Gartner: iPad will "change entire PC ecosystem"

I love my new iPad so much but I don't think it will change the entire PC ecosystem. I guess there are more things a pc can do that an iPad cannot.

http://www.dreamwalkmobile.com

@Talobab:

"- Proprietary applications and locked OS - Anyone can write applications for the iPad, true they have to fit within guidelines to be SOLD on the app store, but you can write for your private iPad any app you want, so why is this even an issue (unless you are planning on writing a virus...)"

Eh, no Apple Developer Program enrollment ($99/year) = no private app for your iPad (unless you can 'jailbreak' it) ;)

For example: If you create a Cocoa Touch project in Xcode and tell it to copy the app to your iPhone, it'll throw a "I'll never sign your application mwahahaha" error. And if you try to set up a certificate in Keychain Access, fooling Xcode into transferring your application to your non-jailbroken iPhone, then as soon as you tap its icon, you'll get a "I'll never open your fake app mwahahaha" error.

I believe the iPad represents a paradigm shift in how we will think about accessing information. Previous attempts at tablets have largely failed because they try to be full blown PCs in a different form factor. The iPad is something completely different. True, it is largely a larger iPhone/iPod Touch, but the larger form factor allows for new and better ways of accessing information.

This is not meant to be just another computer, it's a convenient, connected, portable way to consume all kinds of information. It provides ready access to the web, e-mail, calendar and contact information, books, periodicals, music, movies, news... the list goes on... in an instant on device.

Will it replace laptops? Of course not. But, it will do 90% of what we might do with a laptop or netbook more quickly and conveniently.

My initial reaction was to look at it as a PDA more than a computer. Now, even that is changing for me. I still see it as more of a PDA, but now I'm also beginning to see it as something else. Something new that I can't quite put a name to yet.

@Joanna & @Jordan

OK, lets go through these one by one:

- Not the full internet - Yeah Flash is missing... that is too bad, but Flash IS on its way out, the vultures are circling. Flash got to where it is with the support of companies like Microsoft, and Microsoft wants SilverLight, Apple wants HTML5, these are the choices that are going to win out in the long run.

- No connectivity - NO CONNECTIVITY? WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G... What other way do you want to connect? Certainly you can't be suggesting it should have hardwired ports? The whole point of the thing is to be portable, how portable would it be with wires hanging off it?

- No printing - This is a remnant from the iPhone, I guarantee the Pad will have printing.

- Proprietary applications and locked OS - Anyone can write applications for the iPad, true they have to fit within guidelines to be SOLD on the app store, but you can write for your private iPad any app you want, so why is this even an issue (unless you are planning on writing a virus...)

- Requires another PC to get content - Inaccurate. Content comes directly from the App Store to the iPad. Music from iTunes and books from iBookstore. It is possible to run this thing without EVER attaching it to a computer...

- Terrible experience for viewing movies - Admittedly, anything purchased in widescreen is not going to be ideal, but Terrible? come on. Great resolution, vivid color and full frame rates? Where is the terrible? Furthermore, you buy the regular full screen version and theres no borders.

- No online games (yes, that means no Farmville) - Technically, this is not another item, its the first item on your list... BUT - No online games is wrong too. There are online games that don't use Flash and as the iPad gains in popularity, there will be more and more non flash games available.

- More expensive than a netbook - Sure it'll be more expensive than a netbook, but for many people (like me) the size, shape, speed and full touch capability makes it worth the extra.

Certainly, I don't think this is a system for EVERYONE, but then again, what is? No one system is going to match what everyone wants, but when you go after it and try to make it out as useless, lets try to get the facts straight...

bookmarked. Doubt it will change the entire PC ecosystem. The tablets are simply too new and not as powerful as the pcs

Instead of focusing on the iPad's form factor we should be focusing on its User Interface. Apple now has a consistent “touch” user interface on their iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad products. No one else has anything close to that level of OS integration between form factors.

More importantly, Apple is gambling that users will find their touch interface to be the NATURAL way to compute. If you've ever seen a small child or a senior citizen pick up an iPhone and just use it, you'll know what I'm talking about. While hardcore activities would continue to be done on the more traditional notebook/desktop interface, the “touch” interface would become the DEFAULT way people do what they do now (and where they do some things that they cannot do as well now).

To all you babbling geeko iPad naysayers, talk is cheap.

I predict Apple will sell 4.5 million iPads between May 1, 2010 and April 30, 2011.

Let's hear your predictions . We can calendar it and see who is closest.

So put up, or shutup!

You can print from an iPhone with some apps. Hence you can already do it from the iPad. I'm sure iWork will have airport connectivity to work with an external printer. If not and the demand arises Apple will make it so.

I think the iPad would be a fun product .. but for what it delivers it seems quite overpriced, there I said it.

no flash is a deal breaker for me .. couldn't care less for the "reader" functionality

T.

As long as your edgy avatar image can be seen on it, what more do we want?