You do not need an iPad because:
- You already have a laptop.
- You already have an iPhone.
- You don’t like to read.
- You like typing on a keyboard and clicking with your mouse.
- You think the mobile web is over-rated.
- You are a PC (whatever that means).
- You think Apple is a monopoly.
- You are waiting for the 2nd generation device, because that will be really cool.
- It does not have a camera.
- You do not want to be a part of the revolution.
O.k. I have heard most of these as reasons over that last few days (truth be told nobody has told me they do not like to read, but I did see a guy with an I’m a PC t-shirt giving us dirty looks while we waited in line for our iPads). As Hanz and Franz on SNL used to say “Hear me now, believe me later.” The Revolution is Live! With one simple product release, I am convinced Apple has given newspapers a second chance to live. Yes, this is big, very big.
All you have to do is open up the USA Today or BBC News Application on the iPad and you find yourself quickly engaged, touching stories, reading articles and tapping on videos embedded in the story. Images look AMAZING. The high resolution screen is spectacular. It is not HD, so what? It looks AMAZING, yes I had to repeat that. I am not a news junkie, but if this first engagement is a sign of what is coming, then I can’t wait to see the magazines! From People to Life to GQ, content is king again.
The best example I have thought of, is the incredible newspapers in Harry Potter, with moving pictures. This is better. No monochrome (Kindle) – This is Kodachrome! Slide from one news story to the next, touch the screen and it reacts exactly as it would if you told them exactly how it should react. If you do not understand what I mean try any windows mobile device or other touch screen device, you will quickly find that something is a little off – they don’t work like an Apple. The touch screen works like it should, that alone makes this device worthy of the recognition it deserves.
The iBook App. An oak book shelf on your iPad. Download a few free classics to your iPad and check them out. Slide your finger across the screen and the page turns, it is truly magical. The words are crisp and clean, I may even start buying books online – seriously. The “store” has plenty of books to get you started and is engaging enough that you will soon find your self browsing for books. Get a book and you wind up looking at your book shelf while the book quickly downloads to your shelf. I set a few to download and kept browsing. This device is simply fun.
Oh yeah, it is also a gaming device (so has anyone tried monochrome tetris on the Kindle?). Just like your iPhone or iTouch, but well BIGGER. Yeah, once again Big is Beautiful! I can not wait for the Apps to catch up and port over to the iPad. You can 2x an old school iPhone app, but the crispness evaporates as images become a little pixelated. You should wait until all of the apps get updated, I will play with them on the big screen for you now. The only significant gaming advantage to this device is it is fast, really fast. Apps open quickly and everything seems very right now. The technical explanation is an Apple designed chip is producing this speed bump. The practical explanation is more bow wow wow, less meow.
You can tell me all of the reasons why this device isn’t for you and I will listen politely nodding occasionally. Do not think I am agreeing with you, I am simply letting you exercise your freedom to be wrong. This is the device Apple claimed they could not make. It is a giant Newton and I love it.
What does this have to do with effective social and professional networking? You can now take your network with you everywhere, maximize your efficiency and find more time to follow up on all of those leads. The web is fun again, thanks Steve. Get one now, get a new one next year. Or better yet, wait a year, I will enjoy the iPad for you and when version 2 comes out we can talk about how cool it is together.
*This image is used without permission, but Steve still looks good in the mock turtle neck.
