Now I’m as big an Apple fanboy as the next graphic designer but I have to admit to not feeling blown away – in the way I was with the iPhone and each and every new Mac – by the iPad.
True, it looks beautiful – in a big iPhone kind of way – but Apple products go deeper than aesthetics, they solve problems. We no longer need to carry around CD’s, our laptops are thinner and lighter and our personal computer’s are more user friendly, intuitive and stable but I fail to see what ‘problems the iPad solves.
Maybe it’s just me? Your thoughts please.
I think the problem here is Apple has solved an industry’s problem, rather than a consumer’s.
Comment by Clinton at 10:16 am on January 28, 2010I think that’s a very good point. How many people actually REALLY want to see the back of books and newspapers and magazines.
I can take a cheap paperback down to the beach on holiday and not worry if it gets sand/water/ice cream on it but I wouldn’t dream of taking a £400-500 piece of kit anywhere near a beach!
Comment by N at 10:45 am on January 28, 2010All I can say: watching a widescreen movie on a tiny 4:3 reflective tablet will be great!
The ipad wants to be a lot which it is not.
Comment by Bil O'reilley at 3:50 pm on January 28, 2010It solves this problem: How do I do everyday light-weight computer use – mobile – cheap? Personally, I still prefer the laptop which CAN do heavier tasks and decently mobile but as far as Apple’s products go, is expensive.
Comment by Nick at 5:44 pm on January 28, 2010I have to agree I’m not that blown away by Apples new product.
What I am excited about is the possibility of hacking this thing and turning it into a remote controller for things like Traktor and Ableton Live. Not so design related, I guess. But we could start to use this bit of kit if we think laterally about it and dont just use it like Apple tells us to.
I hope the genius geeks out there are hatching plans as I write this.
Comment by Rob at 5:47 pm on January 28, 2010The presentation was hilarious and the iPad is useless. Steve presented us a few “antique” advantages, but as some new and super smart things.
Comment by Adrian at 9:51 pm on January 28, 2010First comment hits the nail on the head.
Comment by Robbie at 10:33 pm on January 28, 2010You have to remember that designers are not Apple’s target market for this product. We have the Mac Pro and Macbook Pro. The iPad is aimed at casual home users. People who want email, web, photos, video, music and the odd but of word processing. For my Mum and my Sister, for example, this will be a revolutionary product.
Comment by flint & Tinder at 11:00 am on January 29, 2010Sledgehammers to crack nuts.
Comment by Rob at 2:13 pm on January 29, 2010Yes I totally agree.
This new product solves problems
that don’t really exist…
If you wanted to do work, you would
use your laptop/desktop.
If you wanted a mobile phone and all
the apps you could through a PC at,
you would use your iphone.
Why would you require an intermediate
device that is just something else to link,
network to your other devices!?
An ipad can’t go anywhere a MacBook
Comment by Gareth Dunt at 9:57 pm on January 29, 2010can’t, and it can’t fit in your pocket. Total
anti climax by Apple.