the weekly ramble

Is it? Or

Isn’t it?

A revolution? Or

A failed putsch?

Or…maybe something else…

I refer of course to Apple’s iPad, which launched to lines of people waiting overnight to buy one and untold Whatever Bytes of comment, reviews, praise and curse and confusion.

Truth is, I don’t have mine yet – read next week for my POV – but here is the Bing compilation, as of my writing, to give you a view of the divergence of opinion and the depth of emotion.

So what does it all mean?

Who the hell knows…?

But here is some food for thought or, maybe, more pointed, some filter ideas as you develop your own critique and view.

There are no reviews of an Apple product without comment regarding Steve Jobs. It’s as if you can’t use your “iAnything” or “Apple Doesn’tMatterWhat” without Steve Jobs looking over your shoulder.

And the pre-press and current reviewers are all about: Will Apple (Jobs) hit it again? Will it (he) change the world? Can they (Steve) continue to be so wildly successful?

Here is a thought – listen:

“The reason lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place is that the same place isn’t there the second time.” Willie Tyler

As an early Apple/Mac user (now exclusively PC…in both meanings), I can tell you that the human interface philosophy is the thread that binds, but that each innovation in design and ease has been inspired by something else from somewhere else. Ergo, don’t look at the scorch mark right behind you – look elsewhere.

For example, early Apple was inspired by PacMan way more than it was by scientists reveling in lines of code – and that is why the PC community wrote Apple off as a consumer novelty product only to wake up one day to its infiltration of everyday usage by everyone, and the face of all computer interfaces was changed forever.

The iPod is a Walkman and a music store in one device – on steroids. I emphasize Walkman because, like the Walkman, the iPod was reviled by critics – before its release – as in: who needs one? Now it’s the standard for function and design.

Don’t fall for the simple iPad is an overgrown iPod or iTouch – and wonder if that lightning will strike in the same place. Look instead to the magazine industry and the experience that people must have had when the first magazines were printed or computers when the first mouse was developed and used – that is how to evaluate – no other way.

Here is another piece of the filter: who really needs this? It’s not good for productivity; it’s only an overgrown toy – listen:

“Well, if I called the wrong number, why did you answer the phone?” James Thurber

Seems to me that is a great summation of much of the critique. If it’s really as useless as some say then leave it alone – right? Bing and discover all of the PC-based responses to Apple that are being rushed to market – looks to me like this is one phone that is not just being answered – it’s being dialed to…

Finally, I’d like to end with a thought from one of the great futurists of the last century and a great inspiration of mine – listen:

“The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ (I found it!) but ‘That’s funny …’”

Isaac Asimov

As you read and ponder and hopefully try to evaluate on your own – carefully gauge your own reaction and that of those around you – watch for that smile…it will tell it all.

As a PC user I am excited – it will filter down, it will enhance and it will add value – that is my bet. Now let’s see what happens when I give it a test-drive!

What’s your view?