Why devices like the iPad are not only relevant, but game changers.

This post is not only relevant to the iPad, but all of the devices that are coming out 'in it's class'. Over the course of speaking to people about the iPad, I have found myself hearing trends. People talking about why they should get an iPad when they already have a computer or a laptop. My answer is very different than some, I still think it's a game changer.

The iPad is an appliance, not a computer.

The face of computing has changed very little since the first desktops and laptops came out. Embedded devices have been used by a select few that were willing to deal with the pains of the little screens, and the poor web browsers. This is all changing. Between the iPhone/iPad OS, and Android, many of those woes are headed towards being a thing of the past. This is a great thing! The day that I can hand my Mom an iPad and tell her to go to town on the internet on there, without worrying about viruses.. well, let's just say that will be a beautiful day. I see that day approaching.

Like all embedded devices, the iPad will be highly software regulated.

Some people think this is tantamount to treason of their beloved computers. I'm here to say it now: Regulation of technology only makes the user experience better! It may not be perfectly what you, geek user, want. But it's going to make the majority of end users much happier in the long run. This is one of Apple's secret to success. This may not be quite as true on Android tablets that are coming out, but it's still useful to have an acceptance process. They have a core of followers, but they've been gaining more as time goes on. Because people are purchasing PCs as if they're well designed systems, when in fact they're just slapped together by the lowest bidder. Sure, Apple doesn't put anything out on-the-cheap. Why? Because you get what you pay for. They spend the extra time designing and developing both the hardware and the software. They integrate and blend the two to provide a world class experience. It's nothing short of the best customer service possible.

Media player

This is the first device that you can viably listen to music, watch videos and read books, on. It's the only class of device that I might actually consider doing all three things on. In those terms, I think that makes it one of the most likely devices to succeed. Do I think it'll immediately be a runaway hit just because of that? No. I do believe that really raises the stakes though. The device can do all those great things that a standard iPod Touch can do, and more.

My workflow will change immensely. At least while I'm at home at will. Instant messenger and web pages on the iPad style device, and I'll only break out the desktop when I have development work to do.

Here's the real game changer: Why have ten embedded device, when one will do?

With the advent of a decent sized embedded device, with this much power, why would a company such as a hospital, bother to have either tiny little devices that connect to stuff? Why not one device that can do it all? Imagine a device that can actually read patient charts, interface with all the tiny little machines, and the like. The iPod Touch was only really good as a point of sales device. This thing could actually be used in places where current embedded technology is old and stale. Completely revitalizing the market in those sectors. A prime example being medical devices, which I happen to think of only because I used to develop for a monotone device that was horrible. It was used to scan stuff for inventory. Imagine walking around with one of these devices in one hand, a scanner in the other. Maybe not completely new, but it would integrate itself easily in to all sorts of workflows. Directly because it is an appliance, not a computer.

The most poor decision that Apple has made regarding this product is, simply put, it's name. It sounds so close to a feminine product that it is unlikely to be taken serious in many circles. My guess? You have a board room of male directors that are brainstorming names, and they decide on the iPad. They approve it, and the first female to see it outside the board room nearly falls off her chair laughing. Unfortunately, the name is already 'set in stone'! Too late!

Ah well. I'll forgive it it's name, and use it as it was intended.

Mac Unmeasurables

So, a friend of mine asked me to measure "Mac Unmeasurables" recently. For that reason, I decided to go ahead and start this blog post. I'll keep updating it with new ones as I go forward, but this should help some people that are interested in buying a Mac, but don't understand why specs don't match exact specs from laptop to laptop. Keeping in mind I'm forced to use Windows systems every day of my life, because business still hasn't figured it out either. As a side note, I will not be providing apologetics in this post. If you don't realize that Mac Mice have more than one button, go out and look. I'm thinking I'll provide an apologetics post in a few days.

Foundation piece: Apple is a hardware and software manufacturer. They put them together for optimum performance. There is little 'lag' and stuttering in the Mac OS, unlike any other operating system on the market (not counting Chrome OS- It's not really out of beta yet as of this writing, and I can't count that). Apple also understands presentation. Even in the box, they are careful in how they present their products. It's not 'throw it in the box and hope'.

