I recently bought an iPad. That most profitable of Apple products. Designed and sold from '1 Infinity Loop, Cupertino, California'. They've sold about 25 million of the thing and they're just getting started. Made in China, designed in the US and sold everywhere. The best gift for Mothers day, Fathers day and every birthday. So I was really looking forward to it when I got it.
Its not that expensive. The last computer I bought, cost me thirty thousand. This cost me only twenty. Its not very big, its not very heavy and actually once you open the box, its not very impressive. It looks like somebody plucked the screen of a laptop and packed it in a white cardboard box. Its even got the camera hole like your laptop screen.
Once I got it started I was even less impressed. Yes its touch screen, which means, no mouse, only fingers, to do everything. Touch things, move things, slide things. Yes the screen is nice. But the camera is lousy and you can't really input anything and even writing an email is a bit of a pain. No word, no excel. And that's where the disappointment ended and the fun began.
The greatest thing about the iPad and about this whole concept is the appstore. Once you've been introduced to it, you think, 'Hmmm, why didn't anyone think of that before.' No going to a shop to buy software. No buying it online and waiting for it to come by post. Not even downloading and installing and updating and registering. Its so simple you won't believe it. But you like a program, you click it, you enter a password, wait 2 minutes and your done. You're set to go. And that's just the start.
There's hundreds of thousands of programs. You won't believe me unless you try it. Anything you want, anything you can think of. Its there. I myself spent about one fifth the price of the iPad on programs. Stuff for the wife. Stuff for the kid. And games for myself. Board games, RPG's, racing games, puzzles. Its all there. My son has got story books that read themselves to him. Jigsaws that clap and shout at him. Painting books. Counting books. All rolled into one. It really opens up a world of possibilities and you really get the feeling that if you were paralyzed from the waist down, it really wouldn't be that bad.
So the excitements over and here's the bitter aftertaste at the end of the story. With so many programs, three people and one iPad, who gets it. I think I'm going to need two more iPads. Damn you Apple.
