As a provider of services for Apple products, SaberLogic has an obvious interest in Apple’s announcement on January 27th, 2010 of the new iPad.  The iPad is basically a larger version of the iTouch…a tablet computer that provides capabilities for web browsing, managing email, photos, music, movies, television, games, and books.  We have already had some spirited discussions here at SaberLogic on the iPad.  Emotions have ranged from “dumbest thing ever” to “I’m buying one, on day one”.

Those against it have included the argument that it offers very little more in capabilities over the current iTouch or iPhone.  Other than the new iBooks service, I would have to agree.  However, I think that we need to look several years out to begin to see the logic behind Apple’s newest product offering.

I believe we need to look at the direction of what I will call “casual” computing.  For most people this involves writing and checking e-mail, spending time on their choice of social media sites, watching videos, playing music and browsing the internet.  There are a large number of people for whom these daily tasks encompass the vast majority of their computing needs.  It is these people that Apple is targeting. These are all areas that play directly into the strength of the iPad.  The interface is simple and elegant.  The operating system is stable and goes almost unnoticed.  The iTunes and App Store make it easy to buy music, movies or install over 140,000 different applications with the touch of a button.

Netbooks today still run using a typical Windows or Linux operating system.  This means that the same issues that you encounter on your typical full desktop or laptop system are going to plague these netbooks too.  An iPad will be a simple, no-fuss way to perform 95% of the day-to-day things that a casual computing user would need.

Obviously there will be specific needs that the iPad will not address.  Most Mac users will still require the processing power and applications they require to do high end work.  Most business users will still require full systems to run specialty applications.  (Although, I believe that an interesting market will open up for very specific iPad business applications that can take advantage of the iPad’s mobility and touch screen.)  But for people that want a system for fundamental computing, the iPad offers a compelling alternative to a typical laptop or netbook.

A summary of some interesting articles this week regarding the iPad:

• The Apple Blog:  iPad Buying Guide
• TUAW – What’s missing from the iPad
• TUAW – iPad vs. Kindle:  Which way to go?
• Apple Insider – A closer look at Apple’s iPad bundled applications
• Macworld – Apple details first iPad accessories

[EDIT 2010.02.01]

A great summary of all of the new iPad features on the iPhone Blog.   Apple iPad and iPhone 3.2 Preview