With the launch of the iPad 2, many people are wondering if tablets would become the future of computing. Many companies such as Samsung and Motorola are clamoring to get into the tablet market as Apple has shown that it is possible to make a profitable tablet. However, would these kinds of tablets be able to replace the widely used personal computer?
Joshua Topolsky of Engadget believes so. He believes Apple would continue to dominate the tablet market as they are focusing on the "experience of using the device" whereas other companies are mainly focusing on the specifications such as the power of the CPU or how much resolution the screen has. Topolsky believes that the appeal of the user experience and form factor the iPad provides would entice people to switch from their desktops or laptops to mainly using a tablet computer. However, this seems like a one-sided vision as this would only apply to mainly consumer usage.
Tablets are very entertainment centric. It is more for consuming media such as watching movies or reading news. It is difficult to type for long durations on a virtual on-screen keyboard and using fingers to navigate is not as precise as say a pen or a mouse would be. Many businesses need an actual keyboard to type quickly when communicating through email. Designers need more precision such as a pen input in order to create what they imagine. It is very difficult to say that tablets such as the iPad would replace the personal computer entirely. For media consumption, it is reasonable. But for actual business functions, tablets will not substitute personal computers any time soon.
I totally agree with you that iPad cannot replace laptops because laptops are easier to use when writing a paper for an assignment. I only use my iPad 2 to look for a restaurant or local shopping malls while I use my laptop to do research and homework. I also prefer to do my homework on my laptop because I can save my documents on a USB and carry it around with me while iPad 2 does not have a place for me to put in a USB.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it depends on people’s perspective on whether or not they want to replace laptops with an iPad. For instance, people may like to use iPad to watch videos while they are on the bus. On the other hand, other people like to watch videos on their laptop because they like to have a better view of their favorite videos. So people do not have to use their iPad for business purpose; they can use it for personal purpose which depends on each individual.