There are people in this world who tend to get hostile whenever I talk about an Apple product in a negative way. They call it “Apple Bashing.” Apparently they haven’t yet realized that I’m entitled to my own opinion and to make that opinion public. In fact, they are entitled to the exact same thing. Wow, who’d have thought?? So let me say this before you close the tab and turn me off: if you’re willing to read an article about how great the iPad is will be or how it has changed will change the world, you should be willing to take 5 minutes of your ever-so-busy life to read the following. You never know what you might be missing…
Anyway, I keep reading tweets, comments, news articles, blogs, and the like talking about how Apple’s iPad will be a revolutionary device. How it will open dead people’s minds to the idea of computing and make your grandparents computer programming prodigies. Okay, so that’s an exaggeration, but you can’t argue the fact that every time you turn around, someone is explaining why the iPad will revolutionize, reincarnate, revitalize, or generally reinvent certain industries. And, unfortunately, I have to ask: are you kidding me?? I mean, seriously! Let’s think this through…
Statement #1: The iPad will revolutionize photography.
Okay, right. Now, how is this going to happen again? The iPad lacks a camera. The iPad lacks photo editing or manipulation software. The iPad lacks a file system. The iPad lacks a high-resolution screen. In fact, the only thing the iPad does that has any connection to pictures, is that it can display the ones you sync from iTunes. So, what that means my friends, is that in order to put pictures on your iPad, you have too import them into iTunes and then sync them to your device. (Oh, I suppose you could email them to yourself as well, but that’s just slow and convoluted.) So, you’re telling me that this “yet to be approved by the FCC” Apple device is going to revolutionize photography. Well, you let me know when that happens. I have a feeling we’ll all be waiting awhile…
Statement #2: The iPad will revolutionize ebooks.
Okay, seriously–hold it right there! All you people who keep saying this just need to stop! Take a deep breath and look at the ebook market. Who do you see? Yup, that’s right. Amazon. The so-called revolution of ebooks has already happened, and trust me–it wasn’t started by Amazon either. In fact, I’d say we can trace this at least to the era of PalmOS-based PDAs. Suddenly, 3rd party developers were able to build apps that could read brand-new ebook formats. I read many ebooks back in the day via that method. In fact, half the time, I’d just send .txt files to my Palm and then open them in a reader that supported plain-text formats. Worked fine.
The Palm era of ebooks really wasn’t something that the masses could appreciate. Most average consumers didn’t have PDAs and the few who did probably weren’t interested in reading books on them. So, that’s why I ultimately look to Amazon and it’s incredibly popular Kindle device as the true ebook revolutionaries. Do you not remember the day the Kindle was first released? I mean, at first, most people were asking “what in the world is that!?” which was then followed by everyone and their mother buying one. In fact, Amazon sold out of Kindles nearly immediately, they were so popular. To me, that says “wow.” It says “I’m a revolutionary.” And ultimately means that Apple, in this case, is just a copycat. Face it, people. The only thing the iPad brings to ebooks is multi-touch. And I honestly can’t remember the last time I had the slightest urge to multi-touch my ebook…
Statement #3: The iPad will revolutionize digital media.
Sigh! Please not this again. If all reports were to be believed, the digital media industry has been revolutionized about 3 billion times by now. Don’t believe me? Well consider these: VHS, DVD, flat-screen monitors, flat-panel TVs, Bluray, iPods, HD radio, and now…the iPad? Yeah, I really don’t think the iPad fits in that list. Yes, the iPod does because it really did kickstart digital music, even if iTunes has been nothing but a pain in the neck. The iPad is not going to be nearly as “revolutionary.” Not even a small chance. None. ZERO. That’s partially because it lacks an open ecosystem coupled with it’s lack of support for industry standard file formats already in use by every other media device on the planet.
I’m not saying the iPad is going to be terrible, although I certainly do have a strong opinion regarding its success. All I’m saying, is that Apple’s marketing slogan, reading “our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device…” is just that. Marketing jargon. There isn’t a shred of truth to it, guaranteed.
And no matter what anyone else tells you, it will most certainly not cook your breakfast…
#1 by Caleb Greene - February 11th, 2010 at 15:53
Some interesting observations, Matt.
I will say that there were mp3 players before the iPod. They just did it right and that is why it was revolutionary.
I have never actually seen someone using a Kindle in real life. There is a difference between “revolutionary” and “new.” Revolutionary implies that a lot of people are involved. I think the iPad will continue what the Kindle has started. The Kindle is a great device. But I’m not going to get one simply because of the lack of color. Which brings me to my next point.
I think you are right that the iPad won’t revolutionize digital media. I think it will “revitalize” the print industry. Magazines and newspapers are going to finally be delivering high quality digital content with a whole new demographic and pricing scheme, which I am excited about.
We’ll just have to wait and see.