Commentary: Apple iPad and Why I am Still Keen

Ok, the word is out on the Apple iPad with mixed reviews so far. Many were expecting a bit more than what Apple delivered - USB port, SD card slot, and more computer-like capabilities - instead it was more like a bigger version of an iPhone/iTouch.

I can see where these folks are coming from, but Mr Jobs is not a stupid man. He knows that what the market wants is an instrument that gives you the ability to do more with what you ALREADY have.

If you have an iMac, Mac Pro, or MacBook, you already have a fantastic piece of equipment to do your work on. Then you have your iPhone to communicate and connect, play games, music, video and apps to fill in the rest of the gaps and which nicely syncs with what you have on your computer.

What is lacking is the ability to see all this stuff bigger. Do I want to spend another $1,000 bucks to do that which I have on my computer? Not really. Would it be useful to have a larger version of what I have on my iPhone to improve my productivity without dragging along my computer? I should say "Yes!".

If the Amazon Kindle has proven anything, it is the need for a device to bring along with me to read stuff on. Apple's iPad does that and more - photos, video, web surfing, email, calendar, etc. The Apps out there are also pretty sophisticated - I can read and write Excel and Word documents, play games, and much more. I don't need to replace my computer, I want to add to it. The iPad does exactly this. Are there improvements to be made? Sure. It will happen just as we have see the iPod and iPhone evolve, so too will the iPad.

It will sell. You watch.

Disclosure: Long AAPL

Commentary: Why Apple Is Going to Corner The Tablet Market

PC World wrote an article "HP Slates Lowers the Bar for Apple's Tablet PC" and they cannot be more correct in their assessment. Amazon with their Kindle has already kicked off consumer interest in a slim, easy to carry, fast start-up type of product focused on doing one thing - reading books or articles. They have succeeded where Sony has not with their Sony Digital Reader Book and taken out most of the competition in this space.

The actions of HP together with Microsoft is a "me-too" reaction to the rumors around Apple's iTablet/iSlate and goes to show how des perate they are to catch the scrapes of whatever falls from Apple's table even before the food is served.

Apple takes its time to release its products to make sure it is darn good and take off immediately. It is a kind of "shock and awe" type of strategy. And once it is out they work pretty hard to correct any problems that are fed back to them.

Apple's "instant-on" product is why I bought a Mac. Non-scientific testing has Snow Leopard OS X starting up twice as fast as Windows 7. If Microsoft's operating system for tablets don't speed up to be on par with what I expect Apple's to be then I say you'd better spend your money on an iTablet/iSlate despite the higher cost. You can earn more money, but you can't buy more time.

Then there is the Apple eco-system - Mac Books + iTablet/iSlate + iPhone/iTouch/iPod - all syncing together via iTunes, bluetooth, wi-fi, mobileMe. I expect to be able to move from one medium to the other seam lessly.

Quality, speed, and effortless integration from one product to another is going to help Apple maintain and expand their market in these niche areas. Will Microsoft products and supporting hardware be sold, of course, but it will be Apple who will be laughing all the way to the bank.


Disclosure: Long AAPL, Long MSFT