That's true. But isn't the iPad a universal definition of a "luxury" since no region/person actually "needs" one? It's just an awesome tool that we when we're drinking bottled water while driving our car to the next bathroom break.
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Is the iPad really just an unneeded luxury item?
- Thread starter Stirolak26
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I don't know what Steve Jobs intends or even how involved he will remain with the project. I wish the man all the best but we have to be realistic about his health at the moment. (I'm not saying that to be cruel. My mom died of cancer 7 years ago so I'm very familiar with the reality of the disease, unfortunately.)
I credit Apple with making the tablet design a mass consumer success. They did what Microsoft failed to do over the last decade. By using an establish mobile OS with a track record as a personal information manager/entertainment device (iPod Touch and iPhone) they made the tablet relevant to consumers.
The problem is that the price is still in the "luxury" range for most consumers. These things need to be as cheap as iPod Touch devices... $200-400 to enter the realm of overpriced luxury or else they need to become much more powerful and useful.
The only issues I can see for Apple's future developement are:
- The problem of the virtual keyboard sucking up screen space.
- They have the MacBook Air line to compete with PC netbook/ultraportables.
I can see the MBA section of Apple insisting development in mobile computing should be dedicated to their product over the iPad. After all, MBA comes with a keyboard and clamshell setup conducive to keyboard/mouse entry.
Honestly, from here out I think we'll see much more development in specs and tablet functionality coming from the Android and other communities. Apple will be playing catchup because they already have a product line to address those needs. It just makes more sense to push the iPad as a consumption device tied to the impressive iTunes selection.
On a sidenote, I think their biggest threat will come from Amazon not Google. Everyone is concentrating on Google as the author of a competing OS, but it is Amazon that can compete with the content end of things. Amazon's launching of its Cloud Service was a serious blow to Apple. They better hope Amazon doesn't form too strong an alliance with Google in future.
I could definitely live without one, but I'm fortunate enough to be able to have one. Why not have luxuries if you can afford them?
By the same definition anyone with a computer that's above the minimum requirements of his task is spending money for luxury as well, ditto for a large scree TV, a stereo,MP3, or a stereo in your car. The vast majority of population do not need them but rarely anyone makes fuss about them. Arguing the iPad being a luxury, to me, seems to be just a deliberate attempt to belittle those who purchase it by exercising an obvious double standard.
Now if the person arguing about the iPad being a dumb luxury purchase does not possess anything superfluous then I can understand that point. But for now arguing iPad is a luxury good just seems like a beef eating person pointing fingers at a pork eating person and telling him it's a barbaric practice.
I think we're getting hung up on semantics here. Suggesting the iPad is a luxury is just shorthand for "is it a useful tool worth the expense for X".
If you are a college student with limited finances deciding how to spend your $1500 computing budget then the iPad is probably an unnecessary expense. Your money is probably better spent on a quality lightweight netbook.
If you're a working professional who already owns a quality computer, than the iPad becomes a useful tool for unchaining yourself from the desk.
Actually, I use Pages to write with, but my circumstances are unique. I'm disabled, and I type using a stylus. While pecking away like that isn't the most ideal, it works very well for me anyway.
I'm only working on my documents on the iPad currently at night, but I sync them to MobileMe with no problems so far. For what I need and want the iPad to do, it's surpassed my expectations. And I had a Kindle DX that I sold after getting the iPad, and I am much happier reading on the iPad even though I loved my Kindle too.
Since my iPad 2 replaces a laptop, laptop bag, power brick, mouse, etc. for travel (on tiny planes, to remote places), I consider it a necessity.
iPad is a device with a unique set of capabilities. Some people mistake it for a computer and therefore find many shortcomings, such as difficulty editing large documents and lack of USB ports. If I were to complain that my 4-door sedan lacks a tailgate and is therefore unsuitable for hauling lumber, someone might well tell me I should get a truck if I want to haul lumber.
The iPad is a portable information-consumption device that is very carefully tuned to balance usability and portability. Since the iPad is not a computer, it doesn't require expansion slots or USB ports. If someone needs these things, they should get a computer.
iPad is a device with a unique set of capabilities. Some people mistake it for a computer and therefore find many shortcomings, such as difficulty editing large documents and lack of USB ports. If I were to complain that my 4-door sedan lacks a tailgate and is therefore unsuitable for hauling lumber, someone might well tell me I should get a truck if I want to haul lumber.
