Ben Bajarin: Apple’s iPad Air truly a blank slate of opportunities for the future of computing

“Tablets that are running a smartphone processor, outdated OS, and only be used to watch movies are not PCs,” Ben Bajarin writes for TechPinons.

“Tablets stuck on walls at retail are not PCs,” Bajarin writes. “Even some tablets that are tied directly to media and commerce services but can also check email and do minor modifications to word docs, etc., are not PCs. The best way to think about many of the tablets being sold today are as accessories to PCs.”

Bajarin writes, “That brings me to the iPad Air. This product signifies in my mind a blank slate of possibilities for personal computing. The iPad is truly a blank slate of opportunities for the future of computing.”

Much more in the full article – recommended – here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Dan K.” for the heads up.]

22 Comments

  1. I’m not sure what the popularity of the iPad is. I do everything on my iPhone 4s that you can do on an iPad. From Numbers Spreadsheets of 180 Columns and 120 rows, to Pages Documents of over 1000 pages. You can also do this on an iPod Touch. Why caring around the bulk of an iPad

    1. Next time I upgrade, I won’t get an iPad. I’ll check with you first. Oh, wait. I’ll just do what I always do. I’ll do what works best for me.

      And that would be the iPad Mini.

    2. Yes, a fantastic argument in Jan 2010, when iPad 1 was launched. Reality has proved that argument null and void (and I remember making the same argument back then. I have enjoyed my crow. Me and my family have an iPad 2,3 and iPad Mini 1, 2).

    3. A summary of the comments, so far, indicates the truth of the old saying: “There’s a seat for every ass, and an ass for every seat”. Thankfully Apple has provided a thoughtful array of “seats” for most of our diverse asses.

    4. While what you do is technically possible, it is not feasible for everybody.
      To many people it would be a pain to do that on a daily basis. It does work for an emergency though.
      That’s why some people prefer iPads and Macbooks for those tasks.

    5. Well, before I got my new iPad Air, I spent a lot of time on my iPhone. Now that I have an Apple tablet, I pretty much just us my phone for phone call. Given the choice between using a small screen or my iPad Air, I’ll opt for the iPad every time. When you’re 56, navigating a small screen can be a challenge.

    6. Sure you can use an iPhone 4S, but really, why make life difficult for yourself, just to prove a point.
      More screen real-estate means better ergonomics.
      Look it up, you might learn something.

  2. Thanks for the feedback. I’m 72 yrs old with trifocals. I use dictation for typing and zoom to look at the documents, very fast and easy. For the heavy lifting in creating large documents I use a 13 ” MacBook Air.
    BUT When away from my desk I use the iPhone for modifications and updates. Must of us need a PC/MAC along with an iOS device. I just don’t need the size of the iPad. The 13″ MacBook Air is as easy to carry as an iPad. Why so many need 3 sizes surprises me.

  3. Still don’t know why SO MANY people need
    3 devices, a MAC/PC an iPad and iPhone.
    My glasses are “veri-lenses” no lines, the bifocal is shaped like a V. Distance at the top, reading at the bottom. Try out a pair you might like them.
    Each time a new iPad is introduced, I test drive it. But the iPhone is so much more portable. I also drop all reading, internet articles etc into a 3in column so reading on the iPhone is like reading a News Paper, straight down, speed reading where your eyes sees the entire line. Use ARIAL BOLD font at 40pt. ALSO use a Tan Fill Color Template so I’m not looking a Flash Light in OS7

    1. It’s not a matter of “need.” Clearly you are correct. I could be typing this response on an iPhone, but it is more comfortable and far easier to type on this iPad Mini. I don’t need the Mini, I don’t even need the iPhone. I could just walk around with my MacBook Pro, and have all my calls come through Skype. There are preferences , choices, and convenience. I choose to have the right tool for the job.

      1. Sometimes, Thelonious, I just sigh and reach for a Newcastle. My life has been filled with skilled people, geeks, wonder boys who could accomplish what-all and call it a lark. More power to them, but my clients are not that, and hope for things to be a little more simple. More to the point, I want that for myself as well, as I still maintain the semblance of a life. Stop me when I start prescribing for all comers, or present myself in all caps.

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