I agree with Addy - the trick with the iPad is to think of it not as a laptop 
replacement, but as something different and additional. It's not a multi 
purpose computer. It's a display intended for certain uses, like reading 
documents, playing video and displaying photos. It's form and function are 
carefully crafted for those purposes.

We know that computing power becomes ever cheaper. We are reaching the point 
where it will be ubiquitous. Computers will disappear into the environment 
around us. Your TV is a large display connected to the net. The iPad is a 
portable display connected to the net. The table in your conference room will 
be a large networked display (see the Microsoft Surface demo). You won't 
choose between these things, you will use all of them.

This trend has been emerging for a while, but the iPad is a popular product 
that will accelerate it.

Nick.

--On 29 January 2010 17:01 +0000 Addy Pope <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I suppose there will be a lot to say about the iPad.  I suppose it shows
> the evolution of devices, desktop --> laptop --> tablet.  I may not be a
> huge apple fan and dont like the hype but this iPad is not really aimed to
> replace laptops, it is aimed at leisure computing and this article kind of
> sums it up nicely.....magic and advertising.
>
> http://www.rinich.com/post/357307070/this-is-why-its-worth-learning-about-a
> dvertising
>
> Addy
>
> Sebastian Rahtz wrote:
>> On 29 Jan 2010, at 15:21, Hooton, Tim wrote:
>>
>>> "You can use the existing iPhone video output cables to deliver component
>>> or composite video, but you can also now use an iPad-specific cable to
>>> attach it to a VGA projector (or other display) at its native 1024x768
>>> resolution. And while your presentation progresses, you can not only
>>> control it, but also highlight using a virtual laser pointer you move
>>> with your finger.
>>>
>>
>> I like this a lot; it means the iPad does everything needed for the
>> conference trip, since I can read on the train, do my slide projection,
>> check email and phone the children using Skype.  But still, I can do the
>> same with a generic Netbook _and_ have Linux, surely?
>>
>> --
>> Sebastian Rahtz
>> (acting) Information and Support Group Manager
>> Oxford University Computing Services
>> 13 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6NN. Phone +44 1865 283431
>>
>> Sólo le pido a Dios
>> que el futuro no me sea indiferente
>>
>>
>
> --
> The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in
> Scotland, with registration number SC005336.