I wrote this post whilst at Sumo Group but thought it would be good to repost it here since the Sumo Blog seems to have a few cob webs on it. At the time I remember thinking that the iPad was going to be become one of Apples rare failed products like the ROKR (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_ROKR) or Mobile Me how wrong I was. I hate to say it but the iPad has been a game changer and has brought about a Post PC world with 15.4 million iPads sold in Q4 of 2011. I'm excited about the iPad more than ever and I can't wait to release my first iPad app for my second job at Bingy Bongy.
"The iPad was released last week in the US and as with all major apple product releases there’s major turbulence in the ‘blogosphere’. Some are saying it’s the best thing since sliced bread the iPhone whilst others are saying it just a large iPhone.
Apple is going into unexplored territory, whilst yes you might be jumping up and down saying Microsoft have been making tablets for almost 10 years and they have. However companies have also been making mobile phones for years and look how much of a stir the iPhone created? It changed the way mobile phones and interfaces are made (just have a look at other mobile phones on the market today and see the similarities). There is no denying it, Apple creates great products but more importantly they also sell their products well. Keynote speeches that have charisma and charm, littering the internet with hype and rumours months before product release dates. But the question remains will the iPad be as successful as the iPhone?
I believe the iPad will be an enjoyable browsing experience literally flicking through pages on the web. Speaking from experience typing large amount of text is difficult on the iPhone, however typing on that large screen virtual keyboard does appear very handy for simple document creation. This could come in handy for writing say blog entries. Or more explicitly, writing blog entries on The Dojo…
Unfortunately Sumo and the rest of Australia will have to keep waiting as the release date isn’t until late April. Once the iPad does finally get to Australia I’ll definitely be giving it a try. As a programmer I’m not sure I have the requirement (or the cash) for another device. Don’t get me wrong I love gadgets, but with a computer at work and a laptop at home (and an iPhone for any time in between) there isn’t really a requirement for another screen. Whether I’ll be handing over the exorbitant amount of US$499 (just for the wifi version) remains to be seen.
So what do you think? Is the iPad going to change the internet forever or is it just Apple trying to squeeze more money out of us all again?"