Apple iPad pre-orders started today. I took a look at some of the peripherals Apple is offering with the iPad. And here’s a thought: Slide the iPad into Apple’s iPad Keyboard Dock, and the iPad potentially becomes a sleek thin client for your customers. Or does it? I know quite a few folks think the iPad won’t live up to its hype. But I have a suspicion the iPad will eventually evolve to complete head-on with traditional thin clients and netbooks. Here’s why.
Check out the Apple Store and you’ll see how the iPad plugs into an optional keyboard. Of course, the iPad-keyboard combo is more expensive than most PC netbooks and notebooks. I think the iPad will start off as a digital newspaper and magazine readers, before evolving into a full-blown business productivity tool.
Consider the math: Right now, the iPad offers up to 64GB of storage. I suspect Apple will double that figure in a year or so, and double it again by about 2013 or so. At the same time, thousands of new applications will pour into the Apple App Store — helping the iPad to gradually shift from homes into executive offices, before finding a potential place with more traditional office workers.
Of course, the story may not play out that way. But I do wonder how many MSPs will purchase the iPad for personal and business use. And I wonder how many MSPs will be prepared when your first customer asks for an informed opinion about the iPad.
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I am proud that I only ordered one. Despite the deflation in hype I can hardly wait!
Andy Myers
Fraction CIO, Consultant
http://www.andymyers.net
Andy: I was on the Apple site today and nearly pressed “purchased…” Nearly…
-jp
It’s going to be really interesting how the ipad product line pans out.
It is reported that Apple sold 50,000 in the first two hours. Considering that the ipad has the ability to run desktop level applications AND the fact the iphone already runs some nice Windows remote client applications, it is entirely possible that the ipad will indeed prove to be a hell of a portable thin client.
And of course, I’ll be able to play tap tap revenge 3 in full screen glory too!
-Scott
Scott: Yes, 50,00 iPad sales in the first two hours — despite the fact that Apple limited sales to 2 iPads per customer. I’ll be curious to see if this initial sales burst continues, or if it was a one-time wave of initial interest…
-jp