Why I need an iPad

Posted By May 14th, 2010

There’s been so much talk about the iPad over the past few weeks; mostly by myself – so much so in fact that the guys in the office; my 7 year old son; my wife; the girls in the cafe – are all sick to death of me talking about it!


So I stopped.

Actually, no I didn’t.

I ordered mine on Monday at 05:19am:

My iPad is due on Friday 28th May – exactly 14 days from now!

Orders must be high because since I ordered mine, the due date has been pushed back to June 7th for those who didn’t get in early.

Anyway – I came across this article in the Telegraph titled: “10 reasons why I won’t be buying an iPad”, so I thought I’d respond with my version:

10 reasons why I can’t wait to get my iPad!

I’ll be using the same titles, taken from the Telegraph article:

1. I don’t need one:

Actually I do.

Picture this:

Get up – and access my email in seconds. Don’t even need to bother opening my laptop. That takes at least 60 seconds (unless you have a PC then say 5 minutes).

Read the papers while eating breakfast without appearing rude by bringing my laptop to the breakfast table.

Walk to the station (leave my heavy laptop and power cable at home) – iPad in my bag.

Read Godel, Escher, Bach – The eternal Golden Braid – on my iPad. It’s far too big and heavy to carry!

Catch up on any breaking news on the Sky iPad App as I pull into the station.

Arrive at meeting and plug my iPad into the projector – give presentation using keynote (way better than PowerPoint).

Talk about iPad for first 15 minutes.

Check and answer emails before leaving, following successful keynote.

Watch a movie on the way home on the train.

Get home relaxed – hand iPad to my son to play some games on then leave on the coffee table still charged.

2. No Flash:

Thats probably a good thing! See this open letter on Flash by Steve Jobs

Apart from issues with battery life, reliability, security and performance – Flash was created for PCs and Mice. I prefer more modern technology ;-)

3. Open source is gaining a foothold:

That’s true and all very well. But I don’t care – I’m happy with open standards like HTML5, CSS and JavaScript.

4. Price:

See 1 above. It’s worth every penny! Just think of the increases in productivity!

5. Missing camera:

I don’t want to turn it into the biggest camera in the world. I have an iPhone for that!

6. It’s style over substance:

It’s beautiful!

7. No multitasking:

Haven’t you been listening to the news? It’s out in June as part of the OS upgrade

8. Lack of compelling content:

What more do you need? There are thousands of Apps available – just look at these.

- Popular Science
- The Wall Street Journal (see my next blog on the reason why the IPad could just save newspapers)
- Epicurious

9. It’s not a laptop replacement:

Actually, it is!

I have a keyboard (built in – or even wireless)
Word processor
Spreadsheet
I can run presentations off it

Why break my back carrying a laptop around?

The article goes on to suggest:

The iPad is not a computer in the truest sense of the word“.

Now that’s exactly why I want it

I DONT WANT A COMPUTER!!!

10. Things will only get better:

And indeed they will – on Friday 28th May when UPS arrives with my shiny new iPad. I think my life is going to change forever!

I’ll keep you all posted on how I get on with it! My next post will be made from my iPad somewhere more comfortable than my desk.

oh – here’s a picture of the case I ordered while waiting for my beautiful shiny new productivity enhancing iPad to arrive:

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4 Responses to “Why I need an iPad”

  1. Dan says:

    i agree

  2. Sam says:

    Great piece Jon. I love the idea of the Ipad – and can’t wait to buy a second hand Ipad if one ever makes it to the market.

    However you state near the top:
    1. Catch up with breaking news
    2. Deliver presentation
    3. Check emails

    You forgot to say:
    1.b Close Sky news app before opening Pres software (as there is no multi-tasking)
    2.b Download Presentation from email (as there is no USB key)
    3b. Close email and open presentation.
    4. Email myself the pres to make a compatible copy of the doc to send to clients as they wont have this software. (close pres software first)

  3. Jon says:

    Hey Sam

    I can tell that you’re not a fan!

    In response to your comments:

    1.b Close Sky news app before opening Pres software (as there is no multi-tasking)

    OK granted – but this is just a temporary challenge. Multi tasking is already out in Beta and due for full launch next month. I’m happy to wait just a few more days!

    2.b Download Presentation from email (as there is no USB key)

    I use Cloud Computing (USB keys are too easy to lose and not secure) and always download presentations from Mobile Me. This has the following advantages:

    I can download my deck to any device (including my iphone)
    Its a secure environment
    Foolproof backup
    Keep my iPad as a thin client

    I really think you need to stop relying on old insecure technology such as USB keys ;-)

    3b. Close email and open presentation.

    See answer to 1.b above

    4. Email myself the pres to make a compatible copy of the doc to send to clients as they wont have this software. (close pres software first)

    Oh dear oh dear! Have you not heard of Mobile Me?

    I can do all this from my iphone or my iPad and include a secure password for download. trust me – thats difficult on any pc or netbook.

    OK tell you what – next Friday on launch day – I’ll show you how its done!

    Jon

  4. Sam says:

    Thanks Jon i look forward to seeing it work at full pace.

    However, i don’t think it will be friday – as knowing you, you’ll be like a child on Christmas morning. I’ll wait a week.

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