iPad v Net book
The owner of an upscale formal wear store wanted to donate his older items for a tax exemption. He settled on donating the clothes to an intercity thrift shop.
After he delivered them to the other side of the city, he and the store manager loaded them into the back of the thrift store. The store’s manager looked at the donated clothes and said to the other man, “People around here don’t go to too many formal affairs.” The formal wear merchant replied, “Now they can”.
I see an analogy here to Apple’s latest, “amazing thingee”, the iPad. Die hard Applephiles, including my son, Adam are touting this groundbreaking toy as the answer to what’s wrong with the net books made by others. He talks about it in terms that make me ask two questions: “What did he say?” and “How will any of this affect my life?” Answer for number one is he and a selected few others exists – and talk – on a higher technical level than mere mortals do. How will it affect my life? Probably not much. I really am not worthy to own such an advanced e-weapon. I would not use it as the creators’ intended. Adam would laugh at my under-utilization of an iPad.
I think the masses who don’t use their net books now will also not use their iPads later.
Much like the denizens of the poorer side of town will not use ballgowns and tuxedoes from the thrift store. All dressed up and no place to go.