iPad Carnivale

So, the Apple iPad is here. Yes, that means BHG must live in Europe, Japan or Australia, each of whom commenced sales of the new device this morning. Typically for the launch of an Apple device there was a carnival atmosphere outside most physical stores and plenty of excited customers met their postie at the door this morning, just in case he came bearing gifts in white boxes. In some instances he did not, but those isolated cases aside there are a number of people around the world charging up, plugging in and logging on through these glossy new machines. But what are they for?

 It’s not about features. What is? It’s about cool. The iPad has a nice big screen, crisp clean colours, it’s thin and light and it’s expensive. Apple’s ‘unbelievable price’ tagline made BHG smile, although perhaps not for the reason intended.

 BHG watched a fellow commuter drag one of these out of a bag, poor guy flipped through a couple of emails, scanned the newspaper and then settled in to a game of golf. BHG did the same, on his iPod Touch, all the while eyes sliding to the gorgeous display of the iPad. It really does look amazing.

 It’s ‘fun’ device though. This isn’t a laptop. You won’t be enhancing your productivity by owning one of these. Instead it’s a great way to consume. You can play games, watch movies and listen to music and that’s all about screen size. What you shouldn’t expect to do is contribute using one of these devices.

 BHG thinks that a lot of the criticism levelled at the iPad probably comes from this root misunderstanding. You work at a computer, you blog from your laptop, you consume through your iPad. It’s quite clever really, there’s a clear reason for a person to own a full quite of Apple devices. You can see the automotive industry struggling to do something similar but it’s a tactic suited to consumer technology. Everyone has been flogging the obsolescence horse for a clear two decades combining obsolescence with multiple single focus multi purpose devices is just the next step in cute marketing.

 Apple, we who are about to buy, salute you.