Just as with the iPhone, we now have a few months to find the answers to all of our most obvious questions. As the last few drops of Cupertino Kool-Aid are slowly eliminated from my bloodstream, lucid thoughts are returning and I’m left with a void. At the moment, the biggest question many of us are asking is this: will the iPad be something I could put to use?
And forget the obvious sating of geek gadget lust — I’m talking about usage that fits a need. Ever since the iPhone was released, my stance has been the same. I still greatly prefer my desktop. The iPhone/Touch platform was an amazing advance in mobile phone technology, but for those of us who rarely need a mobile phone it is reduced to a really fancy satellite device. The nicest, most advanced satellite device we’ve been able to use, but still second fiddle to the desktop (and by desktop I mean your regular, everyday setup which may be in the form of a laptop — what you use to do your job).
Once the rumours about this device started to thicken, I again asked myself if this was a device that I could use. If it’s somewhere between the iPhone and Mac OS X, the question that needs to be answered for me is whether it can replace my Macbook.
And that’s a question that cannot be answered yet. There simply isn’t enough information available. But here are the key items that I’m left pondering.
OS Capabilities
We know it’s the iPhone OS, but how much is that OS changed from what’s currently running on everyone’s iPhone or iPod Touch? If I use an application that is already available in the App Store, will the responsible developer be able to add logic that will enable the app to recognize what device it’s running on?
An app that can optimize itself for the current display and the limits it imposes would be very impressive and useful.
It’s Magic, but What About the Magic Mouse?
Unlike the iPhone, the iPad will support an external keyboard. But will it support an external mouse? Not just any old mouse of course, but what about Apple’s own Magic Mouse, which already supports aspects of the Touch technology?
The Dock Connector probably was the biggest surprise to me as I watched the news unfold. This is a big step to making this device more relevant to someone like me. But after the reality distortion field wears off, an issue come to mind: Using the keyboard is fine, but the ergonomics of reaching way up to touch the screen to do anything other than enter text sounds like a recipe for pain in the long term.
Will I be able to use the Magic Mouse to perform some of the Touch gestures that I can perform on the screen? I realize that there is no cursor in this OS — yet. But for the time being, if I’m using an external keyboard, it seems more pleasant to me to shift my hand over to the Magic Mouse rather than interacting with the screen itself.
External Displays
And with ergonomics in mind, this device has another issue. Using it with the Dock Connector does not appear to be feasible for long term use when it comes to the neck. When spending a long period of sitting and using a computer, the display needs to be up off the desk. And so …
Will this device support an external display …for computing uses? Hooking it up to my TV is not relevant for someone who doesn’t consume a lot of media. I want to know if it will connect to my ACD.
And if not the iPad, then what about the future. How long before we see a touch screen iMac?
Long Term: Is Apple Desktop Offering Open or Closed
Lastly, it seems clear that all this technology will trickle down to (or take over) the desktop at Cupertino. But will it be open or closed? I shudder to think of OS X (or it’s future derivative) as closed, when it’s the third party ecosystem that brings me the most enjoyment on this platform. And this ecosystem is a result of the openness of the OS.
If that goes away, will using a Mac be as much fun?
I know my issues here are related to work scenarios. There is no doubt that this device will be spot on for fun and entertainment. But I’m more focused on how it will relate to my work life, because that’s where I spend all my time on my computer. Ergonomics are not nearly as much of an issue in home entertainment.
Overall, I’m left with the impression that this is not the end destination for Apple, but just another step on the way. Like the iPhone, the iPad is just the next step in Apple’s plan to be the digital hub in the home and the office.
