How do you explain the iPad ?

Fr0dders

Fr0dders

Fr0dders

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Watching the video that apple put together for the ipad launch has got me thinking.

They featured interviews with real people and what uses they have put the ipad to. Such as:

Helping Pilots and air traffic control by holding digital copies of pilots charts
Helping doctors show patients information at the bedside
Helping Teachers to Teach Kids
Helping Photographers showcase their photos to clients

etc..

All these things can be done with a laptop. So what is it about the ipad that inspires the non apple fan boys of this world to come up with these professional uses for the ipad ?

I'd bet money that the people involved in making these decisions won't be tapping away on gadget blogs like engadget furiously commenting away like the rest of the fanboys on the internet.

So why are they so drawn in ? Most on here will say its the marketing.

But If you don't tune in live to listen to the press conferences, read every gadget blog etc.. your exposure to apple's "marketing" is somewhat slim.

So why has it drawn people in to create all these uses for the ipad and become the phenomen that it has ?
 
I would say ease of use.

Even though many people own laptops, they're still not as easy to use as an iPad.

The fact that almost anyone can use one is probably a big reason why it's sold well...
 
Hand someone a laptop and tell them the photos are in X folder.

They accidentally closes that folder instead of click BACK, then you are back to square one.

Hand them an iPad, and let the flick, and you don't need to worry about them deleting anything or breaking the OS.
 
It has an IPS screen for one thing.

Most laptops out there are bargain jobs and have poor colour and viewing angles. It's probably not a conscious thing, but people are used to screens looking "meh".
 
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Usability. Once they have used one and are used to it, they won't wanna go back to anything else. But if they haven't used one before, or just refuse to do so, it's hard to convince them. People focus so much on the specs and hardware and don't give the software a chance first. I mean after all, it's the software and interface that people are interacting with at the end of the day.
 
MrLOL said:
Interesting ipad editorial from Engadget

http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/03/editorial-its-apples-post-pc-world-were-all-just-living/

Wonder if they will give up on the tablet experience the same way they've given up trying to fight the MP3 player sales ?
Click to expand...

Good article, certainly riled up the 'haters' but that isn't going to shock Josh. I don't see him as biased, he just calls it as he sees it and whenever Apple do a keynote they do them well and capture everyones attention.

I'm quite proud of my comment to the article:

AmTechFox 2 minutes ago
Nice Editorial Josh.

You are right when you mention that with Apple its about the finished product, hardware that serves the software, not the other way round like the competition is trying to do. With regards to Google/Android, they have no eco-system except apps, and what I mean is the Music/Movies/TV-Shows/Music Videos and of course a well maintained and monitored app store.

You only need to look at the spam, privacy-sapping, virus ladened apps that are frequent on Google's Android, that is the result of trying to be the opposite of Apple and highlighting they are 'open.'

Open without monitoring is damaging to the consumers, and add the lack of any cohesion with content providers thats where Google fails.

Apple has never really been about powerful hardware, its always been the software for which the hardware is provided to run and enrich.

Geeks/Nerds who 'hate' Apple for their tight-nit eco system are always ready to add their comment on whatever Apple does next, and pride themselves on using their 'open' platforms, but Apple targetd everyone, the consumer who doesn't need all that extra freedom because if a product works well then they don't care.

It's always going to run on and on and on with the 'fanboys' and the 'haters' but at the end of the day no one can dispute the success of Apple and its touch/ios phenomenon, which HAS changed the industry and HAS caused other companies to change their game.

'It Just Works'
Click to expand...

Ahem; HATERZ GONNA HATE.

:p
 
MrLOL said:
All these things can be done with a laptop. So what is it about the ipad that inspires the non apple fan boys of this world to come up with these professional uses for the ipad ?
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Firstly, the iPad has a touchscreen and a great UI, so users (e.g. patients, students, clients) can interact with content much more directly than on a laptop.

Secondly, an iPad is an iPad - there's no need to worry about hardware and software compatibility or breaking the OS.

Thirdly, an iPad is smaller and less unwieldy than the average laptop, and has better battery life.

Fourthly, the iPad is seen as modern and 'hip', and image matters a lot to businesses.
 
Hotwired said:
Jobs.

When he kicks the bucket apple will go down the ****hole.
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You have no idea, do you.

A company like Apple will have product road maps far beyond the next 2 or 3 years. Oh, and Tim Cook has done a pretty good job steering the ship when he's not been around, so to say they're doomed without Jobs is ill-founded IMO.
 
Well you're entitled to believe Apple will be just the same when he goes for good.

I'm not talking falling off the cliff the moment he goes if that's your idea either.
 
I'm not too fond of Apple, and picked up an iPad in US last year to try it out. Gotta say it is good. The convienience of picking it up and browsing without waiting, it is the right size to carry and better than a laptop in many situations around the house (e.g. lying down in bed, on the toilet etc). It's probably more of a luxury than the necessity a laptop is though, and arguably over priced.

Also is brilliant to control our Sonos zone players, Boxee, Splashtop into the PC etc. hardly use my laptop now!
 
I explain it like this;

eyePad.jpg
 
One thing that is as important as anything, it is an instant on machnine. No waiting to wake up from sleep or turn on. You can hand it to someone and they can be playing a game in 10 secs, or watching a tv show, or flicking through photos.
 
The iPad is just the next logical progression from the laptop, as the technology advances within the next 10 years I think laptops will become obsolete. Either that or they'll become primarily touch screen as well (of course Dell have one out already)
 
Innovation. Progressing Technology.

Remember the days when a Nokia 3310 was the big thing. Now look at the iPad.
 
I would say its a cheap alternative to a motion pc, which is what we used for stock control and still do because its better at it.
 
Reeling off some examples/ideas:

Archeologists have been using iPads on site because (at least with using a case) they have far less places for dust and debris to get inside than with computer (under the keys and so on), the battery life is far longer, next to no moving parts, can be used at odd angles etc etc.

For the very young (or learning impaired, as we saw on the vid), using and learning on a touch interface is easy, using a keyboard and mouse isn't until their reading/writing skills are developed.

You can't pass a laptop about in the same way you can a tablet.

You don't need to know how to use a computer to use a tablet.

Effortless install/deletion/maintenance.

You don't need a mouse/flat surface to use it.

One hand operation is much quicker.

Natural progression is an accurate phrase. Traditional desktop computing won't go away, because nobody has come up with a way of typing that's quicker than with a full size keyboard, or pixel-accurate movement with a mouse, and obviously you can get far more powerful machines...but these are only required for certain tasks.
 
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Somnambulist said:
You can't pass a laptop about in the same way you can a tablet.
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That's a key point, especially where the OP mentions a clinical setting. You can't effectively carry a laptop with you on a ward round; they're too big, too bulky and you really do require an "instant-on" capability as well.

I work in a hospital and tablets/PDAs are certainly the most effective form-factor.
 
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