noPad
Part of me – the nerd part – thinks the iPad is another piece of fantastic news from Cuppertino (even if I must admit my first reaction was -What on earth would anyone want this for?). It seems quite the slick machine. I mean, just look at “The Elements”.
But, I’m not getting one!
Why?
A) It’s for consuming (paid) content, not for creating. I want to create more and – if need be – consume less. I don’t want another shiny distraction on my path to delivering more output.
B) It’s another thing! I don’t need more stuff. Moving Le Family to the other side of the world, packing light and living frugal made us realize we don’t need stuff. We left all but clothes and a few toys behind and haven’t missed any of it. Reading a recent Cornell study about material things vs. experiences reinforced that feeling. (Thanks to Alex Kjærulf for tweeting the link.)
(Plus it’s bound to be an additional gadget; it doesn’t replace anything. I still need my laptop and my iPhone. Why don’t we just make that C).
So, I won’t get an iPad. What’s the big deal?
I have an iPhone. And I’m in love with it! ( · · · — — — · · · ) But I have also often wondered if I weren’t better off with my plain vanilla Nokia _phone_.
…but every time I dare think those thoughts my iPhone shines at me, begging me to pick it up and play a little more with it.
Damn you Steve…
Having had a year’s worth of experience with a Nokia phone, I can’t imagine why anyone would write such a thing. After having had the email client repeatedly corrupt headers and send emails to deleted recipients (reply from Nokia support: “we can’t reproduce it”), I had the great pleasure of seeing a software upgrade fail, only to be followed by the Nokia backup restoration software failing to recognize that the Nokia backup utility had created a corrupt file – plunking that file into the phone rendered it completely useless. After 3 weeks (!) in the repair shop, I got back an empty phone, and am having to manually populate the address book etc.
No more Nokia, ever, after this one!
@Ulf Wiger Calm down Mr Ericsson ;) I was talking about the _phone_ part, not the Nokia part (even if their phones have always serviced me well). You know, a phone to make and receive calls and to read and send some texts. Forget the e-mail, applications, syncing and what-not. A phone that doesn’t tempt you to use it for other (time consuming) (online) purposes…
Great post, Pär, couldn’t agree more with your general point of owning way too many things (guilty..). When it comes to the IPad though, I’m afraid that you, me, your kids and my kids will all own one (or one that looks very similar) in less than 5 years.. I’ll even bet on it, what do you say? (We can use something abstract as currency for our bet since we’ll try to avoid things hereafter – how about glory, honour or karma?) :-)
@Gaute SmÃ¥land You’re on! You don’t know what you’re getting into. We’ve gone completely Amish down here. We don’t even have electric… Yeah right, who am I kidding?? Look at me, I’ve got an iPhone don’t I?!…
Seriously; you’re right of course. I don’t doubt I’ll get one (or the other) eventually, but I’m not running to get first in line. I will wait for the real need to arise first.
On a final note: Bet or no bet; you just reading and commenting (twice even!) on my blog will earn you enough karma points to last you a good while :)
Heisann! Handing out points for reading your blog… and Karma points… Sounds wonderful. I want those points as well!! Regarding our craving for getting points, you must have a look at this TED talk: http://bit.ly/9GaqwN
As for iPad. Of Course! Who are we kidding? With this blogpost you’re just trying to lift yourself above the crowded line in front of the store. :) I’ll have one too. Fully aware of my Apple addiction. My precious…
@Anette K. Kristiansen Let’s just assume I really have the powers to dole out karma points, then of course you can have some too :)
I would’ve liked to see what connection you saw between karma points and games, but unfortunately “This video contains content from Comcast Entertainment Group, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds.” On TED?! That’s new and unexpected. Blaargh :(
Regarding the iPad: Et tu Anette?! Really, I won’t get one! Why don’t you guys believe me? Hmm, I think I have to work on my credibility ;)
Pär, Pär, Pär! You read too many blogs written by bozos and Microsoft apologists.
There are many apps that make iPad more than just a consumption device:
 Pages, Numbers & Keynote
 http://www.brushesapp.com/
 http://www.korg.com/ielectribe
 http://j.mp/aNJkew
Thing is…it also makes your consumption time more natural and enjoyable.
You’re a geek guy. I suspect you’ll get an iPad sooner or later. Then, when you do, you’ll wish you got it sooner.
You know it’s true.
@Mark Newton …and you know I know it’s true! Please Mark, don’t make this harder on me than it already is ;)
But: Those apps you list are for creating, I agree, but not the content I need to create. Although, as a former young hobby drummer I would probably spend some time with iElectribe, that drum machine on drugs app. Wait, stop! I just made my point again! That’s playing (pun intended). I don’t need to play. I need to create (value).
But I’ll gladly hand it to you (and Steve): It’s a p r e t t y slick machine. Part of me wants it, no doubt about that, but just not big enough a part. I’m not getting one. (…yet ;)
Seriously: It’s not just the creating. It’s the not constantly consuming. Here’s a story for you (written two+ months after I wrote this one). If I would’ve bought an iPad, that’s the story I (wish I) would’ve written two weeks later:
“Peter Bregman – Why I returned my iPad”
http://blogs.hbr.org/bregman/2010/06/why-i-returned-my-ipad.html
I never thought of it that way. The best kind of devices are ones that are so inconvenient we won’t bother using them, freeing us up to be bored. I’ve been living under the notion that Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer were completely incompetent, when in fact they have been conscientiously working all these years to save us from ourselves!
Just kidding. I get the concern. I spend way too much time online too.
By the way, out of coincidence, I just came across this interesting article this morning:
http://www.nme.com/news/gorillaz/53816. This is one piece of iPad creation I can’t wait for. The three Newton boys are huge Gorillaz fans.
Cheers mate,
Mark.
Thanks for the link @Mark. So he has actually recorded the whole thing on the iPad? Hmm, interesting. Good on him. Ok, I’ll give you this: If I’m ever to record an album, I promise to give the iPad a shot ;)