The power of the net for me has always rested in its utility as a vehicle for freely producing, sharing, mashing-up and distributing stuff, not in its utility for allowing me to watch re-runs of LOST more easily.
I agree completely.
Also, see Andrew Leonard on the iPad for Salon.com:
Apple’s deal has always been that in return for giving up some freedom, the company will provide a fabulous user experience.
I’m loathe to comment on a device I’ve yet to try, but based on my experience with a (now bricked) iPod Touch, I can imagine this being a great device. I just can’t get excited about a device that keeps the control over what you can do with it in the hands of a private company.
One positive aspect is that it does focus around a web experience, and the web itself remains open.
My two days of thinking about the iPad, and in general the computer geek reaction to it has started to make me think two separate reactions are being confused into one.
The first part, and far more obvious to geeks like us and Peter, is the control Apple is exerting over the platform and especially the software on the platform.
Somewhat obviously, this offends people proportionately based on two much they care about open and free software. However, for a lot of people who don’t care about software and computers, I wouldn’t necessarily agree with Peter’s quote – the iPad can still be quite useful for content generation and sharing. See iWork on the the platform, the drawing app demoed in the introduction, and the moves in the OS for a shared files directory that can be accessed via USB. They are rarely to never going to care about the lockdown. They just want a computer that doesn’t crash, doesn’t get viruses, and lets them do, from our perspective, basic tasks like write a blog post or manage their photos. And I know plenty of family members that would never realize they had lost out on anything, and might be happier for the lack of control.
Which leads to the second part, which I’d posit is unacknowledged in reactions like Peter’s above, but is a key part of the negative geek reaction:
This is a shift much akin to command line to GUI based systems. So computer users who actually know how to get a lot out of their systems are looking at it, much like nerds must have looked at the introduction of the Macintosh.
Some focused on everything it couldn’t do that they already could, or how inefficient the mouse was compared the the keyboard and function keys, or how they couldn’t string together command line apps to do really powerful shit.
Those who get it immediately start thinking about how to build new apps that do what users need in new and different ways.
As a “power-user”, I have no real desire for this new use model, and I almost hope I’m not right about this shift. I look at all the things I use my computer for, both for work and pleasure and know lots of those use cases just won’t work on an iPad like device. But there will always be computers and operating systems (Apple, please don’t ignore desktop OS X now that it is rapidly becoming the least used OS you have) available to users like me, just as the CLI lives on. We’ll just be even more marginalized than we are now.
And disposing of the separate debate and issue of the locked down nature of the iPad, maybe this isn’t a bad thing for the average user.
Also, if it is a new computer use model, Apple won’t remain the only game in town, much like they didn’t for GUI based systems. Some will be more open than others. Some might be better. Some are already in development, with slightly different directions (see Chrome OS).
I mean I know that many things will resume and iPad is a temporary phenomena. I think what Apple lacks is consistency. It needs something that people will like for generations and I think this constant “every September” updating annoys many of Mac users. I think it just makes you feel upset because your new gadget comes our all new at the same price and completely stuffed with new features. I do not support iPad since a computer is a computer.
Somewhat obviously, this offends people proportionately based on two much they care about open and free software. However, for a lot of people who don’t care about software and computers, I wouldn’t necessarily agree with Peter’s quote – the iPad can still be quite useful for content generation and sharing. See iWork on the the platform, the drawing app demoed in the introduction, and the moves in the OS for a shared files directory that can be accessed via USB. They are rarely to never going to care about the lockdown. They just want a computer that doesn’t crash, doesn’t get viruses, and lets them do, from our perspective, basic tasks like write a blog post or manage their photos. And I know plenty of family members that would never realize they had lost out on anything, and might be happier for the lack of control. Cheers Leicht
As a “power-user”, I have no real desire for this new use model, and I almost hope I’m not right about this shift. I look at all the things I use my computer for, both for work and pleasure and know lots of those use cases just won’t work on an iPad like device. But there will always be computers and operating systems (Apple, please don’t ignore desktop OS X now that it is rapidly becoming the least used OS you have) available to users like me, just as the CLI lives on. We’ll just be even more marginalized than we are now. Cheers News
I think the I-Pad is a great tool. It is so user friendly when surfing the net. For me, its more of a recreational tool than anything. I would never try and use it in the office but when I’m relaxing in front of the tv it is awesome. The one thing I don’t like about the internet experience with all Mac products is that I can’t search The Woodlands Real Estate on their browser. For some reason the local MLS system did not make the software compatible with safari. I think there are ways to get around this on a mac desktop but I don’t think the ipad has any other option than safari. I think the IPad will start a revolution with online books. The kindle is nice and all but the IPad has taken it to a whole different level.
It needs something that people will like for generations and I think this constant “every September” updating annoys many of Mac users. I think it just makes you feel upset because your new gadget comes our all new at the same price and completely stuffed with new features. OPENHAIR
For me personally, I do enjoy the whole web experience on my ipad, but there are also an increasing amount of ipad apps being developed & added to itunes everyday – I am a appaholic, not so good for my finances though!
did you see the Chinese version: iPed… it is unbelievable how they can adapt any gadget for business benchmarking
Apple is constantly releasing something new all the time like new gadgets, new updates, new tools and etc to satisfy its customers. Some of the customers don’t like it but some likes it. The truth is, I still haven’t see an iPad apps and I don’t know what it is. I just continue working on my essay so that I can finish it as soon as possible.