What iPad user can't figure out how to use iTunes to sync the thing? My 65-year old mother figured out how to sync her iPod classic. How is iPad syncing any different or more complicated than what people have been doing for a decade? iPad does not require a tech genius - or 12 year old kid - to keep it working.
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Wozniak: Tablet is the PC for 'normal people'
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What iPad user can't figure out how to use iTunes to sync the thing? My 65-year old mother figured out how to sync her iPod classic. How is iPad syncing any different or more complicated than what people have been doing for a decade? iPad does not require a tech genius - or 12 year old kid - to keep it working.
I definitely have to disagree with him. Typing on a touch screen just makes me angry, and that's my primary reason. I can be something like 300%+ more productive on a standard computer than a tablet, period.
It's not about figuring it out. It's about having a computer period. A normal person doesn't own multiple computers. He owns a computer. He might not even have bought it himself, and certainly won't maintain multiple computers (nor will the person who gifted the computer). So once the tablet is the normal person's computer, it's going to be the only one he's using. Telling him he needs a second computer just to use his primary computer is unacceptable.
Example: My mom has a computer. It was a Christmas present from me one year. But now it's old, full of crap, and needs replacing. But instead of upgrading it, I got her an iPad. It meets all her computer needs (except printing). That old clunker is in no shape to run iTunes; it's hard drive isn't even as large as the iPad's! I certainly won't be upgrading her desktop just to let her sync her iPad, nor will she when she's happy using just the iPad. She gets updates on the occasions that I visit with my MBP.
The system works well enough; her iPad is her sole computer. But it requires that I, the tech relative, keep it updated.
With 80.2% percent of revenue based on stuff other than Macs for Apple, this makes sense.
If I were a PC user finally comfortable with a new PC and (pretty good) Windows 7, I wouldn't really need a Mac. What can a Mac add for me?
But the iPad is so portable and incredibly powerful for its size and price it's hard to say no to it. Apple has already shown a whole world of PC users how indispensable iPods and iPhones are, so we came out with iPad for Mac users and non-Mac users and from the numbers we are making a killing.
I don't know if both Steves had this type of vision that far back unless they were hard core Star Trek fans or something with a long range vision of making really cool devices. I thought they were all about the personal computer in the beginning, and of course their own operating system.
That must mean I'm not normal.
Same here, I do stuff on my MacBook Pro beyond the iPad's capabilities
I never understand this kind of thing. It's like someone saying "I can never buy a Honda because it just can't tow all the things I tow on my farm, or drive through deep mud." But then he drives his F350 every day 30 miles and back from home to town to do errands and get groceries getting 12 miles to the gallon. Most people would (and do) get a efficient small car for that sort of thing.
The fact is, the iPad is mostly a content consumption product. It's REALLY REALLY good at being that. Sure you can get some things done on it, too, but that's clearly not the intent of this design. If you need power to crunch your data and be "300%+ more productive" then sure you need your F350 for the time and place where it's appropriate. The iPad isn't going to fully replace your desktop that you need to earn your living.
For a lot of people, this means they don't need the super expensive laptop to cover their bases. They can get the cheaper desktop, with more power and bigger screen, and then have an iPad to cover their mobile (and again 90% of the time doing content consumption) needs.
The average normal person should not be touch typing. Before computers, the majority of homes did not have a typewriter. Most businessman did not have a typewriter on their desk either (their secretaries did), and certainly not a keypunch machine. This keyboard everywhere UI has only been common for 3 decades and hopefully will be gone in a lot less than another 3 decades. The popular tablets (PalmPilot, iPad) are good first steps.
Once again, this is the start of the tablet era. Don't think of it in terms of the iPad we have in 2011. Think of it in terms of the iPad of 2020. That will blow the doors off anything we know today. It will sync to the cloud, will have voice input, far better keyboard input, connect to every other device you own, and no, I don't know how but I will enjoy watching it unfold.
By 2020 the vast majority of consumers will think of a tablet as their computer and only specialists will get anything like what we call a computer today.
By the way, people own lots of computers today. They just call them the phone, the DVR, the ...
By 2020 the vast majority of consumers will think of a tablet as their computer and only specialists will get anything like what we call a computer today.
