So while I type this blog out pretty quick before I head to class, I thought I'd take some time away from browsing the internet to talk about a pretty popular topic that has been coming up in my communication classes this week (including my marketing class, which it could literally be a centerpiece for a multi-day discussion), and the topic I am preaching is this: The new Apple IPad.  Now there is a lot of speculation as to whether the Ipad will be a monstrous success or a huge flop. My bet is that it's going to be a success, a big one. Maybe not right away, but over the next few years people will most likely see objects like this gaining popularity. But what is it? The Ipad is similar to the Amazon Kindle, which is an e-book reader, but it's much more advanced. The Ipad is a e-book reader (which ebooks are gaining popularity, since you can carry so many around at one time on one device). It is also a mini netbook. The Ipad has wifi capabilities, and if you want to pay the money (which is $30 a month with NO contracts), you can get AT&T 3G, so your Ipad can be semi online wherever you go. Another cool thing is that it's completely touch screen, like the Ipod touch or Iphone (same design, and it works the same exact way to the other apple products). The only downsides seem to be is that you can't multitask and that it has no webcam (but really? in a year it will probably have those things, and in 2-3 years these things are going to be as good or better than most netbooks). So what is the big deal? Why are so many people talking about this thing? Well wouldn't you? The Ipad even though it has it's pros and cons, it is almost symbolic of where technology is standing today, pretty soon we are going to enter the next evolution of computers and general technology, at a rate that we are just beginning to realize. The differences have been subtle, since technological growth is exponential. Subtle changes at first, then sooner than you realize our entire industry of laptops and home pcs are going to be shifted to tablets like this little thing, and everyone in the world will have one. The technology will advance, and so will our use with it. Plus it's way more convenient. Imagine, instead of having to bring your laptop around, or using a desktop pc, that you instead just have a mid sized electronic tablet. This is apart of the future. It isn't what the Apple Ipad is, it's what it's forcing the world to become. |