Today Apple officially unveiled their Tablet PC, the iPad. I was disapointed.
First off, Im not Steve Jobs, I don’t sit around in my underwear all morning and read online articles. I need something productive, something useful.
I currently use three main info devices,
- My Mac-Mini
- iPhone
- A lynux based netbook
I was hoping the iPad would replace my netbook, Its portability is far better than a laptop, and it is perfect for typing class notes into Google Docs. I can type much faster than I write, so even if the iPad has some incredible writing capabilities it’s still not what I need.
So why did Apple choose a tablet over a Netbook?
Here are my thoughts:
Competition:
SJ is no fool, everyone already has a netbook.
If Apple made one it’s price range would probably be around $600.
Netbook’s have been around for a while, and most people who buy one are expecting a laptop, and are disapointed. Apple works very hard to make it’s customers happy, they don’t want to disapoint.
The Alliance:
Google’s Chrome OS is expected to surface later this year, a stripped down OS made specifically for netbooks. With the success of Android and G’s new found talent at making hardware… Who wants to compete?
There have been many rumors about Apple and Google’s joint ventures but I suspect SJ is getting a little annoyed with those kids, especially after the Nexus.
The Audience,
Ive spent alot of time at an Apple store, and despite Apple’s ‘hip image’ I can assure you their main clientele are middle age +
I am VERY impressed with how they cater to my parents ‘technically challeged’ generation. It is Very difficult to get an appointment at their ‘Genus Bar’ and for the most part I see many older people taking advantage of their free one-on-one tutorials.
The Conclusion
It’s obvious that poor college students who need a cheep portable machine to take their class notes will have to wait for google to make an awesome machine.
At least I know what to get my grandparents for Christmas; a trip to the apple store so they can buy themselves an iPad.
Added:
Apple apparently has a peripheral for the iPad, that changes things a bit, I might look into it.