Only a few days left before the iPad hits shelves and if Apple is able to deliver even with some speculated delivery problems we will be able to dive into a new product that will probably change the way how we use the web and consume other media forever.
When I wake up in the morning, I go into the kitchen and press the start button on my coffee maker. I want a fresh and delicious coffee delivered to me within a couple of seconds. My coffee maker can compete this task and it does it really well – we are used to coffee makers and we are happy how they work. What if we could press a button to access the web and start to use it even faster like my coffee maker brews a cup of coffee? For now starting the internet requires pressing a button on a desktop or laptop computer and then waiting until the machine boots up. We typically have to sit in a certain room to access the internet. We probably have to turn on some other components first to get access to the web. I know some people don’t have these issues as they keep their computers powered on all the time – not a wise decision in many ways.
So, for most of us – accessing the internet is not as easy as brewing a coffee in the morning. This is exactly where the iPad kicks in. The iPad is the coffee maker of the internet. It will brew instant access to the web, to your social networks or to any other media including photos, movies, music and of course email within seconds. The internet has finally made it to our homes and to our lives in full wherever you are and whenever you want it.
I’ve been using an Apple iPhone since 2007 as my primary mobile device. Having access to all my data where ever I go is a fantastic experience and I never want it to change going forward. Most people that own an iPhone realize how wonderful this experience is and don’t refer to the iPhone as a phone anymore. The iPhone is a device that fits into your life as a service. You don’t have to fire up your computer to check the weather or book a hotel, you can simply check your emails or website wherever you are. Of course the small screen of the iPhone is not a full replacement for the desktop or laptop computer but the iPad will fill the gap instantly.
A lot of people saying that the iPad has no real target audience. If you were in Apple product management you would ask what is the goal with this new product beside selling as many iPad devices as possible? Apple created a product to find a new market to sell to – brand new Apple customers. Naturally they will be happy if an Apple customer buys an iPad but their goal is a customer who has never used an Apple product or, frankly, a computer of any type. Apple wants to remove the slogan “Computers are for geeks” – they are not anymore – they are here – we use them – every day.
My mom hates it when she see a TV show and at the end it says “More on our website at…” – she don’t have a computer so she can’t see the “More information” on that website. My mom saw the iPad and I explained how it can be used. She was fascinated by the concept by the ease of use – and her hesitation with using computers was gone instantly – because the iPad is not a computer – its a device like a TV screen. She said that the iPad is “Instant Internet and Media Access without the hassle to install software or deal with maintenance issues”. Turn it on and you are in. My mom is 65 — she is the new Apple customer.
If Apple created a coffee maker – I would buy it.
Andreas Schneider is a German entrepreneur and developer focusing on casual and social games. His game Serpent of Isis was best selling Hidden Object game at Seattle-based Big Fish Games.
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This story posted on CenterNetworks.