Will the Apple iPad replace the computer?

Will the Apple iPad replace the computer?

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.
  1. Will the iPad replace the computer?

    Let’s be honest: the iPad is one of the coolest, most intriguing pieces of technology to hit the market.  Everybody wants one whether they have a use for it or not.  Who could ignore the hype? It is the coolest toy to own. However, will it replace our other favorite toy: the computer? Are our old PCs old news?

    Although Steve Jobs, elected as the most powerful business person by CNN, made the prediction that the iPad will phase out the personal computer, it is more a dream of his than a reality–or perhaps a brilliant marketing ploy?  In reality and in practical terms, the iPad is far from replacing the personal computer until it works out a few kinks in the operating system and converts the most dedicated of PC users.

    Multitasking:  It has been said time and time again that this innovation cannot multi-task.  While you are waiting for Angry Birds to download, you cannot play Tiki Totems to make the time go more quickly.  

    Similarly, while you are listening to the Pandora Radio App, you cannot tap out of the app to check your twitter.  It is unrealistic to think that the iPad will replace the fully functioning, technologically advanced personal computer.  

    Besides the ego boost that Steve Jobs is giving himself by claiming that this first generation iPad can replace the personal computer, he too would probably realistically agree that the iPad cannot perform the tasks that we need to get done on computers.

    The Keyboard: Another feature of the iPad that makes it unrealistic to replace the PC is the touch keyboard.  It would be difficult to imagine a college student writing his or her twenty page term paper through this device.  The touch keyboard is not ideal for people to type for long periods of time.  

    Aside from searching emails or writing on a friend’s Facebook wall, nobody wants to stare down at their lap and hope their fingers tap the right keys. Apple does offer attachable keyboards and cases that make this process less awkward.  Nonetheless, this is just proof that the iPad is not meant to replace our beloved PCs.

    Gamers: Gamers are one of the leading forces behind technological movements.  While each of them probably already owns an iPad for the technological thrill of owning a brand new invention, they probably don’t use it to replace their gaming systems.

    The iPad simply cannot replace the video card, resolution, definition, or specs of PCs.  Gamers hardly use laptops because they are not powerful enough–and with the virtual age upon us, we see more and more gamers emerging through virtual worlds such as the Sims and World of Warcraft.  This growing virtual world leaves room for both the iPad and the PC.

    Nonetheless, the iPad is a fantastic gadget of the future.  One of Jobs’s predictions could be correct: the iPad will eventually replace print media.  Most people now search for their news online, and with a completely portable and sleek iPad, it is extremely easy and environmentally friendly for someone to sit down at the breakfast table with a cup of coffee and read the morning news digitally.  

    Moreover, it is a great way to listen to music, watch videos on the run, and check your email without reading the tiny screen of your smartphone. It is a revolutionary piece of technology that will not be ignored, but it is not the end all to personal computers.

Leave a Reply