The Apple iPad 2: what’s it good for?

This post originally appeared here: www.skillstorm.com/blog

The latest commercial from Apple depicts several different people using the new Apple iPad 2 for hobbies they love, whether that’s coaching kid’s basketball, watching movies or creating digital art. Unfortunately, for Apple at least, the ad made me realize that I didn’t need to spend $500 on a gadget that would help me waste more time.

Did other people see it this way, I wondered?

I looked up how Steve originally touted the product. At the original release of the iPad 2 back in March of 2011, Steve Jobs talked about how the iPad was the tool of 2011; that it would be seen everywhere. Video highlighted kids in Chicago using the iPad2 in schools and the iPad 2 “chang[ing] how doctors practice medicine.”

So, I’m wrong? The iPad 2 is here to boost education and help save lives?

Well, it’s not set up this way, so no, probably not.

The standard features include Photo Booth and iMovie, but make no mention of any word processing tools that might be of use in school, or databasing software that could be used in hospitals.

So, I’m right? The iPad 2 is for wasting time?

The majority of Mac fans appear to answer “yes”. On the Macrumor forum, where Mac lovers gather to discuss all thing Mac related, the question was posed, “What do you use the iPad for?” Out of 24 responses to the question, 17 responded that they used it for hobbies rather than work, and 2 others said they used it as a calendar/ list keeper.

$500 is a hefty price tag for something that could be replaced by a spiral notebook.

According to the ad, the iPad 2 is for our passions, for driving us “to get up early and stay up late”, for “getting lost in the things we love” like making skateboarding movies or watching dinosaur documentaries.

Do I want to get up early to indulge my passions on an iPad? Given that one of my passions is sleeping, $500 seems to be a hefty price tag for something that will keep me up at night and doesn’t appear to be much of a tool for my job.

What are your thoughts? Could the iPad be replaced by the iPhone or perhaps even a spiral notebook or is the iPad worth every cent? I’d love to hear your rationale.

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Comment by Jeremy Haskell on December 2, 2011 at 9:04am: iPad's are a time waster... that's why I bought a XOOM :)

But seriously folks. For what they are, they are very helpful. Love to consume and jot notes on my mine, but it's great for presentations or sharing information in small group settings. Still use the desktop in the office as well as my laptop when I need to spend a lot of time on production.

Comment by SkillStorm on December 2, 2011 at 9:58am: Wow, these comments have been so helpful for me to understand more about the iPad. Not only do I have a lot of apps to look into for my iPhone, but I think what your comments show is that the iPad is a great tool for entrepreneurs. When the same question was posted to more social sites, I got a completely different response.

Not having to take it out at security seems like such a little thing, but it's huge when you're in a hurry as most business travelers tend to be!

Comment by Bill Schultz on December 2, 2011 at 2:37pm: Not having to take it out at security seems like such a little thing, but it's huge when you're in a hurry as most business travelers tend to be!

You would think, but I still get picked for the full frisk on at least one leg of the trip. No App for that ;(