Why I'm buying my mom an iPad
I know this kind of post is already becoming a bit cliche, but I thought I’d get it on the action while it’s still at least topical.
Introduction
My mom has been using computers for years, for web browsing, checking email, and well I’m not exactly sure what else. She’s never owned her own computer, and I think that the idea of files and folders and installing things has always been a bit of a mystery to her. I’ve been trying to get her to sign up for her own Gmail account for months, and I think that sounds scary or hard to her. My dad and her still have a shared Comcast account with POP only access. When I talked to her on the phone a couple days after the introduction she came out with, “Everyone at work was talking about it. I would love to have one of those.” Good, because assuming no catastrophes in the next three months I’m buying her one.
How the iPad fixes her issues
So what if She had a computer that really did just work, was perfect for email, calendars, and her address book? It seems to be as though an iPad with MobileMe pre setup would do all of things. Oh and as a bonus? She could run all of the things that her son makes at work and show them off to her friends. She’d love that. I strongly believe she’ll be able to get more done easier than she ever has with a PC.
One issue
I fear a little bit whats going to happen the first time she goes to a real estate web site that was done in Flash and it doesn’t run. At the same time though, I’m happy Apple is doing what they’re doing. If the iPad becomes as important of a platform as I think it will, it’s going to force a shift away from Flash very quickly and that’s ultimately going to be a win for everyone. Clearly there’s going to be some transitional pain, but I think that it’s going to happen more quickly than most people believe. I’m pretty sure Adobe knows this too and is terrified by it.
Conclusion
I have strong feelings that there’s a lot more people out there just like her. I also think that if I know I’m going to be programming, the iPad will quickly become my coffee shop machine. Once a few key apps make it over, I can see it easily expanding beyond that to my general “not programming” machine.
