Seriously. If you are a mom blogger, you need to read this. The new Apple iPad is not for you. Sure, they make be marketing it with a catchy name that is sure to catch any woman’s eye <insert sarcasm here>, but I’m pretty sure this thing is really for the Kindle set, which is my politically correct way of saying the geriatric demographic. I was shocked when this link came across my Twitter feed this morning championing the iPad. So shocked I looked for the disclosure statement, apparently they didn’t get a free one, which is the only way I might consider recommending one.
Personally, I can’t imagine any mom, especially a stay-at-home, run of the mill, mom blogger such as myself, following the Twitter buzz, internet hype and a post like that and investing in one. It almost makes me want to cry. So as self-proclaimed Mac enthusiast and mom blogger, let me lay out my argument against (this version of) the iPad.
#1. It won’t multi-task. It’s not like your laptop, you can’t have 6 different softwares open at the same time. If you are like me, when on the laptop at any given time I may have a music player, Tweetdeck, an internet browser (or two) with numerous tabs each, e-mail, iPhoto and maybe even Skype all open. No, the iPad won’t do this. Yes, for the price tag, in my humble opinion, it should.
#2. No Flash. You know all those websites with the fancy photos on the front page? How about those games your kids play on all the network webpages? Yep, most of these are in Flash. When on the iPhone and you encounter a Flash application, a lovely blue cube with a question mark appears. Annoying yes, but can you imagine how much more annoying when the blank area takes up half of your 10 inch screen?
#3. Not for children. I’m not sure where people are getting this idea, but have you seen what my sons can do to a $7 paperback book? There is no way I’d hand them a $600 device to read a book or watch a movie or whatever. I think this is a completely ridiculous notion. And even if you do have older, more responsible children than I do, see note #2. Do you know how annoying it is when a child expects to see something on a webpage and it isn’t there? Yeah, that’s just a free ride to Whine City.
#4. No camera. Seriously? Not anywhere? Several of the design speculations about what the new tablet from Apple would look like had one on the front, so you could use iChat, Skype, etc. for video chat. Sure, it’s obviously too bulky to use as a regular camera like you would your iPhone, so it makes sense not to have one on the back. If Apple is the king of innovation, they really missed the mark here. All Mac laptops come with built in iSight cameras, so clearly Apple does not view this as a laptop competitor.
#5. Apps only. Not software, just apps. For instance, you’ve got a few minutes of time while waiting in the carpool lane, and you want to do some quick color correction on your photos. You’d have to have an app for that. So that thousand dollar suite of Adobe software you have at home, nope, can’t install it on the iPad. You’ll have to buy a new app, that’s likely far less useful to fix those great photos of the kids for your Christmas card. Sure, I expect the App store to explode with new versions of things with the new iPad capabilities, but it’s still just a glorified iPhone, not a real laptop.
#6. Hard drive size. Yep, they only go up to 64 gigs. If it’s bigger than an iPhone, more useful than an iPhone, why didn’t Apple give us more room to store things on it? If I really expected to replace my 2 yr old 160 gig Macbook Pro with this new cutting edge technology that is going to revolutionize how I view computers, it’s going to have more space. Again, the design shows that it’s clear that Apple is not intending this to replace your computer, it’s really just competing with the Kindle.
Don’t believe me? Check out this article from someone who knows more than I do and has actually seen an iPad: Gizmodo: 8 Things That Suck About the iPad
I’m really quite disappointed by Apple. It’s almost as if Apple set me up on a blind date and the iPad was waiting at the table for me. Sure, it’s quite the looker, but as dinner wore on, I grew weary of the shallow conversation. Clearly the iPad is all beauty and no brains. Apple, you told me you knew what I wanted in a partner; how great you were at pushing boundaries; how you’d revolutionize how we read, write and interact. I just can’t trust you to pick another blind date for me again.
