Apple's "revolutionary" iPad was released a few days ago and so far I'm not so excited about it. From what I can gather its a giant iPhone that doesn't have the capabilities that a laptop would have. Yes, there is the convenience of the 3G network and I will admit the interactive New York Times app is pretty interesting. But why would I go out and spend $500 on an iPad when I already have a laptop that does everything and more and a cell phone with an internet connection. At 1.5 lbs the iPad is too heavy to easily carrying around in a purse or pocket. If you are going to take the trouble of pulling out a backpack why not just bring your laptop.
Also, the iPad's pricing is very expensive. Yes, it starts at $499 but that's for the 16GB wi-fi enabled only. An iPod Touch starts at only $199. So, if you want the 64 GB wi-fi and 3G connected version you're looking to spend $829 and that does not include the money you're going to end up spending on a wireless keyboard and all of the apps that Apple makes you buy. So, I'm going to estimate you'll spend around $1000 if you want the best the iPad has to offer. So, why not just buy a laptop? You'll end up spending around the same for a product that will serve you much better.
Now, as we discussed in class the iPad seems to be appealing to younger children and older adults. Both groups of people who do not have as intense of a knowledge of technology as we do. This also raises the question that as technology continues to advance will we find ourselves as the generation that takes longer to adapt to it? Personally, I don't think so. We were born in a decade where technology boomed. Basically from birth we have been plugged in. And, as young children the technology was constantly changing so we were constantly adapting to it. I think these adaptation skills are going to stay with us our whole lives. People in our parents and grandparents generations did not grow up with home computers, iPods or even cell phones so when the technology was developed it took them longer to adjust. We were born adjusting.
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I agree that we will grow with technology and become even more tech savvy as years pass. In this day and age, we need to up on the most recent technology in order to survive in the business world. Especially as aspiring journalists, we need to understand the Internet, social networking, blogging, tech apps, etc. Like we mentioned today in class, I feel that the iPad will only succeed if it adapts to the criticism it faces. If the iPad doesn't fulfill the needs of the "tech-savvy" generations, it will, as Kat said, be only a fad!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that we were born to a generation used to adjusting to technological change. While we are taught in classes how to use new computer programs, often times we already know how to use it, or can quickly pick it up. As technology continues to dominate our daily lives, the learning curve has become much steeper, and higher expectations have become the norm for knowledge of technology.
ReplyDeleteThere was a recent article on the iPad that suggested modern technology needs to be more like modern cars, which is to say we just use them and are unconcerned with what happens "under the hood." Could the iPad be a harbinger of that future? Or is that entire premise flawed?
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