As all you business VoIP fans know, the Apple iPad has just been released. Looks like a cool device, right? Like an iPhone, the screen adjusts to the phones positioning. It has crystal clear viewing capabilities for video and photos. And the touch screen… I mean wow! We’ve never really see navigation quite like this.
While this all may be true, the question is buzzing around, who is the iPad really meant for? Is there a consumer demand driving this product supply or is Apple looking to create a new demand, like they did with the iPod.
There has also been speculation that this device is simply a business move by Apple to simulate another Apple store. Hey, if you were Apple you’d probably want to have two Apple stores, right? Who wouldn’t want 50 hosted VoIP developers rushing to create the next hosted VoIP PBX app: especially if you make a small commission off each sale?
Granted, it does have a touch screen keyboard so you can at least type. But what it all comes down to is that the flashy navigation, emphasis on apps, use as a reader and major push as a multimedia device makes it seem more like a toy than a piece of machinery intended to help a professional get work done.
Now, this very may well be what Apple was going for with the iPad. Maybe they wanted to create a more superfluous device. But why create something that seems so expendable in the wake of an economic recovery?
Don’t get me wrong, I love the iPad. I love what Apple is doing with the device and the way their technology is progressing. Also, I like that the iPad has speakers and a microphone so it could potentially run a softphone or other hosted VoIP applications. But who is the iPad really meant for? Is it meant for you? Tell us what you think below.
I agree, and have no idea. Maybe for the travelling professional that has a desktop everywhere he goes? I travel a lot, but every destination i have a desktop to do work on. So having something like iTab might be good. Not sure yet though. I type a lot…
Based on today’s presentation about the iPad it would appear to me that this is a consumer driven product and my guess is that it will likely target those whom for one reason or the other have not bought into the iPhone hype. The product would appear to be redundant for those who already use iPhones since it appears to be built based on the same framework. Because of the limitations of this device not being a full fledge notebook I do not see it becoming a business product although we will have to wait and see how developers react. Although I was excited to see what Apple would bring to the table I don’t see this as a replacement to my current tablet pc which allows me to have the usability of a notebook yet the portability and functionality of a tablet which serves great when attending meetings and conferences. In addition, I don’t think the iPad will play any bigger role in unified communications than a regular notebook, netbook, or smartphone has played until now.
From LinkedIn:
I don’t see it as a enhancement or even real competitor to a tablet. I see it as primarily a consumer product. Priced at $500 with a 3G version coming I see it as something to keep intouch with people through e-mail, blogs, the web, texts, ect. Sure its apps driven but all that needs to be done is for developers to write some business apps for it for it to become a business tool. I see students, gen Xers and pre-baby boomers using it alot. Look at how much they text now instead of calling. The only real thing I see it missing is a camera, and removable batteries. I can think of a few business apps that would be nice right now. I think I’ll go and flesh them out.
From LinkedIn:
IMHO iPad is an over-priced, half laptop.
From LinkedIn:
A useful step toward an easy to use and intuitive information and entertainment device for reading electronic newspapers, magazines and books, as well as web surfing and playing games. However Apple has to come to terms with the fact that flash is now the key building block of most websites. If their price points in Australia are the same as in the US (which I doubt) I’ll buy one, and so will many others.
From LinkedIn:
I can’t see myself using the device. As a Mac user, it doesn’t fit in anywhere for me. It wont replace or augment any devices I currently own and it doesn’t offer any new functionality that I feel would justify the cost of ownership. The things it would need for me to purchase are the very things it seems to lack:
1) Running multiple apps at the same time
2) Flash
3) Camera/webcam
4) cell phone functionality (this is the least significant by far)
I can have all of these things in a netbook for less money. The touch screen is cool, but thats it. You can get everything it offers in an iPod touch/iPhone except a larger screen and Mac’s office suite? Really? Is that worth all the hype? Not in my opinion….
From LinkedIn
At first, the iPad is realy overpriced without the camera and no connection interfaces for SD micro or other flash devices. For European will be the Euro € price the same in US $ in depend of tax and I think, Apple will sell this iPad in the same stupid way as with the iPhone. The global idea is ok, but they don’t tought it to the end.
From LinkedIn
I think the two most annoying aspects are support for Flash (without Flash support, iPad users will not be able to access the full range of web content including a relatively large amount of ‘entertainment websites’ out there. The second (surprisingly least mentioned) is the 3G version uses micro (SD type) SIM cards meaning it’s going to be awfully difficult to buy outside Apple’s partner network. Don’t know any networks in Europe or ASIA that support micro SIM cards yet?
From LinkedIn
The iPad will allow a simplified view into the complexities of the modern internet.
There is a disenfranchised portion of the population that do not use the new interesting features of the Internet due to their complexity. Apple through this simplified solution and simple user interfaces have the ability to make the modern Internet available to all irrespective of skill level.
I do however concur with those above about the lack of SD or USB interfaces.
The iPad becomes very powerful if you do not require a PC / MAC to interface with it.
Flash support will come in time, in the case of the iPhone there have been rumblings of Flash support being allowed in the near future. Adobe® Flash® Professional CS5 allows for the publication of flash to a native iPhone application.
From LinkedIn
I see the iPad as a mass market device that will evolve over time to be highly successful. Since none of the e-readers are hugely successful yet, it is more of a new market Apple is trying to create, rather than an old market that Apple will transform (aka iPod, iPhone).
The iPad is an iTouch with a bigger touchscreen. The iTouch has been very successful…the iPod for those that don’t want an iPhone (for various reasons). The iPad will allow an iTouch user to do everything he does with his iTouch today (except pictures, so far; but he does that with his cellphone) with a much larger touchscreen. This includes all of the iTouch apps he has already downloaded or will download until new iPad centric apps show up. It will also allow him to do many iTouch things better (e.g. games, pics, videos, browsing) because of the touchscreen interfaces that exist and get further built into new apps. It also allows him to have an iTouch e-reader with an excellent UI and book store. He may not use the iWork stuff, but if he uses it now on his Mac, he may find it sometimes useful. All in all, if I am an iTouch user, I may want to relegate my iTouch to be my iTunes music player/camera/game player that I keep in my pocket or just replace it. Yes, it is less portable than an iTouch; however, my iPhone or other smartphone does everything it does in a portable form. Yes, it does not replace my need for carrying a notebook in my briefcase; however, maybe I leave it stored in the overhead bin more often.
Yes, the facts remain: it is not for a notebook user or an iPhone user that doesn’t want to carry a second large screen device, but neither is an e-reader or netbook. It is not for an iPod/MP3 user that wants his device stuck in his pocket or tied around his upper arm, but neither is an e-reader or netbook.
Watch for Apple to push this as follows:
a) media player replacement for iPod/iTouch users
b) e-reader for iTouch/iPhone users
c) e-reader for Mac/PC users
d) portable game player for PSP users
d) couch device at home
e) gee-wiz device for so many other things