“Are you going to get one?”
That rates as the most frequently asked question of the last month. It’s usually asked with a bit of hesitancy, skepticism and for many, seeking a bit of reassurance that this thing will be as good as advertised.
Am I going to get one? Most definitely.
Will I get the low end one, so I don’t feel the twinge of Apple-dickery when they release a much better one several months later, with all the things the launch model should have had? Most definitely.
I will get one for single reason I think the iPad will be amazing: I believe it will change the way I work.
I’m like so many out there that have always wanted a tablet device. I’ve wanted one for decades, noting the obvious convenience, freedom and belief that separating the heavy from lighter work would allow flexibility in how I conceptualized and created.
So this iPad thing looks to be the first of many giant changes in how I get things done. So let’s make a quick rundown of the things I need to do every day:
- Listen to Music
- Write, write, write
- Read, read, read
- Basic communication (chat, email, tweet, share files)
- Do rapid wireframes
- Refine wireframes into high-fidelity versions
- Create user journeys, flows and other various maps
- Do a little photo or comp editing
- Create presentations that describe concept and ideas to share with the world
Alright, let’s dig in…
Listen to Music
Yes this is a necessary task. I think Apple has this one covered.
Write, write, write
I’m sure the always excellent Evernote will only continue to get better on the iPad (I’m writing this in Evernote as we speak. Wordpress export would be awesome, btw). As far as I’m concerned, with the exception of the occasional code editing, Evernote has become my only writing app, it’s just that dang good. So, I’m covered there.
Read, read, read
Well, I’ve already kvetched about Socialite taking a dump, but there’s plenty of RSS readers out there in the world, and google reader renders fine through Safari. I’ll be fine.
Basic Communication
Chat is lacking for sure. The iPhone AOL client is clumsy, ugly and a bit nerdish. Fring is just not what I need, but maybe this Meebo thing is worthwhile. Obviously a native iChat with video is in the future, but dang if I wouldn’t love it in the first launch.
Email is covered, and the amazing Tweetie2 covers my Twitter needs.
I’ve been using Dropbox for a while now, and find it indispensable. But I have a whole giant question about Files and Filesystem that I’ll get to in a bit below.
Rapid Wireframes
Omni Group has committed to bringing their top five applications on the iPad in newly-designed versions specific to the device. (See: http://blog.omnigroup.com/2010/01/29/ipad-or-bust/). This includes OmniGraffle, a program I’ve always toyed with using, but never sat down and pursued. I’m pretty set with Illustrator and this dorky program called Inspriation as a Layout / Mapping combo.
But wait… Adobe hasn’t announced any plans for Illustrator to show up on the iPad. I’m not even sure they could manage that. I’m not sure they’d be financially able to sell their products for the rates that are the norm for the iTunes Store. (I could go off on an Adobe rant right now, but they’re getting kicked around a lot for Flash dickery right now, let’s just say that after years of mostly meaningless an expensive upgrades, it looks like I’m soon to be a Graffler).
Refine wireframes into high-fidelity versions
Here’s where Illustrator is going to be missed. Despite the mostly meaningless and expensive upgrades over the years, nothing can replace Illustrator in my workflow when it comes to control and drawing ability. It will certainly never leave my desktop, and I’m not sure its value would translate to the iPad.
Create user journeys, flows and other various maps
Ditto Omnigraffle
Do a little photo or comp editing
I’d love to see a Pixelmator light on the iPad, but I think it would suffer from the same issues that any image editing program would face: the inability to leave things out. Let’s lean towards our friend Brian Eno who, so perfectly, stated “That’s a form of innovation, just to leave certain things out.”
Create presentations that describe concept and ideas to share with the world
Keynote, baby! I’ve loved Keynote from day one, and am excited about the release of iWork for the the iPad. It’s unlikely I’ll use anything but Keynote, but who knows.
So it looks like I have a mobile working platform that will accelerate and encourage working in a new way… what about the downsides?
Filesystem
Does it have one, is it cloud based? Will DropBox be accessible by applications that are able to edit files? Is it a sync only system? Most importantly, what happens when I click a link to an MP3 file? Will it download? What about email attachments? Compressed files? The list goes on.
Typing
Will I be able to type on this thing with any degree of speed and accuracy? I’ll certainly invest in a Bluetooth keyboard, as I could use it for iPad, MacBook and iMac interchangeably, but natural typing on the the iPad will be a make or break factor for me.