Devblog

Bear in mind that I’m not a journalist – I haven’t been given one to try or even seen it in actual real life. I just blog in my spare time. That said, I have seen all the videos and news articles that everyone else has and do have an opinion.

Many people’s first comment on the iPad is that it looks like a big iPhone – in actual fact it’s more like a large iTouch. An iPhone without the “phone” functions built in. My opinion is that the iPad IS a large iTouch – it performs the same functions as the iTouch with the advantages of a much larger screen:

• Email & Internet
• Music, photos and videos
• “Simple” games
• Apps

That’s it. Yes, there’s going to be the iBooks store allowing us to download e-books but surely this will be available on the iPhone and iTouch as well? Otherwise they’re limiting their customer base. Yes, the smaller devices will offer a less pleasurable reading experience but it should still be possible and that takes us back to what the iPad is – a large screen version of the existing products.

So if the point of the iPad (as the name suggests) is to be a large version of a very innovative collection of technologies and design, will it be successful? I think it will. As I’ve written again and again – most people only want a “device” to get on the internet, manage some photos, access videos and music and not a full PC. Currently that leaves you with a smartphone, some internet enabled device such as an Xbox, a laptop if you want a full PC just in case, or a netbook for those not wanting to shell out more than they have to.

Apple say that there is a gap in the market between laptop and smartphone – currently filled by netbook, however depending on pricing the iPad could easily move existing netbooks to a niche market. If the iPad becomes an affordable solution (as the iPhone has) then why would anyone want a netbook?