The iPad

russianpencil:

Steven Frank has the best article I’ve read about what the introduction of the iPad means to personal computing over on his blog. A choice passage:

The bet is roughly that the future of computing:

- has a UI model based on direct manipulation of data objects
- completely hides the filesystem from the user
- favors ease of use and reduction of complexity over absolute flexibility
- favors benefit to the end-user rather than the developer or other vendors
- lives atop built-to-specific-purpose native applications and universally available web apps

All in all, it sounds like a pretty feasible outcome, and really not a bad one at that.

This is really Apple’s wheelhouse: favoring simplicity over total control. It’s a compromise that I am happy to make, and I’m not the only one.

Much of the criticism I have been hearing about the iPad reminds me of this classic Louis C.K. bit:

Not that criticism shouldn’t be allowed, but some of the complaints are absurd.

I am very interested to see how the iPad takes off as a gaming device. It’s strange, but makes sense, that Apple showed off a racing game and a first person shooter at the keynote. To me, these are the genres least suited for the device. I am really interested to see strategic / management type games (Civilization, Sim City), building games (Incredible Machine, Fantastic Contraption) and simultaneous multiplayer games. Perhaps the board game is due for a resurgance.

As always, your thoughts and comments are welcomed @RussianPencil.