The iPad will rip it up!

The iPad has been much maligned since its announcement a few weeks ago. Everyone seems ready to second guess Apple on what critical features were left out. It seems that most professional analysts are afraid to endorse it because they’re worried what will happen if the iPad is not a success. I guess it is easier to find an excuse to why you were critical of a product that was successful then to explain why you endorsed a product that was a flop.

To me the question of whether or not the iPad is going to be a success comes down to a few simple questions: What would my family and I use it for and how is it different from other devices on the market today? I believe I am part of a large number of people uniquely qualified to answer this question because I own an iPhone, Kindle, and a really nice netbook.

Movies
We are probably not going to watch movies at home on this. We have a much larger hi definition television for that. However, I can definitely see us entertaining our children with this on Road trips. Our aftermarket DVD players in our vehicle are on their last leg and their seven inch screens are too hard to see from the back seat. Also, having the movies digitized and available on a device will save us the money of having to replace scratched DVD’s all the time. Although iPods can do the job as well, their screens are just not big enough to let multiple children share at the same time.

Web Browzing
If I am going to do some serious research, I will use a full size desktop computer. And when I say desktop, I mean my PC running Windows 7, the best OS on the planet. But when it comes to browzing the web during leisure times such as while relaxing in a chair or at night in bed, this device really makes sense. The instant on feature allows me to use it without waiting for it to boot, wake up, or log in like a netbook does. Also when not seated at a desk, netbooks are awkward and unweildy. The iPhone OS has proven itself on the iPhone as a very convenient tool for casual web browzing and now that the iPad has come around, it should be even better.

Reading
Both me and my wife were excited to get our Kindle (2nd Generation) a year ago. Its screen looks great in bright sunlight and its battery life is measured weeks instead of hours. So why did I quit using my Kindle when I got my iPhone? Because as much as I would like to claim otherwise, I don’t read my Kindle on the beach on bright sunny days. I usually find time to read at night. I use the Kindle app on my iPhone because it has a backlit screen and is just as easy to use. I can turn the light off and read while my wife gets some sleep or vice versa. The larger screen of the iPad will only make it better. However, I might continue using my Kindle app …we’ll see.

Music
iPods are the undisputed king of music. The iPad has full iPod functionality and if the speakers are good enough I could see my wife using it to do her irish dance when she is not at home. Otherwise we’ll stick with our iPhones.

Email
With email, I think this is a situation where the convenience and usuability of the iPad will allow us to use it in a more leisure way. We’ll be able to respond to email while sitting in a couch or in bed instead of seated at a desk. I expect my wife to use this as her primary email device while at home, and her iPhone while away. With the enhancements they have worked into the email application, this should be even better.

Gaming
I have discovered that the iPhone is a pretty decent gaming device. My kids and I are all addicted to Bloons TD, a tower defence game involving a never ending onslaught of balloons that must be popped. The flash PC version is more complicated and has more levels of strategy and so I cant wait until I see what kind of upgrade comes out with the iPad. The nice thing about gaming on the iPhone OS is that most games are very inexpensive. Since the iPhone OS has such an outstanding software distribution model (2.5 billion apps downloaded in 2009), it makes it a lot easier for game developers to charge less money to a larger audience. Also, we know that $.99 or $1.99 is so small an amount most people don’t think anything of it and are more likely to buy on an impulse. For me and my kids, it means spending less money on Wii and PC games.

Office Apps
My wife and I both write. Sometimes, you get the itch to write at night or during other leisure times, but you just don’t feel like sitting down at a desk. Since this device supports Apples new iWork platform, this provides a legitimate alternative to using a laptop in bed or on a couch. My wife thinks her words through carefully and doesn’t necessarily need to type fast while writing and so I don’t believe the virtual keyboard will be a problem. But the real advantage comes the next day when she can take the iPad to her desk and pick up where she left off with a dock and keyboard.

App Store
With access to the Apple App Store, there is no telling what other uses people will come up with for this device. I’m sure the best uses for this device are yet to be discovered. But with a device that is so portable, convenient and simple to operate, the potential is enormous.

When I think of all the ways that my family and I will use this device, I can’t think of a reason not to buy one. I don’t think I’m alone either.

Will the iPad kill the Netbook? Probably not, but it will do some major damage. Many people who own netbooks will need to execute software that requires a full version of Windows. But for the netbook people that just want to browse the web, send email and do social networking, most will eventually switch to the iPad. I personally spent almost $700 on my hp 2133, so I dont think price will hold them back.

Will the iPad kill the Kindle? No, but it will take a big chunk of its target market. People that read outdoors will stick to the Kindle. People who read mostly at night will probably switch to the iPad and take advantage of full color content.

For Apple, I’ll predict 8 million of these sell in the first 12 months. As for me, I’ll selling both my netbook and my Kindle on eBay.