iPad is the Ultimate Casual Device

Jan 28, 2010

Apple iPad

I want OS X on this

Everyone knew it was coming, so expectations were high. While it’s certainly a beautiful device, it isn’t as much of a game changer as I would have hoped. The iPad is good for one thing in particular, making what we have on the iPhone/iPod Touch look big and beautiful. You can’t do any real computing on it, and if you want to go mobile, there’s not much it can do that the iPhone already doesn’t. So where do you put this thing? On the couch to lounge with or on the nightstand to read a book before going to bed.

iPad should have its own operating system

In Steve Jobs’ keynote address, he labeled Apple as a “mobile devices company.” Now that three out of four of Apple’s biggest products will run on the ultra-portable iPhone OS, I see that as certainly being true. But I have a feeling that more people would be accepting of the iPad if it ran on OS X, or an OS that was more open from Apple’s restrictions. Having the iPad run on the iPhone OS will arguably ruin it’s full potential. With the screen of its size, I could potentially see running some real applications on it, such as drawing with a tablet pen to create full vector graphics in Illustrator and not having to resort to finger painting apps that are already available in the app store. By running the iPhone OS, you’re A) not going to be able to fully manage and edit your own files in the way you see fit and B) limited to what the app store offers in terms of software. And that whole preventative multitasking issue with the iPhone? The same will apparently apply to the iPad.

In terms with mobility

While I’ve not held one personally, I’ve read that the 1.5 lb. weight is actually quite heavy. And if I’m planning on staring at one of these for any extended amount of time, it probably wouldn’t feel too great holding the weight all in the wrists. Just like their introductory video shows, the iPad’s most likely place to sit will be on the lap, making it again, a very casual, lounge friendly device. For a quick bus or train ride, though? Not so much in my opinion. There is a reason why at the Apple keynote event yesterday, they had Steve and most of the presenters sit in a lounge chair while using the device for demonstration purposes.

All is not lost

Of course, I still would love to have one to use and I know it would feel great in-hand. At $499, this retails for what the low-end 1st generation iPhone originally cost. That says a lot about how far Apple has come in terms of being a “mobile devices company.” I was expecting a starting price-point around $999 to be honest, and I’m sure they could charge that much and still have lines going out the door for it. With the gorgeous display, respectable battery life, and optional keyboard attachments via Bluetooth, these are all bright spots to the new iPad announcement. But until they release a more heavy-lifting and open OS, I’ll probably pass on it.

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