• 5 minute setup. The most recent Windows systems have started to match this, but you still have to get rid of all the spam-ware that they pre-install on your system.


• Immediate productivity. Mac finds the network, you enter the password, done. No guess work.


• Intuitive interface. Most people instinctively grasp the dock in OS X, and the toolbar is always there. The only knock I'll give this part is that when you close the window, you're not closing the program. That's no so intuitive. But it does make it faster to bring that window back, if you have the memory to keep the program running with everything else you're running.


• Less errors and less 'fiddling' time. Sure, it's not as customizable as a windows box. At least, not exactly the same ways. But, I've never had a Mac crash on me. I know people that have, but I haven't. Further, I demand a lot from a computer. I'm a web designer, and I can have twenty windows open, five-to-ten programs, and a video encoder going at the same time. No problem on a Mac. I avoid that situation like the plague on Windows.
  
  • Speaking of video encoders. I haven't had a single "free" Windows video encoder work for me without fiddling. Props to Handbrake on the Mac.


• Closing the lid does what I would expect. It puts the computer to sleep within ten seconds. I've only ever seen one pre-installed Windows sytem do that- An IBM T42.


• Opening the lid does what I would expect. Windows can't even compete in this arena: My Mac is ready for me to go within probably 2 seconds of opening the lid. Roughly three times since I started using a Mac (years ago), did it take longer than 2-3 seconds.


• Turning on a bluetooth keyboard that is paired with the computer, whle it is sleeping, turns the computer on. Great for external displays.


• Simple, stupid backups. Time machine is the first back up technology I would trust my mom with.


• PDF viewing. Adobe Acrobat Reader? Yeah. It sucks. Everyone knows it, yet they still use it. It amazes me. Preview is much faster at viewing PDFs than Reader. Speaking of which, Mac has a built in preview mechanism for almost every file type. If you're in finder (the equivalent of explorer), looking at your files, just hit spacebar to preview it. Whether it's an image file, video, text, doc, rtf, pdf, it'll show you some basics of what is in there.


• ...there will be more...

Here are a few points specifically for geeks, because those tend to be it's biggest critics:

• BSD. Use all your favorite *nix based programs on it. No dual booting, no dealing with all the silly little things you have to in *nix. It's ready to rock and roll. Pull up the terminal, and do all the old familiar tasks you normally can on *nix.


• Perfect for server connections. Use standard secure shell style protocols. File system paths are familiar. Don't know how something works? Use the man pages.


• All the networks tools built in to the GUI. Network Utility. Info, netstat, ping, trace, whois, finger, portscan. All baked right in.


• A usable dashboard. Windows doesn't come with a good dash. They're trying more, but the F12 key drops the dashboard right down over everything and you have access to your time, calendar, notes, all sorts of stuff. Much easier.


• Need a tool for developing? Admining? It's on Mac. Probably freeware. SQL? Sequel Pro. Developing? Eclipse, IntelliJ, Netbeans. CVS/SVN? Oh yeah.


• Your favorite browsers are there. Firefox, Chrome, Opera. It's all there.

Here's the trump card: Mac's run Windows! If you really feel it necessary to run a Windows program, you can emulate it on Crossover, or use a virtual environment with VMWare Fusion (Parallels is horrible, I would never recommend it). Mac gives you every environment, and ease of use. No other system can claim that.

Here are a few parting words to think on: Who is the innovator? Where do most new techs come from? The mouse is from Mac. Bluetooth? Mac. CD Drives? Mac. Firewire? Mac. All those pretty programs that showed up in Vista? Yeah. Mac first. It's been called iLife for a long time. No, it's not as open (but there aren't any operating systems outside *nix bases that are). No, it's not as cheap. No, it's not perfect. But am I willing to pay for the experience? For ease of use? Simplicity?

My answer? Yes. Will it always be my answer? Who knows. I use it because it's better. If someone comes along and makes something else better, I'll be there. For now, it's Mac.