Apple iPad – changed my mind…it’s brilliant.

When I first got into the live blog of Apple’s announcement of the iPad, I really had a hard time deciding how I would use such a device.  I just didn’t see myself walking around with this specifically to replace any of my other devices.  Because I didn’t think people would buy it specifically for reading eBooks, I felt like it just really stood in an awkward category between laptops and smart phones.  The concept of laying a device flat on a table to type just seemed so unnatural.  I didn’t see where this fit in with my life.

After watching this video however, it hit me.  Apple hasn’t tried to create a device that replaces the smart phone you carry everywhere or the laptop you bring to get work done.  They have created a new device category that people will want alongside their iPhone and MacBook.  No cannibalization…just new revenues.  The thing that got me really thinking was how it could be a replacement for all those crappy digital photo frames on the market that I’ve been thinking about getting my mom for some time now.  There are 10″ digital photo frames on the market that cost about $300 with far inferior displays and 1/1000th of the functionality of an iPad.  Once I found a place for the iPad in my mind everything else started making sense.  Having this on my nightstand showing beautiful pictures leads seamlessly to watching a few videos in bed before sleeping which transitions into checking it in the morning for weather and my email (i do this with my heavy laptop right now) which leads to browsing websites while watching tv and looking up recipes online while cooking.  Apple has created the ultimate at home companion.  It is kinda what the Chumby thought it might be able to do with it’s dorky looking blob device but actually done right. ….and since it also conveniently has great eReader functionality, people may find it convenient to ditch their Kindles (although i do believe the Kindle’s eInk is way easier on the eyes and better for traveling which helps it maintain a place in the market).

I am really anxious to see how the market reacts to this, but if it creates the new product category I describe I think it could do really well.  I may have to pick one up for my mom……after I get one for myself to test first.

Also – mad shout outs to Chad Evans who’s my Product Strategy teammate at MLB.com!  He presented the MLB.com app during the iPad presentation.  Pretty crazy stuff – he’s been out there for 2 weeks with insanely tough security.  He hasn’t been able to contact anyone outside of Apple for the whole time.  Looked awesome!