Penny Arcade made a comic with the iPad

Most people seem to agree the iPad is a pretty great device for reading (although perhaps not the best, eh Amazon?).

However, the debate still rages on about how suitable it is for making stuff. When it was first announced, there was plenty of snark from bloggers like Paul Thurrott, who wrote:

"When you go out and about with just an iPad, you're sending a message that you're not going to contribute. You're just there to consume."

Obviously, we beg to disagree, and not because we're a pro-Apple site. It's probably fair to say that, despite comprehensive tools like iWork, a variety of just-give-me-my-text editors like myTexts, and even folding portable keyboards, the list of people writing novels on the iPad is probably fairly small. But I use my iPad for making notes and drafting blog posts more often than I use any other single computer. It's small, neat, has great battery life, and does a superb job of not interrupting or distracting me.

But text entry, which is admittedly compromised by the iPad's touchscreen keyboard, is only part of the story. The iOS App Store sports a dizzying array of music apps, for example; there's even a complete multi-instrument, iPad-only recreation of "Eye of the Tiger." And there is a wide range of graphics apps too, which have been used to create things like these stunning pieces of artwork and a New Yorker cover that was made with an iPhone.

All of these things do have a slight proof of concept air about them, though; there's just a little whiff of "I made this with the iPad because I could." That's why I was impressed in a different way when I read yesterday's strip by popular gaming webcomic Penny Arcade and the accompanying text article by artist Mike Krahulik:

"So I am home sick today and that's why the strip looks a little strange. I was trying to figure out a way to draw the comic from home what with all my stuff being at the office. I remembered that I had downloaded the Sketchbook Pro app on my iPad. So today's comic was drawn entirely with my pointer finger. Kiko was kind enough to drop my finger paintings into the panels and add the text for me."

What impressed me was that this wasn't art made for the sake of making art with an iPad; this was the iPad being used more routinely to make art that wasn't, in any obvious way, different from the artist's usual style. This is iOS content creation becoming normal rather than extraordinary. And that feels really exciting to me.

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Source: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2010/9/22/

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Most people seem to agree the iPad is a pretty great device for reading (although perhaps not the best, eh Amazon?). However, the debate...

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GlennAC

So if Paul Thurrott simply has a TV in his home, and no video production studio and editing equipment, can I assume that he is sending the message that he is not going to contribute but merely consume?

September 23 2010 at 9:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bones3D

Hmm people still use sketchbook pro? There's been quite a few advancements since then for art on iOS devices. For raster work, I use Art Studio and for vector content, I use MiniDraw or iDesign. Both are advanced, yet inexpensive apps that provide a Photoshop / Illustrator experience in an ultra-portable format.

September 23 2010 at 4:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Steve Keys

The only difference I see in the art is that the speech bubbles look a little rough.

September 23 2010 at 1:57 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Moose

I agree with Dick Gaywood. It plays into Job's comment that the PC might not be around in its current form in the years to come.

Thought I admit, reading that P.A I thought something was different, but had no idea it had been done on the iPad until this article.

September 23 2010 at 12:26 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Steve

Paul Thurrott becomes more of a tool every day. What a stupid statement. Maybe when I'm "out and about" with my computer, I should spend a lot more time wondering how people are perceiving me. I don't want that guy two tables over stuffing his face with a donut thinking I'm not working hard. God forbid.

Who the hell cares how other people perceive you? Do your work, or play your games, and quite worrying about everyone else.

To think I used to listen to Windows Weekly pretty regularly. What a sad time of my life that was. :)

September 23 2010 at 12:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

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Jason

Well if Windows Weekly is as stupid as MacBreak Weekly I can understand how you feel.

September 23 2010 at 10:41 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply