The iPad May Shine Wherever A Computer Is Overkill

January 27th, 2010

After feeling slightly “meh” about the iPad, I watched the special event, and am feeling a bit better about the whole thing, even if I’m not chomping at the bit to get one. It struck me that there are several types of people for whom that the iPad is perfectly suited for, and the iPad will shine in a myriad of situations where a traditional computer is overkill.

There are many cheap, simple, single-function devices (eBook readers, digital picture frames, GPS devices, portable DVD players, game devices, those digital note pads waiters and UPS delivery carry) that could be duplicated with an iPad app. I could see some (disposable-income blessed) buying several iPads for different uses around the house.

There’s also those who say, “I spend all my time in a web browser.” Google Chrome fans who don’t even see the point of an operating system: I expect you to purchase an iPad. This is the CrunchPad that never was, plus a whole lot more.

Then there are those who only use computers for basic tasks and for whom a traditional operating system is essentially a hindrance. My aged relatives only browse the web, email, watch videos, and look at photographs. They don’t understand files and folders, or dialog boxes that make no sense. Installing apps or getting books to read through a one-tap process will be a wonder. And these folks who never use a computer for creating anything other than the occasional Word document won’t miss the things the iPad doesn’t do.

So while I’m personally undecided about buying one, I can see the iPad being a success, because there are a lot more people to whom the above apply than folks like myself. All the small niches where the iPad works could combine to make one successful product. An iPad app for each niche will be the key.

I personally wish the iPad did more, but thankfully, it’s priced very appropriately for its features, which are between an iPod Touch and a MacBook, and more similar to the former. The iPad is obviously not destined to replace a MacBook, but it stands a very good chance of obliterating a myriad of consumer electronics products beneath it.