Apple iPad Review: Laptop Killer? Pretty Close
For the past week or so, I have been testing a sleek, light, silver-and-black tablet computer called an iPad. After spending hours and hours with it, I believe this beautiful new touch-screen device from Apple has the potential …
Context & Ripple Effects
Apple had already introduced the device in January through early iPad impressions, and Apple has since delivered the shipping iPhone OS 3.2 SDK to developers ahead of consumer availability. The review therefore arrives at the point when Apple is trying to turn interest in new hardware into a usable software catalog.
The product’s relevance extends beyond hardware: Apple’s App Store is confirmed to attract iPad developers, while video providers seeking iPad reach must deliver through HTML5. A credible case for tablet-based everyday computing raises the value of both choices.
First-order effects
- Prospective buyers gain a concrete laptop-substitution benchmark ahead of Saturday’s planned retail release, widening the iPad’s appeal beyond buyers seeking a companion device.
Second-order effects
- Developers have a stronger incentive to prioritize iPad applications in Apple’s App Store, reinforcing the platform advantage over rival mobile software marketplaces.
- Video publishers that want an iPad audience must support HTML5 delivery, making browser-standard compatibility an immediate distribution requirement.
Third-order effects
- If buyers adopt the iPad for work and general computing rather than only media consumption, Apple’s control of hardware, operating system and application distribution becomes a more consequential gatekeeper for software makers.
- The iPad points toward computing competition organized around touch-first devices and curated application ecosystems, rather than laptops defined chiefly by desktop software compatibility.
The trend: Personal computing is beginning to shift from general-purpose laptops toward touch devices whose usefulness depends on the strength of their controlled software ecosystems.