Why the iPad Will Succeed Where Other Tablets Have Failed
A few months ago, I was ecstatic to get my first Windows 7 Acer multi-touch screen laptop that converts into a tablet. It has the best of both worlds. It has a keyboard and a touch screen. What else could you want?
For starters, you could want applications that were touch and screen orientation aware
That one fact is enough to make the new iPad truly shine. The iPad is aware that you are on a device that you will likely be holding in your hands. My Acer is smart enough to know when I change the orientation of the screen, and the windows re-orientate themselves automatically much the same way Windows will rotate your screen display 90 degrees via your display properties. The problem is that is all the Windows laptop does. IF you wrote a Windows application that was screen portrait/landscape aware, you could render the application differently. It is just that there are so few Windows computers out there that you would not have anyone to really write the application for, plus you would still be running Windows. Windows was truly designed for a mouse and a keyboard. Touch is an add-on after all.
Background applications aren’t always needed, but would be nice
But people geeks will say they need to be able to run background applications and multiple applications at one time. The average person is not streaming Pandora and reading a book or surfing the Net at the same time. I do have to admit that I would like the ability to slot a couple of background applications in some special location on the iPad such that they will run until explicitly closed (I am a Geek after all). But I don’t need background services running from developers doing who knows what to my system. Those things can cause grief for the average user that just wants to surf/email/look at videos.
Total control is key
Developing a device and controlling the hardware and software really allows for unprecedented control and operability of the system. There is only one resolution of iPad. It has different storage amounts, but that is irrelevant to a developer for the most part. It is being able to design something that will look exactly on a user’s device as it does on the developer’s device. It allows the developer to take advantage of the exact hardware contained on the device. He/she doesn’t have to plan for an infinite combination of abilities. No reason to write code to allow the user to take a photo and upload it directly to facebook from the iPad. The iPad native version will likely have no mention of cameras, but will let you pick a photo for example.
140,000+ applications sure doesn’t hurt
With 140,000+ applications already in the pipeline and your ability to run the software you already bought on this new device is amazing. How many software companies have it setup where you can run the same application that you paid for once on as many devices as you own? Makes that $.99 app all the more of a value! It’s just too easy to find something you want to buy.
Application price points are low
Apple set the bar today for “big app” prices by only charging $9.99 for each of the products that make up what we know as iWork. That is an amazing value. No, they are not as functional as the real things, but they are specially adapted to the device. I wouldn’t say they are watered down versions though. They are optimized, and there is a difference. When you know that you have a closed market and millions of devices, the developers can certainly make it up in volume. With most applications costing less than $4.99, how can you complain?!?! I don’t hear the Electronic Arts of the world complaining yet. Where can you go online to find a comprehensive list of apps that you can get for your Windows tablet and actually purchase?
Ready to order
I’m ready to place my order. I don’t know whether or not to start off with the $499 16 GB version or jump in head first for the $829 64 GB/3G enabled version. I’m only considering the 3G version because it has GPS capabilities similar to the iPhone. Now to see if my GPS in my iPhone actually works without service. I’m willing to take the $130 one time hit for exact GPS/location aware ability. I think that is key these days. If not, the fact that I’m in one part of the city as my location will just have to do.
Time to start saving. At least they gave me 60 days to find the cash!