By the way, people own lots of computers today. They just call them the phone, the DVR, the ...
He is perfectly right, the iPad apeals to the people who need something easy to use. Many people who don't know how to use/take care of there computer find there computer breaking (at least with a pc). People download things let there computer go to hell; folders,sub folders, clutter, and death lol. Even tho people do that with iPads too it won't break and it is an easy fix unless they physically drop it etc. Us tech geeks use everything for one reason or another, we are educated users. That is his point not that it only appeals to the regular people, but it is less confusing than a computer (not to say a mac is confusing but it is more expensive).
Yeah, only a couple 1000 25MB pictures would fit on a Ipad 64GB, not near enough.
Well lets see by my current usage that is 2 weekends worth of shots since i fill up 4 8GB cards. And who would imagine i would want access to all of my pictures or at least a months worth at a time and other things like apps, music and videos.
Yep, it's those pesky 25MB images and 1080P video that keep me at my desk with my iMac. I would love to be able to touch up my full-sized images on the iPad. Give it 5 years.
I don't think it needs 5 years, the hardware is already powerful enough to handle image editing and sorting it just needs a well designed app and someway of assessing wireless storage.
That must mean I'm not normal.
Is there really anyone normal on tech/geek websites like Macrumors, etc.?
:: ducks ::
LOL
Don't think just hardware though - Even though the hardware will continue to evolve, the software has a long way to go as well. They have really been making some great strides lately but still have much to do.
In addition, people's usage habits will continue to evolve. My Mom doesn't do much more than email, web, word processing and photo browsing. Does she really need a big box to do that? I see a tablet sitting in a dock connected to a keyboard/mouse and possibly an external monitor. Works just as well as that big box. Then she can pick it up and use it as a tablet when she doesn't need the keyboard.
All the pieces are falling into place but I have to agree that five years is a pretty good timeline. In ten things are really going to get interesting.
Isn't he also saying that Apple have targeted that 2% because they knew they are important to their success in targeting the much boarder world. Not just success up to this point but going forward as well. If they loose the 2% their don't have the content they need to drive the appeal.
Well he seems to be saying he didn't, he was caught up in the nerd lust and engineer as all the other techies. That is was someone else who saw it all for what it could be to "normal" people, and lead him on part of the ride.
Actually, it does. Everything that you know about computers (or believe you know) as just being natural and everyday, most people don't know those things. Did you know immediately when 10.6.7 was released? Most normal people don't know that. Software Update eventually finds it and they install it.
Normal people need to type documents, play little flash/java web games that their friends mail them, view youtube videos, facebook, and watch movies.
I'd say current tablets can really only do half of that well. A tablet with a slide out keyboard and Flash&Java could do the other half
I'd say current tablets can really only do half of that well. A tablet with a slide out keyboard and Flash&Java could do the other half
This is not what you originally said. You said "unless every normal person has a tech friend/relative to keep the tablet working/updated" which is something else altogether, about personal ability. Why else would they have to be a "tech friend". If it was only about having one "period" then any dumbo friend/relative with a computer would do.
When tablets are mature enough to be stand-alone, they will be. Just like Mac OS X initially ran most things in Classic. Now, where is Classic?
You can get apps without a computer. You can get music without a computer. You can get TV shows and movies without a computer. You can get mail without a computer. You don't actually need to sync anything. If you do not have anything to transfer over anyway (your "it's going to be the only one he's using" scenario), then you don't need a desktop.
The computer is needed only if, hey, you might have some stuff already that you might want to use, instead of starting from scratch - but if you don't, then you activate the device once and you're done - or to back the device up or restore it, because, well, where else are you going to back it up? It's like complaining that you have to have a server or external drive to backup your computer. Everything's gotta go somewhere.
Agnostic maybe but not illiterate. Would you call a person who knows no more about a pencil than to sharpen it and draw or write illiterate?
Computer are tools to and shouldn't need to be anything more than that to the vast majority of people. Why should they need to worry anymore about the tool than they worry about the pencil.
*yes I don't consider myself normal in this respect either. What with a collection of clutch pencils and a full set of Derwents very handy.