The Apple iPad is going to be launched in the US tomorrow, April 3, 2010. According to Power Mac and the A Store, the iPad will be available in the Philippines during the first week of May. The price tag will roughly be around P27,000-P30,000. Yes, it’s cheaper than the iPhone but that’s still a lot of money. You can easily buy a lot of other stuff for that amount. Let’s try to be level-headed here. As professionals and businessmen do we really need the Apple iPad? Do we really have to spend P27,000-P30,000 pesos for one? What’s the impact on our daily lives? This article will attempt to answer that question.
The benefits of having an iPad as a Filipino professional come May isn’t a lot. Ultimately the iPad is a personal device for media consumption like videos, music, and photographs. While it does come with iWork, presentations are still best done on larger screens with Macbooks. Also you’ll probably be using a projector anyway so the client won’t even look at your iPad screen (though it would be a great talking piece to warm up the atmosphere).
The cons for having an iPad is just too many to list. My biggest problem with it is that it really can’t replace a laptop so it will end up as a third device that you bring around with you (since you also need to bring your phone). The iPad doesn’t have USB drives and you also can’t work fast on it because you can’t multi-task. The great thing about having laptops is that you can switch in between the browser, e-mail, and other applications when you’re working. This is even more true when you’re preparing presentations.
If you try to replace your laptop with the iPad, you’ll get gimped. It just won’t do.
When it comes to browsing, there’s no news yet on which carrier will be providing the 3G internet service for the iPad. Besides, what do you need mobile internet for? E-mail? Checking for movie schedules? You can already do that with your phone. Do you really need to whip out an iPad just to do those things while on the go? Chances are that you already have a USB-modem like SMART BRO, Globe Tattoo, or Sun. That won’t work because the iPad doesn’t have a USB drive. This means that you’ll have to pay extra to surf on it if you’re going to use 3G.
The iPad is a media consumption device and it has little, if not nothing, to do with how we do our business or jobs as Filipino professionals. My personal recommendation is that you get it only if you have money to spare and know that you’re getting it just because it’s a media consumption device (and you’ll spend more if you’re going to get the 3G version). Otherwise stick to your laptop and mobile phone until Steve Jobs makes the iPad something that can totally replace Netbooks.You never really know what will happen in the future. It just takes an OS upgrade to fix multi-tasking and a dock for USB access.
If ever I’m getting this, it’s mainly because for media. I’d want to test it out first though to see how much it strains the eyes when reading eBooks for extended periods of time. It’s a test of will power for me since I’m a huge fan of Apple products. My brain is telling me that this is a waste of money but I find myself drooling at it each time I see it online, haha! Must resist! >.<
Apple iPad 30 Sec. TVC
Some people might just buy it for the sake of having the so called “in” thing.. for the sake of having an “iPad”.
You pinned many points there, based on Philippine setting and perspectives.
Thanks for the comment dimaks. Yes, people who will get it are probably those who just want it because it’s cool, haha.
I’m sure everyone’s drooling every time they see one.
I have to agree though that it’s more of a personal device than something for professional use.
Photographers may have use for it to show their portfolio, but it’s not going to replace the laptop or even actual prints. For presentations, maybe too small and yes, you’ll probably be using a projector.
Still, we don’t know what kind of “business” apps will be developed in the future. But again, if you can have that app in your iphone or laptop, why lug another bigger device.
One of my favorite apps that I use in my iPod Touch is the iMindMap app from Buzan. The problem there is that it’s kinda hard to mind map with a mobile phone. Definitely interested to see how’s the experience with the iPad.
By the way, I saw pics of your baby! Congratulations!
*waiting for Microsoft courier*
Nice read. The main point why I’m not really interested in one is because of the 3rd gadget argument. Sometimes, aside from laptops and mobile phones, we have a 2nd mobile phone, an mp3 player and a portable gaming device. It’s just too much to lug around.
I see potential in the iPad being a gaming device though, especially with ad hoc. We’ve discussed this with some officemates on the way home one time, and it seems feasible. Imagine iTouches being hands for your poker cards, and the iPad being the poker table. Haha.
Didn’t think about that angle Dodge. You’re right that a lot of the working class peeps probably have two phones, a portable gaming device (PSP, DS), and an iPod. Add that to the laptop, a digital camera, and iPad – that’s a whole lot of gadgets to bring around.
That actually presents a market opportunity. Man purses will have high demand in the coming months. Hahaha!
iPad can’t even change mobile blogging. Just imagine how it would be harder for a blogger to blog using this device. Though we can expect that the WP app would also be available together with the 100,000 apps already in the app store- I still doubt if iPad has something more than what iPhone can offer as far as blogging is concerned.
Other than the bigger screen? Nothing else at the moment. Not being able to multi-task is also an issue for blogging – especially for people who like to put pictures in their entries.
Exactly. But personally for me, the big deal here is the price.
PS.
Is your re-tweet button really working? It seems like it has a broken link. It says: “URL points to the wrong story.”
Hmm, it’s working for me. Let me double check.
I’m getting the iPad mainly for eBook consumption, the occasional web surfing and some casual gaming. I think the iPad is targetting Kindle users especially the DX version which is only $10 cheaper than the iPad base model, netbook users are a secondary target. I had tried to decide where my hard earned $500 should go, to the Kindle DX with its large comfy electronic paper display but singular purpose (ebook reading) or the iPad with its similarly large albeit eye-strain prone display but with several other uses. The iPad won, I’m used to reading on the iPhone’s small screen anyway so switching to a bigger screen shouldn’t prove to be too much of an adjustment. Though I believe the intoduction of the iPad to the market will drive the price of the Kindle DX down which is good news and will make me reconsider my decision. The cool factor is an added bonus. Let’s be honest, who wants an ugly device even if it’s feature packed? The lack of multitasking, Flash, webcam, keyboard, etc. etc. doesn’t bother me, I have my mbp or PC for that. The iPad is simply not built for that purpose so I think arguing about the iPad’s credibility as a device based on those points is an exercise in futility.
Hi Rico! Thanks for the comment. Yes, ultimately it is a media consumption device. Looking forward to see if Amazon will really bring down the prices of the Kindle DX.
I agree with rico. I would get an ipad for the ebook app. Having an Ipad for me is like having my own portable library. I could buy books instantly. I don’t have to worry about shipping expenses when ordering a book. I saw also the Marvel Comics demo of the Ipad in Late Night With Jimmy Fallon… It’s awesome!
I also saw that demo bro! The iPad and the other tablets coming out will definitely inject much needed life and revenue into the dying print business.
bragging rights +1000..
its for the oldies who cant use a mouse. im gonna buy one for my father. he’s going to love it.
i agree! i bought one for my mom..tried teaching her how to use a laptop but it’s quite cumbersome for her. with the bigger screen, touch interface and a simplified UI, iPad would be a great device for starters like her
i agree with the stuff you wrote on this article. IMO, anything bigger than the iPhone that has the same “i” name is GARBAGE. Apple has gone too freakin far. its a useless piece of @#$% that is better off smaller. seriously, a device that is theoretically just a bigger version of the iphone? i dont even think the iphone is a good enough phone for those squeezing some power out of it. sure, its got an amazing UI and stuff, but the way apps are run is shit.
unless they make their mobile OS better, i will never like apple.
Hi carlo, i am just wondering if the above pre-launch statement is still true…..do you still find ipad “unnecessary”. I am thinking of buying one ……….
Same question here. Do you still have the same opinion? I find it really useful and use it together with my laptop.