ipad: redefining media consumption

Nice! Can’t wait to get my hands on one. I really want to see someone come out with an app that lets me use the iPad to sketch. So, I can ditch my wacom tablet. Here’s hoping.

Wow! I had never thought about it like this before. I’ve always looked at the iPad as a device that I’d potentially use for work and it does fall a bit short for that. However, for normal people, or media consumptionists as you say, the iPad is a great solution.

Very interesting Brian and thanks for a different perspective.

Totally agree with your point of view. A fresh unbiased outlook for a change.

But, I do feel there must be a “techie version” of the device as well; giving us some more options, just some more if not all. But then, that’s Apple’s choice – which may be driven by many factors (including, IMO, some evil ones) . :(

Good Review

Kamal,
As with all things technology, there is always room for improvement. Something this small would be hard to be made into a workhorse, although I’m certain its not impossible. It’s all what you get used to. Being an owner of a 27-inch iMac and 15″ Macbook Pro I find it very difficult to design from the 15-inch monitor. Its all what we get used to and how we use it. :) If you are referring to the “techie” aspects that includes the lack of Flash support, I agree with Apple’s decision. Flash is an updated technology that was never fully consistent. Have you ever tried to load up a youTube video on your Mac from youTube.com? It is choppy and inconsistent. Someone has to eventually come to grips of failing technology and push towards the latest in web standards. Without moving forward everything else becomes a standstill, especially with technology. Apple just took the first big step and unfortunately is getting all the backlash.

Totally agree. For an average user, the iPad is a blessing. I’ve been around computers for most of my life and grew up with the complexities of fixing computers, installing windows, etc. But every time a layer of complexity gets abstracted and computers become more like microwaves, where I just don’t have to care the slightest bit about what’s going on inside that magic box, I feel relieved. Apple get this and the iPad is another step in that direction. Now you can just focus on writing that email or creating that presentation without having to worry about where you files are saved or whether some Firefox tab is hogging your memory.

Somebody asked about a “techie” version of this device. My reponse would be, just build a website or an app and load it up. That is the “techie” part of the iPad.

“I can no longer imagine reading my RSS feeds on my 27″ iMac, or 15″ Macbook Pro screen.”

Dude you have a 27″ iMac, a 15″ MacBook Pro an iPhone already!
Do you really believe we buy the story that you needed another device?

How much money can a person spend in devices that greatly overlap each other?
Redefining media or not, there are people out there who have to save for years to buy even one of these devices and you brazenly flaunt your array of cool gadgets and you even try to give us a lesson on how to use media.
Come on.

As for Flash and YouTube, they work flawlessly on PCs. I don’t know why they don’t work well on Macs and whose fault it is, Apple’s or Adobe’s. The web is going in another direction anyway (HTML5).

Did your aunt buy a PC/Mac and then an iPad? Since it requires you to hook up to iTunes to initially setup and install OS updates it really can’t replace anything, it’ll always be dependent on another device. So if I did want to just consume data I’d need to buy both a PC/Mac and the iPad.

I have an iPad and love it, I just wish it could be and independent device.

Justin,
No, I actually set it up for her (aka hooked it up to iTunes). To be honest, even though you are right about it always needing another device, as an ex-software trainer I used to see 99.9% of the people with Macs unaware on how to perform updates on their Macs or too nervous to do so. Most of the time they would bring in their computers to have us perform updates. Those unfamiliar with technology do not typically do those type of things and nine times out of ten have siblings, family members or friends that help them with those things. However, it would be extremely nice to see this run fully independent of other devices. Version 2? :)

Clemente,

If you would have took a few extra minutes to carefully read through the above you would have noted that I use computers for both work and play. As an business owner I use my iMac as my dedicated work and play machine when working from home, while I use my Macbook Pro when I travel 3–4 times a week to my co-working space. Instead of leaving a cheeky-toned comment you might have considered this instead of attacking the way I surpassingly “flaunted” my gadgetry. I was simply referencing the the screen sizes to showcase how using a smaller screen feels more intimate then engaging larger screens for consuming longer periods of media.

Also, if you would have asked rather than assume, you would have found out that I also design and develop iPad and iPhone apps. Makes these tasks much easier if you actually have the device.

Oh yeah “dude”… the Phone; my apologies for owning one. Forbid I actually like to make phone calls to friends, family and clients; how imperious.