All in all, I think I may ask my hubby to build me a hackintosh. So if I ever get to attend one of those cool blogging conferences, I’ll be the chick in the corner with a netbook with an Apple sticker on the lid.
You have a point about the multi-tasking. What mom is ever not multi-tasking with anything?
Why anyone would consider the iPad as a REPLACEMENT for a full-fledged computer, I don’t know. Why anyone would get angry at the fact they can’t use it a replacement — when they were CLEARLY told in the demonstration that it was not and was never intended to be a replacement, I also don’t know.
It is what it is. Either you see a practical use for it, or you don’t. But dressing it down for not being something it as was never meant to be — or even advertised to be — just seems wrong-minded..
I’m really surprised by your post here, you are truely uninformed about the potential, practical uses or intented use of the iPad. I’m a stay at home mom and love the new iPad. I have two.
1. Who cares about multi-tasking on my iPad OR my macbook OR my iMac. I don’t. I just want computers to help me do things easier. And sometimes for simple tasks do them without the barrier of a full operating system, mouse, keyboard, etc. To read a book, I don’t want to use a laptop, use an ipad. To play simple games on the couch, I don’t want to use a laptop, use an ipad. To send a quick email, just use an ipad. To browse some websites and catch up on the latest, sit on the couch and use an ipad. It is a new era of couch computers. Or as I read today, The iPad is the beginning of the New World, the post-PC era.
Old World = Windows GUI, Point & Click, Artificial, Indirect, WYSIWYG, Mouse
New World = Touch, Swoosh of Fluidity, Direct, Natural, WYTIWis, Magic
2. Flash, hasn’t been an issue.
3. My kids love it. They read books, play games, etc. Yes it is a $500 device, but it is supervised by me so they won’t break it. Both my kids (3 yr & 5 yr) play on both of my iMacs unsupervised , so I’m not too concerned. Matter of fact, I’m still amazed how well my just turned 3yr old has been using computers for the past year.
4. Who cares about a camera, that’s why I have an iMac so the family can use a webcam with chat.
5. Apps = Software, wow you are truely uninformed. I can use any website or download apps that do specific tasks. And there are many apps that are way more useful than a laptop since it is an iPad app (e.g. using touch, location service, etc.)
6. Yes, hard drive space size is an issue. If you plan on loading videos on it, then you will run out of room quickly. I’ve already used over 14 gigs for video alone on my 32gig iPad model. Ouch.
At the end of the day, the iPad is not a laptop. It was never meant to replace laptops. It was meant to consume content not create content. And for many people, we consume content more than we create it. For more info about consuming vs creating content, go read Groundswell book.
With all that said, I’m a very happy with the iPad and would recommend it to all my friends.
Just amazed by your narrow-minded view of such an amazing device.
Interesting to read your comments now that they are available for use.
My thoughts are based on early speculations from reliable tech sources that also expected more from Apple. When the real announcement came directly from Apple, many were disappointed. I’m sure in generations to follow, many of my issues, such as Flash, will be addressed or become non-issues based on new technologies.
As for software, I was thinking specifically of high end softwares i.e. Adobe, photo & video editing. I fully expect them to release app versions, but people who have already invested thousands in these will have to purchase an app version. I fully expect these apps to be on the upper price range of apps.
I’m surprised that you haven’t encountered Flash issues. I run into sites on my iPhone at least 3 times a week which are nearly impossible to navigate because they rely so heavily on Flash. That’s just my personal experience.
My thoughts and statements were primarily in response to things I read in social media in the early days following the iPad announcement. I saw several “mom bloggers” considering the iPad as a replacement for a laptop or as their next “computer” purchase. Neither of which it is designed to be. I did not want anyone to sink their hard earned money into an iPad ill informed. That was my sole purpose for this post.
I’m thankful for the discussion and opposing thoughts. I’m sure eventually the iPad will join our Mac family, but seriously doubt it will be a 1st generation.
i am planning to buy an iPad since it looks lighter than a regular desknote and i don not use much of the features of a laptop.-,-