Thoughts on a PC Purchase, Part V - iPad vs Laptop - Page 3
iPad Fills a Niche as Electronic Reader and Forms Filler
None of the foregoing is to say there is no place for the iPad. It was a good enough tool to govern Norway when that country’s prime minister was grounded in NYC by Eyjafjallajokull’s eruption in Iceland. Most of the iPhone apps will work on an iPad (except those involving phones or cameras). The new iBooks app makes electronic book reading an absolute pleasure, especially if you want to read a complete book rather than listen to an abridged audio book. As an electronic reader, the device excels and has a niche. I do not think this function alone justifies the iPad’s hefty price tag.
If your business application involves heavy work with forms in an office environment, and have a suitable app to work with them, the iPad could be a fine tool, especially if the forms are all check box-based. I would have reservations about using an iPad in an industrial environment, especially the plastic shelled 3G model (because the 3G signal does not work too well with a metal case). The OS that drives iPads and iPhones will be able to multi-task when version 4.0 is released, which will enhance the user experience for both devices.
iPad = Glorified iPod
Apple’s iPad has potential, but in this iteration, even with the anticipated OS 4.0, it is absolutely not a “laptop-killer.” Flash, USB, a webcam, serious office apps, and an actual physical keyboard are an absolute must in my opinion if the iPad is going to compete seriously against laptops.
The iPad is for all intents and purposes an over-sized $500 - $900 iPod.
Prior Entries:
Thoughts on a PC Purchase, Part IV
Thoughts on a PC Purchase, Part III
Thoughts on a PC Purchase, Part II
Thoughts on a PC Purchase, Part I
Follow Technorati