Google wasn't sure what its business model might be when it launched its search engine. Apple probably isn't quite sure what people might do with its iPad, either.
Apple's "iWork" suite positions the iPad as a road warrior device, at least for users who don't mind the lack of multitasking or cameras, and mostly want access to email and Web browsing. But some might argue that is precisely what some users already do, but using smartphones.
Or will the iPad wind up being a media playback device more akin to an iPod "touch" with a much-larger screen? Or, instead of revealing or creating the existence of a new and sizable niche between the touchscreen smartphone and the netbook, perhaps the iPad might, in either the current or a later iteration, reset expectations for what a "netbook" or "notebook" PC actually is, and ought to be.
That seems most likely for relatively casual users, at least at the moment. Previous attempts to create a new "tablet" market failed. Apple's Newton was a flop, and Microsoft's "Tablet PCs" didn't do much better. But those devices were aimed at business users.
The consumer market for "tablet" style is probably best envisioned as a larger-screen version of the iPod touch and competing media players, the Kindle and its many e-reader readers. Media consumption, not "computing," could be the new niche.
The ability to convince traveling business users to lug one more device with them does not seem promising. On the other hand, the iPad will require a backpack; it doesn't fit in a pocket or most purses.
more detail
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Apple iPad Niche Awaits Discovery
Labels:
Apple,
business model,
iPad
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
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