Why the Apple iPad will change your life. Yes, even if you hate it.

If you've been following the news on the Apple iPad, it's clear that this is another success for Apple, that's if the numbers are right, so far they seem to be. Conservative estimates say that over 150 thousand iPads were sold on the very first day the pre-order launched. That's, ah, some pretty hard-core demand, oh, and they are not taking into consideration orders for pick-up at the Apple stores, reservations made at any of the stores or orders with multiple iPads. Not bad, it's comparable to the 200 thousand iPhones sold on the first week of its lunch. I think this clearly shows that yet another computing revolution is inminent. I bet Wall Street and sillicon valley execs must feel aroused, while some, I'm sure are feeling a bit lost of what is happening.

... all that while Steve Jobs points its pinky to his mouth, with a mad scientist laugh of course, enjoying the 60+ million profit his company did in a day.

It's all about demand, right?

And well, judging by the numbers of the iPad sales in the first week, there is demand and companies interested in jumping on that very boat too. HP released their HP Slate and Dell and there were rumours of Google working with HTC on a tablet computer. Make a prediction of where the market is heading to.

Bye, bye computers. Hello Internet devices. Oh, wait, the Internet is the computer.

Let's face it, most what is done today do not require a super-powerful computer. Today everything is about the Internet and general purpose computers are just a medium to access it. I don't think they are going to disappear, but they will certainly gain a new place in society. I suspect it will be more segmented market, you probably already know a few people that their primary Internet access medium is their mobile phones, not their computers and there's no reason to believe that that is going to change. Likewise, the number of sales of netbooks keeps increasing and that shows a discomfort with traditional notebooks, people just want a cheap and comfortable way to access the Internet and the apps (which most likely needs the Internet for something)

Google realized this trend a long time ago and are working to make sure that you don't need a computer. They have email, instant messenger, calendar, word processor, spredsheat, presentations and all are computer and platform-free, as long as you have Internet and Web access you are covered. Oh, and let's not forget about Android and Chrome OS, Google's Netbook optimized operating system. Apple (with the iPhone) just made it popular to not need a computer. But I suspect that ultimately, Google will be the one taking full advantage of this, especially against Microsoft. That is, unless Microsoft rethink its strategy towards netbooks, it's still not late, but time is certainly running out for the type of penetration Microsoft likes to make.

Now, again, I'm not saying that computers are going to disappear, just that there is a considerable amount of people that don't really care about them. That demarcation point as to what the uses of laptops, desktop PCs', and netbooks/netpads/slates or whatever name the market gives to this type of devices will become clearer and clearer. Just as today, people are willing to buy notebooks that are less powerful than their counterparts desktops, so they will start buying this sort of devices. It's all about needs, and there's apparently plenty of it. You get the idea.


If there are leaders, there must be followers.

Apple again set the standard, and now everyone is following. Just like with the iPhone. And, honestly, I don't expect Apple to be the most dominant player in the, netbook/netpads/slate tablets or whatever catchy names comes along. In fact, I'm pretty sure they won't be the dominant player. But, you all know how Apple is, they have this way of proving everyone wrong.

So what I believe is going to happen is that as soon as companies start attacking the different niches that Apple left unattended not to mention when cheaper devices appear on the spot, I believe that a new dominant operating system will arise, I'm betting it will be Google with its Chrome OS. Microsoft needs to rethink its operating system strategy, I don't think they will get that far or penetrate as much as they would like if they insist in loading a netbook with a full-blown OS, it doesn't make any sense from whereever side you look at it.

But something is for sure, within the next 5 years, you will be holding some type slate tablet in your hands. Any effort to deny that is futile.