Many years ago when I was still contributing tech stories for a broadsheet my editor and I got into a heated discussion about Tablet Computers for a 'Top Trends' type article for the year ender issue. I saw them as clumsy, 100% hype and terribly expensive toys, while she wanted to plaster large pictures of fancy looking Tablets twisted this way and that, the better to make pretty looking copy with (and I came to understand that eventually when I had a taste of what was it like to be in her shoes somewhat).

At any rate, I stuck to my guns. I couldn't recommend people to buy something that I felt just wasn't ready.

That must have been 8 years ago. And now, we have this:

So have I changed my mind about Tablet Computers?

First of all, an admission: I love my iPod Touch (and yes, you can't look at the iPad without thinking it's a large iPod Touch). I fiddle with it everyday, I update and actually buy apps for it, which is a first for me. I even installed an ssh client on it so I can keep track of things I download on my Linux Torrent Server at night in bed.

It is an amazing piece of fancy, beautiful machinery the way only Apple can make it. You look at it and you don't think 'overpriced mp3 player' like some of its siblings. Rather, I look at it and think it's a handheld computer that's just capable enough to do what I want it to ie. messaging, email and simple surfing. Anything more than that I reserve for more serious machinery. Anything less than that - iPod Touch.

So have I changed my mind about Tablet Computers?

Another issue: The Tablet computers of yesteryear were horribly limited by 'badly fitting' operating systems. In order for something as revolutionary as a Tablet Computer to work, manufacturer and operating system developers have to work shoulder to shoulder in complete cooperation. Sadly, the fact that they never really took off is an indication that this was not the case. I suspect that there was a lack of standards somewhere, or maybe standards were not set at all to encourage manufacturers to innovate the design further.

But the fact remains, Tablet owners use their Tablets like normal laptops, hardly opening them up for any purpose outside of that.

So have I changed my mind about Tablet Computers?

Let's put it this way: I'm excited about it. And believe me, I don't get excited about gadgets easily anymore.

See, it's got everything going for it.

Some say it looks like a silly overgrown iPod Touch, and I think, 'Great!'. AFAIC, having more of the Touch is good news, not bad. Like the Touch, I suspect it's going to be a 'limited use' machine again (imagine trying to write this article on that thing), but it at least has a larger screen the better to say, watch movies and play games with.

And secondly, the same people who made it wrote it's OS and its apps as well. There's even an SDK that's being downloaded by the thousands as we speak, assuring the same app development success the iPhone had.

Prices are even mentioned at 'between $499 and $829', so that's not bad.

So will I get one?

Believe you me, I'm no Fanboy. It's important to make that distinction because to me, Mac Fanboys are idiots that stand for the opposite of innovation clearly because favoring just one and only one brand is a myopic, distorted view of technology.

What's worse is, they actually don't do their favorite brand any favors.

Apple products (well, most of them at least), are excellently engineered, well thought out, beautiful machines that look good and perform well. The best way to do it justice and showcase Job's brilliance is to let it stand side by side against its competition, the better to see it shine. Cream rises to the top as they say, and there will always be space in the world for good products, even in the crowded tech market.

Barring any silliness (ie. an easily scratched surface like the first iPods, crashing OSes, etc.), the iPad has all the markings of a winner, and not just because the Mac Faithful will buy it anyway. I see it and I see something not done before, something innovative, something that looks like I can make use of it well.

So yeah I want one. I'll give it a few months, wait for them to get the bugs out (and there will be bugs), and I'll get one.

‹ previous

87 of 169

next ›