iCan’t — Why I won’t buy an iPad
It’s got a processor, but it can’t compute. This isn’t a limitation of the hardware, but a marketing strategy.
I’m not buying it.
It seems Apple wants everyone to own three devices — a computer, an in-between “media” device, and a smartphone. That’s cynical. Starting at $499, the iPad could serve as a laptop replacement, but Apple doesn’t want the iPad to be a laptop replacement (MacBooks, mind you, start at $999). So they’ve created an “in-between” device. I call it the iCan’t.
The iPad can’t…
1. Record video (no camera)
2. Browse all websites (no Flash plugin)
3. Connect to external devices (no USB connecter)
4. Play DVDs, CDs, etc. (no drive)
5. Install third-party software from non-Apple vendors
6. Multi-task (an Apple can’t multi-task? — what’s that all about?)
Considering that the iPad can run games, video, music, etc., it’s not as if the iPad couldn’t run versions of MS Office, OpenOffice or any other piece of software. Only consumers will have to buy programs from their app store. There, consumers will be limited to a “tablet” version of iWork; they won’t have access to MS Office or OpenOffice. This is a built-in limitation, not a technological limitation.
It’s not as if the iPad is a strike-out — it’s a remarkable device, really — but it’s not a home-run. For any tablet computer to succeed, it will have to hit one out of the park, but the iPad can’t.
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If the user backlash is great enough, perhaps Apple will release the next-gen iPad with all the things you listed.
Although, I have a hard time believing that the iPad could be a replacement laptop, unless it’s billed as netbook or smartbook, or unless it can easily connect to a monitor or TV. For me, I can’t imagine myself doing hours of hard work on that thing.
Everything else you listed could easily be included in it, though, and why Apple chose not to is probably do to their desire for increased profits.
Michael JW
3 Feb 10 at 12:10 pm
With a bluetooth keyboard (Apple will offer one, but only one), I could use this in place of of my netbook — but only if I could run my programs. I wouldn’t buy an iPad simply as an entertainment device, however.
admin
3 Feb 10 at 1:29 pm