Hello, NanoComputer (NC)
Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 10:25PM I just read a very insightful piece on SeatllePi about the iPad, and the split it represents in computing. Go read it. It's better than anything I'll write here. The premise is that the iPad is the first in an oncoming wave of computing devices that represents as large a shift in computing as the microcomputer did. For the non-nerds among us, you know the microcomputer as the Personal Computer. Before the PC, computers came in mainframe and minicomputer sizes. A minicomputer was furniture sized.
The above article does an excellent job putting a point on thoughts I've been having since the iPhone came out. The iPhone and iPad completely hide and eliminate all the "power" features that I love about computing–and that frustrate everyone I know who isn't a geek.
Clearly Apple is a leader in this movement. I think people forget that Google is trying the same thing with Android and Chrome OS. The action in computing appliances is Apple and Google, and I would not be surprised if this becomes a market that is much larger in units and revenue than the PC market is today.
Where's Microsoft in this? They dominated the PC era, but they seem as flatfooted in the NC era as IBM was in the PC era. Surely the brains in Seattle are waking up to this threat–but Windows 7 and Windows Mobile represent a pitiful response.
IBM has thrived by maintaining ownership of Big Computing. They're still the dominant mainframe company. Perhaps Microsoft will do the same with PCs, and step aside as someone else takes the lead for the next generation.
Here's to hoping no one gets a monopoly this time. Our world is a better place with Apple and Google keeping each other on their toes.
apple, chrome os, google, ipad, nanocomputing
Reader Comments (2)
I'm going to read that other article later, but just wanted to agree wholeheartedly on all your thoughts. The iPad is s compltely new experience and i think people don't get that or just plain don't want it. For the time being I think it's going to be a niche device, and I certainly want one. I get what it's for, and I like it.
I found the responses at SeattlePI to be vastly amusing because it shows that smart people can often have no clue. The bigotry exhibited against the iPad was astounding. It was specially so, because not one of these people has had an iPad in their hands yet. So, how could they know?
Computers started off as a geek enterprise which the users succeeded in turning into a priesthood. Computers were designed for geeks, so they intentionally left out huge segments of humanity. Even at this late age, most people do not use, or like, computers. The non-technical and anti-technical people among us would appreciate the iPad.
The critics of the iPad are right; it would be smarter and cheaper to buy a NetBook. There are more feature and capabilities on a NetBook. But, why won't that matter? The NetBooks and the iPad will serve different consumer segments. The iPad will serve people who would find a NetBook too hard to use. These are people who would rather not have a computer.
The point here is that Apple is not going after the Tablet market, just like the iPod did not directly compete with the other Music players and the iPhone did not directly compete with the Smart Phones. Both of those devises grew the market out of people who never had a music player or smart phone before. The iPad will do the same. It will appeal to people who are not being served by computers well. And just like the iPod and iPhone before it, the iPad will find its niche.
Let the geeks ignore and disparage the iPad. It is not designed for them. No matter how many features and capabilities which will be later added to the iPad, it will never serve their physical or emotional needs. So be it.