Why I’ll Pass on the Apple Tablet

Posted by | 09/05/2009 | 24 Comments

ipadYou may have read how I believe the upcoming Apple Tablet or CrunchPad would be an excellent tool for K-12 students. While I do believe these tablet devices could have a significant positive impact on the realm of education, I don’t plan on purchasing one for my personal use. Here’s why:

What can it do that I don’t already have?

Even the homebrew, once-a-week blogs are abuzz with rumors and news about the fabled Apple Tablet.  It sounds real cool; many columnists are commenting that the Apple Tablet will have amazing features which make it the centerpiece of your Internet and multimedia experience, but what does it do that’s new? What will it do that a netbook and my iPod cannot?  As it stands now, I cannot see the benefit in yet another device that does much of the same thing as what I already own.

What about the software?

I predict that the software experience of the upcoming tablet will be similar to what we see with most new products: limited.  Although it will likely be based on OS X, the Apple Tablet operating system is rumored to be more like a large iPod than a full-fledged computer.  Over time this will become less of an issue as numerous useful apps will be created and released.  Whether the Apple Tablet becomes a household item depends upon the user experience delivered the the OS.

It has been rumored that Steve Jobs pulled the plug several times on the tablet project because it just wasn’t right.  If the Apple perfectionist has been as involved as the rumors state, it is possible that the iPad will offer an OS of greater polish than other devices that are new to the market.  The success of the iPhone wasn’t in its call quality or data reliability; the success of the iPhone was in its user experience provided by the operating system which improved over time.

What about the higher than netbook price?

I love Apple products.  My MacBook Pro is the centerpiece of my own Internet and multimedia experience, but the biggest reason why I’ll pass on the Apple Tablet other than the fact that it brings nothing new to my computing experience is its rumored $500+ price tag.  Why shell out $500 bucks for a tablet when a $299 or less netbook will do the exact same for much cheaper?  Over time the price of this yet to be released device will hopefully drop, the software will improve, the bugs will be worked out, and then I’ll consider buying one for personal use.

So are you jumping on the iPad bandwagon?

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Category: Editorials, Hardware, Mobile

About the Author (Author Profile)

As an educator and school counselor, Matthew is an advocate for using technology in the classroom and passionate about exposing students to technologies that will empower them in their future careers. Follow Matthew on Twitter.
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  • Grace

    This commentator may be happy with a laptop and iPhone but there vast numbers of people out there who are not.

    I’ve heard many complaints about difficulty reading and navigating the tiny iPhone screen to the point that many have returned them. Laptops are heavy to lug around, and the keyboard fixed to screen set-up is a real problem for people who aren’t young, nimble and with very good eyesight.

    My guess is that most of Jobs’ contemporaries, the ‘boomers,’ are waiting, as I am, for a portable device that WE can really use.

    If Apple makes something like an Origami that works well, I’ll be FINALLY joining the eager first-day crowd to buy a new Apple product.

  • CK

    Holy sh*t, the author of this is a guidance counselor! Well, scratch those kids off as dreamers.

  • brown

    Just because someone has an opinion about a computer doesn’t mean he isn’t good at his job. By the way- what’s the point in getting so upset about something small like a dumb computer.

  • bluespapa

    Matthiew, apparently by knowing your needs and shrugging off something that doesn’t meet them, you’ve raised the ire of the tech consuming community.

    You’ve also apparently dissed boomers and children by saying that you won’t be lined up for something you don’t need.

    Let’s see, how else can we distort what you’ve written? Surely this proves you hate kittens if you wouldn’t buy this to look at lolcats. What an unfeeling cad you are to hate kittens.

  • SAM

    What is this “Apple Tablet” thing?

    Is it something constructed of old discarded apple cores?
    Is it edible in an emergency?
    Will it be OK to use in the Garden of Eden?

  • arshad

    There is no apple tablet or iPad as yet. Assuming that Apple will release a new device with a slate or tablet form factor and not do something revolutionary or game-changing with it misses the modus operandi of the company.

  • http://kurtholdorf.com Kurt Holdorf

    I found your “me only” viewpoint interesting and the fact that you saw no need need to get ONE iPad because TWO things already did what it could do. People aren’t born with an iPod and a Netbook. They must get them at some point. Apple is what it is because it works on problems of the future, not situations that exist now. Sometimes that has hurt them, no doubt, but stop and think how much a PC user owes to the vision of Apple products. PC’s emulate Apple, not the other way around.

    The beauty of the iPad (or whatever is will be called) is it will most likely set the standard for computing devices two or three years from now. Will it be perfect right out of the chute? No. Will it be better for solving computer hardware needs of this moment in time? No. But I bet Apple’s product will be emulated in the future more than any other.

  • SAM

    Kurt said: “PC’s emulate Apple…”

    Can you cite your source?

  • River Valley

    @Lorie Ghamy
    hooray someone else who knows about PixelQi screens. Anything less is useles.

    @sam
    Byte magazine themselves said in 2004 “.. for the last 20 years, Microsoft have been playing catchup with Apple..”. Nothings changed since.

    The reason people are in denial about this is they don’t want to admit they paid many times as much $$ in constant upgrades when they could have bought the right stuff. Or they dont want to face that a Mac User is enjoying an business/culture adavantage that is not available to a PC diehard until 5 years time. Keep your loyalty. I’ll take success.

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