The iPad is a portable information-consumption device that is very carefully tuned to balance usability and portability. Since the iPad is not a computer, it doesn't require expansion slots or USB ports. If someone needs these things, they should get a computer.
Sorry to plug my own article here, but I wrote about this topic this week:
http://johnsiphone.com/ipad-2-unnecessary-2/
http://johnsiphone.com/ipad-2-unnecessary-2/
That's irony for you. I am disabled as well (arthritis since I was a kid) and use a stylus (unsharpened pencil on the laptop keyboard, Pogo on the iPad). I have a four finger typing style (use the backs of 3 fingers on my left hand and stylus in the right). But I find the iPad frequently gets stuck when I type at my fastest. I had the delay of pressing a key and it doesn't register. Then autocorrect comes in and screws everything up.
I take it you haven't noticed those problems?
Perhaps the biggest barrier is that (like all Apple devices) they are made to work for the Apple ecosystem. When you are a heavy Windows user that gets in the way at times. iTunes is the biggest example of a flawed multi-platform deployment. It's plain awful for the PC World. Pages does not exist in Windows and MobileMe is a useless expense.
Apple never did play well outside its own ecosystem. That's why you heard those sharp predictions this week that the iPad would flounder in the enterprise world. Most of us use Windows PCs and that tends to show up the iPad's inherent flaws more.
I wanted one so I got one what I use it for is nobody's problem.
As for luxury items ........ depends on who's opion it is LOL
As for luxury items ........ depends on who's opion it is LOL
The biggest problem I've run into is my inaccurate typing at times, but I can't really help that. And auto-correct can be a pain when it gets ahead of you. i write fiction, so I'm always using "non-dictionary" words. Auto-correct becomes a real pain then.
I have MobileMe set up on my PC as a network drive, so accessing it when I need to isn't too painful. Since I'm only typing manuscripts, converting from Pages to Word shouldn't be too hard. The most difficult thing is the fonts, but that's a minor annoyance at best.
The fact that Jobs turned something like that into a success is proof of what I've always said. Steve can sell absolutely anything in the millions.
Of even greater interest, will be to watch what happens to Apple once he leaves. It might only be a blip on the screen or it might be more. Only time will tell.
Of even greater interest, will be to watch what happens to Apple once he leaves. It might only be a blip on the screen or it might be more. Only time will tell.
But there are clear advantages and benefits of the ipad or other tablets over netbooks in terms of things they can do that netbooks cant. For examole, you dont need to bring eztra usb devices like a mouse (trackpads suck) or batteries or battery cables. You can also use it standing up and take notes at speeches or interview ppl standing up. So for some ppl it almost could be considered a necessity like for a live blogger or mobile journalist.
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The problem is it isn;t the iPads fault you cant get much work or rpoductivity done on the iPad, it's Apple's fault for limiting it. They arent limiting the OS based on hardware reasons only pure greedy profit and in keeping the macbook air profitable for them. They dont want users to be able to web design on the iPad because it would give ppl less reasons to get Macbooks, etc. its all rheedy corporate profit and why Apple is hated as much as they are compared to say Google or Microjunk.
That's what I thought at first, but surprisingly, the iPad (1) has become a part of my daily life. If I didn't have it I'd feel like something is missing. It is my primary portable device.
Yeah it's just a matter of your work flow. As the other person noted it's not great in terms odor compatibility with MS Word for Windows, especially for comples documentS with a lot of tables, figures, equations etc. Which is primarily what I am writing.
But it is probably fine with pure text docs, and/or if your on a Mac and using the IWorks suite there as well.
My 79 year old Uncle uses his iPad for internet access, e-mail and facebook. That's all he needs and it is perfect for him. There are a lot of people in that category for whom the iPad is a miracle. He even learned how to use it all by himself! And this guy couldn't even use a typewriter!
Non-luxury items (in rough order of importance):
- Oxygen
- Water
- Food
- Shelter
So, yes, the iPad is a luxury item that is not strictly necessary for survival.
- Oxygen
- Water
- Food
- Shelter
So, yes, the iPad is a luxury item that is not strictly necessary for survival.