The new race to the bottom: The iPad

Let’s compare an iPad to a netbook. Hold on…let’s not. I’m SOOOOO tired of iPad vs netbook comparisons. The iPad is NOT a netbook and can’t compete with a netbook on overall features. A netbook is running a full OS (Either Linux or Windows) with all the software that each have that is capable of running on whatever hardware is built into it. That also brings with it the responsibility of maintaining a full OS including whatever security software is needed to keep it safe and operating as it should.

The iPad is a multi-purpose device that is meant to do essentially just one thing at a time. Security is mostly a non-issue since Apple approves every single possible app that can run on it (assuming un-jailbroken) and so far has kept the bad hacks at bay with their other similar touch devices like the iPhone and iPod Touch.

The iPad isn’t intended for those that want every kind of app under the sun to run on a small screen and those that want that or dislike Apple’s occasionally heavy handed approach should not get one. However, EVERY family has a number of people who know very little about computers and ends up buying a Windows machine that eventually gets bogged down with malware. Why? Because they have NO CLUE on how to keep from getting infected. So if you’re a nice guy you go over and (probably for the third time or so) disinfect their computer KNOWING it won’t be long before they call you again. The worst part being that they aren’t running Photoshop, or a video editing application but just surfing and getting their email or any number of little things that don’t require the kind of power available in a laptop or desktop machine running one of the big three OS’s.

Well, here’s a machine that will let them do almost anything they will typically do and not require you to help them in any way once they’re up to snuff on how it works (and say what you will, the iPhone OS hardly requires one to be a rocket scientist to use). The best part is that if this gets ANY traction at all, it won’t be long before an Android, WebOS, and Windows mobile 7 pads are released too.

I know a lot of people hate Apple, but the Mac ushered in the UI that took over the world. Xerox had it first but did nothing with it, Microsoft took the basic idea and made it cheaper, Linux took THAT plan and made it free (software wise anyway), but that was a long time ago.

This could be the start of something new. Even if Apple starts it, it won’t be long before someone else can make it better or cheaper.

Much has been said about the cost of entering the Apple universe. Certainly you can find cheaper computers than Macs with similar technology built-in, but OS X and the typical (usually) Apple build quality usually made up for their higher price not to mention the longevity of Macs as compared to their PC brethren. Sometimes it’s referred to as the race to the bottom for pricing where quality suffers to get the lowest possible price. Apple has never played that game and even in one of the worst recessions known, has not tried to grab market share based on price alone. In fact, they’re selling more Macs now than they ever have.

With the iPhone and iPod Touch showing different ways to access and manipulate data away from the now decades old keyboard and mouse, a new kind of race may be shaping how we use technology in the future. It isn’t based on cost, but usability. The iPad could be the first shot across the bow for a truly new way to use computers since the release of the original Mac in 1984. Touch computing is working its way into our consciousness and so far Microsoft and all the PC makers aren’t really seeing how the game is played. For the last decade they have been content to box a more or less regular PC into a slab, toss a stylus at it, and call it a day. In every case so far this has been a miserable failure as touchpad computing using a standard OS has failed to make any significant headway beyond some niche markets.

Apple has already proved that with computers, if you make a good quality product that lasts a long time people will buy it so what will the new race be? The NEW race to the bottom will be in usability. How simple you can make an interface could determine the next big market leader. Apple has learned a lot from the various touch devices they have been building over the past 3-4 years and the culmination of these efforts is the iPad.

A few things to ask yourself before you just slam or praise the iPad:

Is it for everybody?

It’s for anyone wanting a computer (say what you want, it IS a computer) with an easier to use interface than anything else in it’s size.

Who will be the base market in the beginning?

The first to buy will be the curious and those that convince themselves that a need for an iPad exists. Once it’s in the open, I believe quite a few will buy it for those less capable in keeping a computer running at it’s best. As its capabilities grow (third-party developers will see to that), more people will buy one to replace laptops that are far beyond what they need a portable device for. This doesn’t mean they are stupid or can’t maintain an OS, it just means they don’t need a fully-featured laptop for business or travel needs.

Beyond Apps, where is the third-party market?

There will be a thriving third-party market even if Apple only sells a few of these in the first year. I think they’ll be pretty successful though and with that, new and interesting things to do with a Dock Connector will kill most of the connection complaints (though a micro or mini USB port wouldn’t hurt either)

What could be added without having to drastically change the interface?

Two things have hindered UI changes in the iPhone/iPod Touch. Limited memory/ storage and size. The iPad will have neither of those problems. Flash Memory is getting cheaper and in higher capacities all the time. The size of it speaks for itself. Developers will use all the space available in very creative ways that would be impossible on other smaller devices.

Could Microsoft, Google, RIM, or Palm create a similar device using their own touch-screen technology developed for phones?

Of course they can. Heck I’m counting on it. You can’t leave a company like Apple alone in any market. They get lazy. I can’t wait to see what an Android based touch screen tablet will look like. Microsoft is getting ready to release Windows 7 Mobile something or other soon. They’ll be there…eventually.

Is the App Stores closed market a help or a hindrance?

As much as techies want to complain about closed markets, in general most people don’t care. Having an open market for devices like this will be great until the first real security issue arrives. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Google or Microsoft doesn’t follow Apple right down a closed store path.