Comments on: What’s missing in the pricey iPad might make you “iSad” http://www.mobilemag.com/2010/03/16/whats-missing-in-the-pricey-ipad-might-make-you-%e2%80%9cisad%e2%80%9d/ Gadgets, Smartphones, Android Tablets, iPhone, iPad and all the latest tech you'd expect. Tue, 21 May 2013 23:35:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: coby http://www.mobilemag.com/2010/03/16/whats-missing-in-the-pricey-ipad-might-make-you-%e2%80%9cisad%e2%80%9d/#comment-7411 coby Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:36:01 +0000 http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=76348#comment-7411 The iPad, like the iPhone, could be so much more than it is. I get that Apple is trying to corner the media consumption and technology recreation market, but with a little business consideration, these devices could take business to the next level. Consider a tablet (I will refrain from using the iPad as the example because its inherent flaws and closed application delivery and support model) used in a direct or in-home sales scenario. It could replace sales collateral, paper-based contracts, and customer support and education collateral while instantly interfacing with supply-chain, accounting, and CRM infrastructures to yield a real-time sales and service experience that is not only far more efficient, but far more cost-effective. It kills me when Apple fan boys (read students and out-of-work designers) rail against the professional set because Apple products consistently fail to deliver real-world, useful functionality. There's more to life than organizing your fucking photos! The iPad, like the iPhone, could be so much more than it is. I get that Apple is trying to corner the media consumption and technology recreation market, but with a little business consideration, these devices could take business to the next level.

Consider a tablet (I will refrain from using the iPad as the example because its inherent flaws and closed application delivery and support model) used in a direct or in-home sales scenario. It could replace sales collateral, paper-based contracts, and customer support and education collateral while instantly interfacing with supply-chain, accounting, and CRM infrastructures to yield a real-time sales and service experience that is not only far more efficient, but far more cost-effective.

It kills me when Apple fan boys (read students and out-of-work designers) rail against the professional set because Apple products consistently fail to deliver real-world, useful functionality. There’s more to life than organizing your fucking photos!

]]> By: Otto http://www.mobilemag.com/2010/03/16/whats-missing-in-the-pricey-ipad-might-make-you-%e2%80%9cisad%e2%80%9d/#comment-7371 Otto Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:02:28 +0000 http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=76348#comment-7371 I am anxiously waiting for the iPad also. I havnt pre ordered one, but will probably get one soon after the 3G models are released. You, like most of the critics are focusing on lack of camera, multi tasking, USB port and lack of memory expandability (you seem to have forgotten about lack of Flash). I've had mobile devices since the first Palm Pilots, Newtons, etc. I've had all sorts of accessories and software packages that tried to make these Mini Me's into full-fledged computers. After all this time I've come to realize I hardly ever used any of them. I dont want a mobile device (and we're not talking laptops here) for anything other than web browsing, email and media delivery. As far as I can tell the iPad delivers all that. For me, the camera issue is completely bogus. I've got cameras on my iMac and have never used it to talk to anyone. Maybe its cause I'm an old fart. Maybe this is something that will get added in iPad 2.0. Who knows? I know I dont care about it. To date, tablet computers have failed magnificently because the manufacturers have tried to make "real work" devices out of them. I dont think we will see any form of computer that can be used for writing documents or building spreadsheets that does not have an actual keyboard. And why the iPad may succeed is the fact that it does not pretend to be a "real work" machine. Or maybe it will flop. Apple has $40B in cash and not every idea the've put to market was a success (Newton, apple tv, Macbook Air). That doesnt mean these things were worthless. I loved my Newton. It was pretty cool for its day. But the handwriting recognition didnt work for me, it did not interface with other computers (PCs) very well and it was just too big and clunky to cart around. I recently bought an Apple TV on Craigslist for $75 just to see what it was good for. I love it! Its a great way to stream all my media goodies from my mac to the main TV. I still doubt I'd pay $200+ for one, but then again I also have on-demand cable and Netflix available through my PS3. The bottom line for all this rambling is that the whole media industry (print books, newspapers magazines, Music, Film and TV) are in complete free fall as far as their future goes. Maybe the iPad is the beginning of one new path. Maybe not. I am anxiously waiting for the iPad also. I havnt pre ordered one, but will probably get one soon after the 3G models are released. You, like most of the critics are focusing on lack of camera, multi tasking, USB port and lack of memory expandability (you seem to have forgotten about lack of Flash). I’ve had mobile devices since the first Palm Pilots, Newtons, etc. I’ve had all sorts of accessories and software packages that tried to make these Mini Me’s into full-fledged computers. After all this time I’ve come to realize I hardly ever used any of them. I dont want a mobile device (and we’re not talking laptops here) for anything other than web browsing, email and media delivery. As far as I can tell the iPad delivers all that. For me, the camera issue is completely bogus. I’ve got cameras on my iMac and have never used it to talk to anyone. Maybe its cause I’m an old fart. Maybe this is something that will get added in iPad 2.0. Who knows? I know I dont care about it.
To date, tablet computers have failed magnificently because the manufacturers have tried to make “real work” devices out of them. I dont think we will see any form of computer that can be used for writing documents or building spreadsheets that does not have an actual keyboard. And why the iPad may succeed is the fact that it does not pretend to be a “real work” machine. Or maybe it will flop. Apple has $40B in cash and not every idea the’ve put to market was a success (Newton, apple tv, Macbook Air). That doesnt mean these things were worthless. I loved my Newton. It was pretty cool for its day. But the handwriting recognition didnt work for me, it did not interface with other computers (PCs) very well and it was just too big and clunky to cart around. I recently bought an Apple TV on Craigslist for $75 just to see what it was good for. I love it! Its a great way to stream all my media goodies from my mac to the main TV. I still doubt I’d pay $200+ for one, but then again I also have on-demand cable and Netflix available through my PS3.
The bottom line for all this rambling is that the whole media industry (print books, newspapers magazines, Music, Film and TV) are in complete free fall as far as their future goes. Maybe the iPad is the beginning of one new path. Maybe not.

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