Why would I really need a tablet computer?
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
I've been considering the question, "why would I or anyone really need a tablet?" for about a year now. I'd like to share my own personal experience and observations on the topic which might stand in contrast to (or incomparable isolation to) posts like this.
I'll give you the short answer: I don't need one at all but I'm not the target market.
I'm an interactive developer and designer. I own and actively use my iPhone and MacBook Pro laptop. Last year when iPad came out, I had been thinking how it would be cool to have one, because they're sexy, and they've got a couple of advantages over my iPhone and MacBook Pro:
- Instantly on
- Easier to sit in an armchair and read some blog postings, read email and write short replies
- Read digital books in bed and not cut trees down to do it (I acknowledge the pollution caused by producing the devices though, not sure which is worse in the long run)
- A bit easier because of size and weight to use on an airplane for reading and movie watching.
- Since I'm a developer, I can make apps for it.
I've learned that it works very well, it's is cool and no, as a consumer I really don't need it. In fact, I almost never use it, preferring instead to use my iPhone (which is always with me in my pocket) and my laptop.
Here's where I think a lot of reviewers have the wrong perspective on tablets though: If you're an avid blog reader, or especially if you yourself are a blogger, if you have an iPhone and or a laptop then you are an advanced computer user – even if you think you suck. When you think of "a lot of people", you probably imagine your peers, your coworkers, Facebook friends and maybe your siblings. That's a whole sweeping demographic, the majority of which probably doesn't really need a tablet. I agree, nurses, doctors, real estate agents and other mobile professions could probably use the tablets more than the rest. The point I'm alluding to though is that we're excluding two huge user groups that I've seen first hand THRIVE on the tablet: Children and Seniors.
I've seen first hand, my Nana and my wife's Grandfather, pick up the iPad and become proficient with reading news, emailing, and looking at family pictures within an hour. In fact, my wife's grandfather was so smitten with my iPad during a visit that for the entire week he was with us, he'd diligently plug it in to charge each night before bed so that he could resume useing it first thing in the morning. I also happen to know that he's often frustrated with his computer and that my grandmother is terrified of hers. With her tablet though, Nana loves to take it to her seniors' community center and play Scrabble and show off pictures of her grand kids. Think about it, you can't (yet) get viruses on a tablet, there aren't multiple windows to get confused with, files to rename, drag and drop, multiple file selection and all these paradigms that you and I take for granted are learned skills. And the biggest ease of use – the input device is your finger, which you're already an expert with. You've had hand-eye coordination since you were a baby. Given an easy to use operating system, tablets are very approachable compared to traditional computers.
Young children also take to the iPad very quickly. Any parent with an iPad will tell you that their kid will pick up drag and dropping shape games and animal sound games almost immediately. Do you think they're going to master all the nuances computer right away without messing something up? Here are some benefits I think most parents would agree with:
- The instant on/off is a big plus since young kids generally have short attention spans.
- It's easy to hold. You can grip the screen with one hand, and hold your kid with the other. It's easier to sit on a couch than at a computer desk, and a laptop is vulnerable to the child prying open the lid too far, or shutting it while you're trying to use it.
- A child will be able to use their finger much more easily than a mouse
- It's easier to clean an iPad than a keyboard.



