Loosely organized initial thoughts on the iPad
Marco Arment, the Lead Developer of two of my favorite products, Tumblr and Instapaper, plus an all-around nice guy, wrote a great initial response to Apple’s iPad announcement yesterday. I respect Marco’s opinion probably more than anyone on this subject given his personal and professional experience with Apple products. This is a great read from all different perspectives.
Here are a few of my favorite points from Marco. First, on the fact that the product is not revolutionary (even though Apple’s marketing video tries to convince you that it truly is):
Nothing about the iPad is obviously revolutionary, but it didn’t need to be: the iPhone OS and iPhone hardware are already revolutionary.
Apple already reinvented John’s mobile computing and my input mechanics and novice usability in 2007 with the iPhone. We’ve had the truly magical and revolutionary product this entire time, but we take it for granted now, and we’ve forgotten how awesome it already is.
I think what frustrated me over the iPad announcement was the official marketing video. I perceived the first couple minutes of the video as an effort to get potential consumers to believe the iPad was revolutionary. Marco’s point is so dead on. Apple has already revolutionized mobile computing with the iPhone.

