Why the iPad is a #FAIL

The launch of the Apple tablet was possibly the biggest marketing hype I have seen in a long time. However, when I saw Steve Jobs holding the “iPad” for the first time, I could immediately sense that something has gone horribly wrong. Here are my top 8 reasons why I reckon the iPad will be a failiure:

1. As someone who owns both an iPhone and a Macbook, I wonder why I would want to carry a third “something in between” device with me.

2. The only possible reason i may want to use the iPad is to play App Store games on a larger screen. But why did this need arise in the first place? Because those games aren’t available on a Mac! Seriously people, if Apple really cared, they wouldn’t make you buy new hardware to play the same old games.

3. I’ve never used a Kindle and still don’t get the point of lugging around a dedicated e-book reader. There is a practical limit to the number of devices I can carry with me when I am travelling – and an iPhone + laptop should suffice most of the time. Hence, the iPad being projected as a “Kindle killer” may not be such a big deal afterall.

4. If the iPad screen is similar to a Macbook, why not read your e-books on your laptop instead? The iPad screen, no matter how good still cannot beat Amazon’s e-ink technology.

5. The iPad seems too big (and possibly fragile) to carry around all the time. Does the package include a casing?

6. A full fledged browsing device and no Flash? What were you thinking Apple?

7. Still no support of running multiple apps simultaneously. No way I’m going to close my browser each time I want to copy some text into my text editor.

8. (BONUS) The iPad is a silly name – Sounds like a feminine hygiene product to me!

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Comments

  1. #1 – is kinda specific to a very small group isn’t it?
    #2 – macbooks don’t hv a touch screen…imagine spending an extra 1k$ for my macbook pro for the touchsceen…not happening!
    #3 – agree wid u, I can’t see myself carrying an ebook reader arnd (kindle is a geek toy really…)
    #4 – ipad is a toned down version of a laptop…for those u hv their laptop wid them all the time, they are not the target customers…my mom uses the net a lot, the ipad sud do the trick…heck browsing is easier wid a touch screen
    #5 – no clue..then again all Apple products look like delicate darlings 😉
    #6 – next update prolly
    #7 – hmmm
    #8 – +1!

  2. #1 – is kinda specific to a very small group isn’t it?
    #2 – macbooks don’t hv a touch screen…imagine spending an extra 1k$ for my macbook pro for the touchsceen…not happening!
    #3 – agree wid u, I can’t see myself carrying an ebook reader arnd (kindle is a geek toy really…)
    #4 – ipad is a toned down version of a laptop…for those u hv their laptop wid them all the time, they are not the target customers…my mom uses the net a lot, the ipad sud do the trick…heck browsing is easier wid a touch screen
    #5 – no clue..then again all Apple products look like delicate darlings 😉
    #6 – next update prolly
    #7 – hmmm
    #8 – +1!

  3. Pingback: Netizens Dub the Apple iPad as 'iFail' | Robust Tech

  4. Have you had a chance to play with an iPad? How do you feel about it now? I was skeptical at first, but then I got one and tried out the awesome iPad-specific apps. It really feels like a new kind of computing. The large touchscreen opens up possibilities.

  5. Have you had a chance to play with an iPad? How do you feel about it now? I was skeptical at first, but then I got one and tried out the awesome iPad-specific apps. It really feels like a new kind of computing. The large touchscreen opens up possibilities.

  7. @3 but now you have bought a kindle and it luks as if you are enjoying it very much.
    @6 Even i was, and still of the same opinion, but the reason given by Steve Jobs was correct and i have experienced that now. But still most of the video is still available through flash only
    @7Multitasking is something which i can’t think of computing without

    But you are really the first person whom i saw saying iPad has failed. I am stupendously shocked.

    Anyways, i liked reading your blog.

    Do u make RIA’s also?

  8. Hi Himanshu… Thanks for the appreciation and criticism 😉

    @3 – Yes, I agree I was wrong. The Kindle is an amazing piece of hardware. I might just physical books completely very soon.

    @6 – Disagree. Flash is everywhere. Apple needs to support it till it carries main stream media. The moment competing technologies emerge, it might as well as drop that support

    @7 – Absolutely. This problem might get partially solved in the next iPad update.

    This post was written on the day the iPad was launched. If you remember, it initially attracted a lot of criticism of merely being a “large iPod”. Given that it’s selling like hotcakes, I am sure Apple is doing well with the sales. Personally, I still have no reason to buy it.

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