iPad Media Chatter Misses the Point
This can be considered a follow-up to other posts here on the recent entry of Apple’s iPad to the consumer gadget offerings. While the sentiment here is that WSJ and in terms of this post, Wired Magazine are competent and capable sources of information they both fall short this time.
Previous iPad posts here have panned the product. Yup, without even having one to study or review this blog gives the enthusiastic thumbs down. Why? You could read the other posts to find out but if you’re lazy enough to see benefit or utility in the iPad the reason will be repeated in summary. Who needs another gadget to do what other gadgets already do? The only thing the iPad does is cater to the lifestyle of the couch potato. Too lazy to use a pc or mac, they just want to lay on the couch and get ‘intimate’ with their latest Apple creation.
Here’s a piece from the WSJ suggesting what the gadget debate is about relative to the iPad’s debut.
If you do not think WSJ is missing the point on this one how about Wired Magazine? If you peruse their 2008 list of tech breakthroughs the problem becomes clear. Not only was this blogger unable to locate a 2009 list yet but the one they have provides little in the way of actual breakthroughs.
Give me a break! 30 years ago you may have been able to make the case for GPS and even Wired admits the technology is ‘very old.’ Edible chips is the only thing on the list that may qualify as ‘breakthrough’ but even that’s a stretch. Besides, would you want to use them? I think not. Sure, let’s get old and subject ourselves to more invasive procedures of questionable value and safety.
Everyone seems to be missing the point. And the sad part is it does not appear to be due to ignorance. At least not ignorance on the part of those touting the so-called advancements or what is sought. It is the almost undeniable fact that vendors have been convinced of one thing. The consuming public is easily manipulated. If you build it they will come. And pay nearly any price you ask.
Where in the world is technological advancement? It is not in the realm of consumer products. And the one category that is pointed to here is IT. That’s right. Information technology has not had a breakthrough in decades. if it’s out there no one is bringing it to market. It is likely NOT out there.
And just to borrow a marketing strategy from Microsoft for effect, try thinking about this. You’re a pc and Windows 7 was you’re idea. Not something I would brag about. So what’s new about the latest OS from MS? That’s the point.
Stanford Matthews
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