The I-Pad is cynical backward step
Monday, May 17, 2010 at 3:00PMHow dare I say such a thing? Isn’t that blasphemy? Let me explain my position.
Our digital world is Web2.0. It is digital co-creation, prod-users, digital-natives, user-generated content, participatory culture, content collaboration, sharing, embedding contributing.
All these things are about creating.
The I-Pad is not designed to create.
The I-Pad is not designed to proactively ‘DO’ anything that ‘generates’ anything.
The I-Pad is designed only to consume.
It seems to me the I-Pad is designed with only one dominant imperative; to be a portal to buy stuff.
The I-Pad’s reason for being is to serve as a mobile access point to the Apple app-store and I-tunes.
The I-Pad doesn’t ‘DO’ anything apart from allow you to buy things to consume (apps, movies, music, ebooks).
The I-Pad has no other directly intended purpose.
Thats not to say that users wont find interesting things to do with the iPad.
Users are smart. They always find their own creative uses for things above and beyond what developers intent.
But the fact remains that the I-Pad is not designed nor intended to do interesting creative, not intended to generate things; only consume them
It has been designed to SELL things.
It’s a product designed to service a retail business model.
The I-Pad is a cynical, narrow minded, closed perspective exercise in marketing and lowest-common denominator selling.
The I-Pad is not a Web2.0 technology.
The I-Pad is a backward step away from creative engagement and back to passive consumption.
And Apple will sell millions of them. 
But not to me.
I have a laptop. A device designed for nothing and everything in particular.
And thats the best thing about it….
I live in Web 2.0. I chose to create not just consume.
Reader Comments (4)
Absolutely right Mike. So far I've seen mixing programs on the iPad - basicaly a virtual mixing desk that will enable multi-finger functioning and this could be of great interest for anyone in the sound / music mixing worlds ( I use a version of this on the iPhone). But no music can be input and seems like a very expensive and elaborate form of remote control - though one you would definitely not want to leave on the lounge for someone to sit on. Definitely a backward step untill some data can get in other than your credit card number.
Ha - Nice point of view! - No PoRTS?? what the...
I guess apple can't be the total legends they have been for so long... gotta make a few mistakes now the money is talking..
hehe. Enjoyed your post immensely. Of course you are choosing to miss the point. Apps can be created to fill any content creation void you wish. I recently saw a custom app for controlling a multi-camera studio via a direct connection to the iPad via the dock. Sure, you need a developer to create what you need, but there is very little limit on what you 'could' create on an iPad, if you wished. Now that you can edit videos on an iPhone, it's only a matter of time before more tools become available for the iPad. There are a TON of painting, writing, recording and mixing apps.
As for the checklist....
Webcam - it will come. Or you can use your iPhone as a (720p) camera which connects to an iPad in the meantime.
Multi-tasking? - Arrives July 21st
Card Reader and USB ports - 30 bucks buys you a card reader connector
Widescreen - turn the iPad on its side
Removable Battery - why have one if it lasts 10 hours? And all under 700g weight. And no movable parts.
Flash? - What? No porn or ads? Gutted. HTML5 to the rescue.
Open Platform? - What? Like Microsoft Office on a Netbook? Just write a web app...
No video out? - Fair cop. Come on Apple, switch it on.
p.s. You'll be surprised what works via the USB Camera Connector Kit....
Your main point is correct. It is easy to consume. But creation is only limited by your imagination.
Write an App!