The article was in no terms to give a “lesson” on how to use media. I was simply stating my opinion on how I enjoy consuming media much more from the iPad. As for another “lesson”: If you run your own business, the government requires a dedicated work machine in order to fully claim it under a business expense. If you only have one computer that you work and play from it does not fully get written off under taxes. Just a good tip to keep in mind.

As for your HTML5 comment. You are absolutely right. It is newer and better technology and someone had to start pushing it forward so we see more of it. Apple just happened to be the ones that did so and are receiving a lot of heat for it. Without taking a ballsy stance in any field no one can move forward with anything, especially when it comes to the fast-moving nature of technology.

Please refrain from future rude comments without kindly asking questions first. Thanks.

Absolutely agree with you on this, Brian.

I’ve found it very funny to watch all the design community superstars making a big deal out of not being ‘the target market’, because they create. The impression is that this is for the others, the consumers, which is certainly true, but I have a hard time believing that if you create you want to be stuck in front of your work machine all day long AND that you never consume.

I love my iPad for allowing me to leisurely look around, read and search for inspiration. It makes browsing the web not feel so much like work anymore. It gives me separation where I need it, without having to eschew Everything Internet to get there.

Oh, and my mom is getting one too. She’s thrilled and considers the price point “cheap”.

s.

Before I read this article I wasn’t really that interested in the iPad. Now I can’t wait to get one! Apple should use this article ;)

I’ve never thought about the use of the iPad by non-tech people. We always talk about how useful or not the iPad can be in our lives but we don’t think about the people who are having their first contact with computers.

The fact that this device is useful for this share of the market shows just how spot on Apple was on designing it.

I still think it’s not for me but it is indeed fine product.

I disagree that an ipad can absolutely replace a notebook, or in the case of its closer competitor a netbook.

1. A netbook is easier to use to input data. The iPad mimics this with added accessories which makes it more cumbersome to carry around an iPad (the drawback of the netbook).

2. The DVD Drive is not dead yet.

3. Neither is the USB Flash Drive.

4. Somewhere along the way you will wish you could view that website with the Adobe technology.

The point remains that you do not have to be a “techie” to have needs beyond what the iPad offers. iPads are limited netbooks and I argue will more suit people who are techies and have many devices like yourself that can fill in the gaps. It will still sell well though.

I’m happy you enjoy the iPad Brian. Watching the keynote it surely looked like a cozy way of consuming media.
I just ordered an iPod Touch since I hardly use the phone and couldn’t justify an expensive subscription like the iPhone’s. The iPad is definitely a device that could bring “normal” people closer to digital media consumption. It’s not for me because I live and work in a one room apartment so my computer is always with me but if my living arrangements were different I’d certainly consider it.

Right now the device and its platform are still underdeveloped but in a few years this is the way digital media will be consumed, I’m sure about it.

I think it’s amazing that Apple keeps pushing the envelope instead of sitting on its well-deserved laurels. They got rid of physical media (DVD, USB), of the most popular browser plugin (Flash) AND the browser (iPhone OS is app-centered). They completely changed computing with one device, the iPhone. Now they are expanding the metaphor to different sizes and target markets.

Wow! Congratulations on realizing that you’re NOT the target market! That’s a huge step in reviewers. I am impressed.

I would love to get my hands on an ipad – you make is sound so cool!

desktop, laptop, ipad, ….. 60+ year old aunties….the fact is everyone who is still breathing wants to join with the rest of humanity communicating and being gregarious…that’s what we do…”believe it or not” there was once a time way back in the the mists of time (1950’s and 60’s) when people like me learned to type on a “manual” typewriter…I am a master pro typist, i’ll have you know…been doing it for 43 years….i also learned to do illustrations and renderings and graphic design when you had to “cut and paste” in the real, messy, sticky, gluey world and use pen and ink that is wet and dries water proof…and i can still do it when there’s a deadline and the power goes out in a big storm and i can’t use my digital tools to make the art (i live in a cabin in the forest on an island on the pacific west coast so storms putting out the powere happen at least once a year)….well, i t hink it’s fabulous that there is now new developments every day in the business of human intercommunication like ipads, etc. … bring on the new tools!

I like the way you reviewed your experience with the iPad :) I love the way it look and how it works but I think most of us (advanced techi users) would wait for upcoming versions with more apps and functionalities like multitasking. Good post Brian :) congratulations for your iPad

Great review, you might be right about tech writers directing their insights towards a tech savvy audience, and that this creates an issue when most people read their articles. Also the story of your Aunt is a true testament to the usability of the Ipad.