Of late, it seems to me as if nearly everyone is prematurely quick to label a new product or service offering as a revolutionizing “game changer.” It may, however, not be hyperbole when it comes to the Apple iPad.
Not only has the Apple entry in the tablet computer segment gained a strong foothold in the consumer market and a predictably robust following among Apple fanatics, it has now also registered some surprisingly strong relevance for business users – this is the trend, in my view, that qualifies the product as a game-changer. Consider some anecdotal evidence:
- A colleague who is a certified Apple Reseller (in a geographic market that HAS an Apple Retail Store) reports the product is, somewhat unexpectedly, flying out of his business…not to consumers, but in large clusters to his corporate clients
- At radio-show taping before a live audience where I noticed the teleprompters had been replaced by iPads for each performer; they scrolled through the scripts and content; and apparently also received production instructions on their devices
- The filmmaking industry is reporting that iPads are an excellent tool for storyboarding entire films; and there is an App already for mapping camera placements for shooting scenes
- A myriad of companies have begun equipping their sales forces with iPads because of the device’s capabilities to easily and dynamically showcase products and services
In the interval between the announcement/demonstration of the iPad and its availability for sale, someone observed to me, “I don’t know why this is big news, the iPad is really just an iPod Touch with a big screen.” Exactly. And we’ve now all learned a fundamental lesson (at least for display surfaces): SIZE MATTERS. The visual field provided by the iPad changes everything… what you can do, how you can do it, and how you will integrate that new capability in your life, business or personal.
Business is telling us there are plenty of wonderful ways to use the iPad as a business tool. This device is energizing an entirely new category of computing power and potential. Stay tuned to see how the game changes.
Bill Wittland
