun to show off.
The thing is simply an addiction to the human brain. Apple is going to make a fortune off of this thing.
So? Apple has been all about the user interface since the original Mac – remember the original IBM PC with it’s cute glowing characters on a green screen?
too much protesting here..
The issue with iPad, IPhone etc. is not about dominant standards its about competition that drives improvement.
We have all seen the partial reviews and tech specs of the HP slate -which now seems to have been pulled. It had cameras and USB slots and all sorts of interface connectivity that the iPad doesn’t. We can only surmise that it fell on the software / interface stakes and was pulled – then surprise, surprise HP buys Palm – we can only guess that this is for it’s OS skills.
No, the iPad as we know has the hardware engineering on the case to take a camera but at the last, SJ decided it didn’t need it to sell like hot cakes ( plus possible upload/download video bandwith issues). So what ? so SJ doesn’t hae a competitor on his heels for at least 9 months to a year and he can ride the ‘upgrade/ speed-bump’ path to generate a second sales wave when the first wave subsides. The trouble is, its a bit like DeBeers, they control the diamond market and you take only from what choice they are prepared to offer because they have the luxury of setting the market.
Ultimately the choice of do I wait for rev. 2 to be released with a Camera and micro SD slot possibly added or do I buy now. and the problem is it looks like Rev 2 is someway off because there is no-one close in the interface stakes. My rev 1 is on order.
Well, I’m sure this will add to the author’s fear. The iPad is even making inroads in public agencies. My agency just ordered several and we are beginning testing in a real world setting. So far, so good. I am awaiting mine still, but we already see endless possibilities for more efficiency in government.
For example, instead of printing a 200 page document with agenda and attachments for the elected officials, the entire package (with annotation capabilities) will be placed on the iPad and the officials will be able to access it from the iPad with a single touch.
So, what exactly will the “competition” he speaks of bring to the table? Let’s see.
By the way, when we did cost analysis the top of the line iPads with all necessary accessories will cost our public agency about 50% of what it would cost to accomplish all we want than if we had gone the route of laptops.
Elgan writes, “They know this because they’ve been working on the problem full-time for seven years, guided by some very clear design sensibilities.”
Actually, SJ / Apple has been working on user interfaces since the late 70’s.Ever heard of Xerox PARC, Mike?
Elgan continues: “Competitors thus far have demonstrated a conspicuous lack of emphasis on user interface design. And that’s why they fail.”
Apple’s product roadmap is at least 7-10 years ahead of every other CE company. This is why no other company will ever catch Apple: 1) they cannot match Apple’s ‘ease of use’ software & hardware. 2) they have absolutely no idea where Apple will go next.
Oh, and by the way, there is no former sugar-water-sales-bozo in charge of Apple this time to give away the company crown jewels
Although, I’m sure it may be fun to watch other CE companies try to anticipate Apple’s next move, all they really can do is react to Apple’s activities. This is why Apple continues to set the agenda, and why every other CE company fails.
“”The future looks grim for real competition”
Yes, but it look very bright for the consumer!
“the iPad will become the new Microsoft Office — the standard we’ll never be able to get rid of…”
This has got to be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard anyone say.
Why would you get rid of something that is so easy, and such a pleasure to use? We want the world rid of Office because it sucks, not because it has a huge market share.
This is usually the answer I give when people say “yeah but Apple is getting big and they are controlling”. Someone is going to be controlling, I’d rather it be a company that makes my work easier, not harder.
“I’ll say it as plainly as I can: The iPhone, iPod touch and iPad succeed mainly because of their user interface,”
For a moment, I thought Mike Elgan had come to his senses. Then he went on with his usual inanity.
Oh well. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Elgan writes: “Competitors thus far have demonstrated a conspicuous lack of *emphasis* [emphasis mine] on user interface design. And that’s why they fail.”
Mike’s fundamental flaw in his logic is that he is equating ’emphasis’ = ‘ability’. Mikey, *that* is why they fail.
What does a price-competitive entry ($199) get you?
The Archos 7, which Engadget panned as a stripped-down device that illustrates “you get what you pay for”.
People who gripe about Apple price points have yet to produce an example of a competitive product at that price. Quick! Mike Elgan demands an affordable competitor to the iPad!
/crickets
If you read TFA, you will see that this article is very pro-Apple, the “we need a real ‘iPad Killer” quick” thing – is a device to make his point that nobody is even close to catching up with Apple.
Before you judge him, read the article, it’s pretty good.
“…the iPad will become the new Microsoft Office — the standard we’ll never be able to get rid of…”
Why would one ever want to be “rid” of such a device? Folks use Office only if they have to, not because they want to. People *want* to use the iPad.
And that “three times more expensive than rivals” claim is simply ludicrous. Can someone conceivably sell a wireless competitor for $167? Or one with 3G for $210? In his dreams!
Here’s how I read that: “The iPad is amazingly powerful, yet simple to use. Quick! Let’s not let that become the standard!”
Wow, kinda sounds like just about every illogical argument against Apple.