A recent study found that Apple has jumped to third place (from seventh) in manufacturers of portable computers, thanks largely in part to the success of the iPad. Great news, right? Well, at least if you believe that the iPad constitutes a computer. You might be surprised that some do not share this belief. Here's why they are wrong.
From the simple standpoint that the iPad is an electronic device with a processor that computes things, it's hard to deny (with a straight face) what the iPad truly is. Given this definition, though, you're forced to include a lot of other devices: handheld gaming systems, cellphones, and even toasters that run Linux.
Yes, even these are computers. Some people have convinced themselves that a device must meet a rigid set of requirements in order to qualify. You should be able, for instance, to change out any component that you want, have unlimited freedom to run whatever you want, and in general have complete power over the device.
PC traditionalists, then, have a hard time accepting the iPad as a computer. It's a closed environment, after all, and any hardware changes that you make not only void your warranty, but software changes, too.
This kind of thing scares the crap out of a lot of people.
But this is beside the point. Simply because a computer tells you what you can do, rather than the other way around, does not mean it's not a computer. In fact, if you want to jailbreak your iPad, you can. If you want to open it up, throw in some custom hardware and rewire the thing, you can. No one is stopping you.
But even if you use your iPad exactly as intended, being a model citizen of Cupertino and never doing anything against Apple's desires, the iPad is still a computer. It's just a tightly controlled computer.
Why? Because that's what most people want. If Apple thought it could make a lot of money by releasing a blank slate (no pun intended) that let you load any operating system you want, be chock full of ports (USB or otherwise), and create software just as much as you can consume it, it would. But considering that Apple is rapidly climbing the portable computer charts, it's a clear signal that it doesn't need to. In fact, it appears to have found the better path.
If you're into this, perhaps the iPad is not for you.
There is an entire, largely untapped market out there that doesn't care about traditional computing. They're scared by it. They don't know what a programming language is, they don't know what USB stands for (and they don't care), and they just want something that is intuitive and fun to use. They don't type 90 words a minute, they've never heard of DRM (or why no one likes it), and they certainly don't care what operating system (or what version of it) is running.
The iPad (and the iPhone and iPod Touch, for that matter) are a new breed of computer designed for consumers, not creators. Yes, there are some excellent creation tools available--and more to come--but Apple finds itself on the bleeding edge of a new era of computing, an era not defined, controlled, and ruled by the techno elite.
We appreciate your continued contributions to the computer technology arena, and we wouldn't be here without you. Now just let the rest of the world enjoy the fruits of your labor. How's that for being open?
10 Comments
I am one of those people that think an ipad should not be included in computer sales. It's not because it doesn't have a usb port, it isn't because I don't have a task manager(which I enjoy) and it has nothing to do with drm. At the end of the day I don't think an ipad should be included because it requires a computer to sync with. Until it can be a standalone device it is a peripheral. A beautiful, enjoyable completely capable peripheral, but a peripheral none-the-less.
So I guess just because I have to connect my desktop to my house via a power cord it's also a peripheral. Even less stand alone than an iPad even.
Umm... Yeah, right. I don't think a power source counts.
I'm totally into ping, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the iPad either. I've been the guy setting up servers and databases for STP and Padvance: all command-line Linux, and none of which would be described to typical people as "user friendly."
However, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the iPad and iPhone, neither of which I've bothered to jailbreak. Honestly, after several frustrating hours of jumping through hoops spent getting a server side application to compile and run, it's nice to come to a platform where stuff works pretty predictably.
So I guess I do enjoy both ends of the spectrum, and every point along that spectrum does have a place and does have a right to be known as a computer.
I am simply looking at what should be allowed on that list. Do all items on that list require a power source? Yes. So that isn't a qualifier. Are all of them stand-alone devices? No. The ipad isn't. The rest are fully functioning with nothing other than a power source. The ipad requires a computer. Therefore it is inherently different.
The iPad does not need a computer except for the first time you boot it up. I have not connected my iPad to anything except a charger for months now, and it still functions fine all on it's own. I browse the Internet, watch movies, check my email, download songs and listen to them all without ever connecting to a computer. It does all of this on it's own because it is in and of itself a Computer...
Sure, if you never worry about backing up stuff, want to update the OS, or add any of your own media. And, yeah, the fact it requires one just to work the first time pretty much negates your argument anyway.
Same goes for my iPod Touch, have not synced it with a computer for months now and it is quite content as a standalone device.
I guess we should add iPhone and iPod touches then, since they all do the same thing.
ehi guys, don't say silly things... iPad is a very good peripheral, like the good Benjamin is saying by the start... Computer, imho, means that it "computes anything". Can the iPad substitute a computer? Then, NO. It does the iPad things, not even near what my PC can do. Comeon, i know that the iPad is very cool, but it is definitely not a Computer.
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