- This is a very condensed and simple piece of my thoughts on a few things. It's not meant to be an in depth analysis, I just wanted to get at least something down here. -
So the iPad doesn't use OS X, have USB or FireWire ports, can't run more than one app at once (let's remember the battery life this thing has, eh?), has no webcam, and doesn't have Flash. It wasn't created to be a computer in the sense that most people think of it; it's built for a market whose computing needs are more about finding a simple, fast, and intuitive way to use content rather than taking time to sit down and create content. (Plus, it's got the aesthetic that so many people are drawn to...Apple's been good at that.) This was made for people who have an iPhone, but want a more convenient way to type their emails and something to read their digi books on. (Yeah, I'm calling 'em "digi books.") It's for light computing and surfing the net. Hopefully Apple will allow for multiple apps to run at once in later versions of the iPad, which I think would help them in accomplishing their goals here. The Flash issue is an interesting one. Even though it has over 90% of the market, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's the best, and plus it's proprietary, which takes it in the opposite direction that the Internet is headed in. Annoyingly, much of the internet relies on this program, so hopefully the free software movement and Apple can help smother Flash. (An applause for YouTube by the way for switching over!) Be brave, and go out and kill it.
This product is for people who aren't very computer literate, don't need to be, and don't care to be. They don't care about how any of what they're using works as long as it does in fact work, and also don't care much about doing any modifications to their devices. They just want to check their email, play Tetris, listen to whatever bad genera of music they like, and surf teh interwebz. This product isn't for you, so don't buy it. It's as simple as that. For example: If there is phonics book targeted towards small children, it doesn't need to IPA transcriptions of the words being learned for its purpose to be accomplished. I know this book is for small children who couldn't care less about the IPA and will probably never use it at all in their lives, so why should I complain about it? I'm not the target group. If I want a book that shows IPA transcriptions of those same words in various regional accents, it'd be foolish of me to buy the one for kids, and it'd make no sense to complain about it in the first place.
Oh yes, on the iPhone OS....(or rather, on something related to it.)
The DRM issue is ever vexatious. We can all despise the record and label companies for having Apple attempt to stop people from tinkering with their products and trying to gain control over them. On one hand, this may discourage new generations of people who may someday seek to unlock the full potential of their Apple device (or any one really), but on the other, it'll simply strengthen the resolve of those already committed to the free software movement. The people who do truly want to expand the functionality of their devices will do so, and the more certain entities attempt to crush the movement, the people will push back all the harder and louder. Yes, the trend that DRM is setting is awful. Hopefully though, eventually it'll make people mad enough that they'll force things to turn around for them.
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