[ Thanks to Linux User &
Developer magazine for this link. ]
“I’m in two minds about Apple’s latest
attempt to redefine the wheel of the technology market. And given
that much has been written about its iPad product launch, I’m
reluctant to delve into the mechanics of the product itself that
deeply, for fear of sending you into a coma stimulated by
repetition of the same details over and over again. Personally, I
feel I’ve heard so much about that it’s as if I
designed the thing. I’ve little urge to buy one, which never
helps, but would be willing to pretend otherwise if you really
needed me to. Fortunately for me, I don’t think you do. But
there’s one thing I do admire about what Apple has done, and
is continually able to do. For alone among technology firms,
it’s capable of generating the kind of hyperbole that’s
usually reserved for X-Factor contestants, divorcing vacuous
celebrities and the goings on of generally talentless people who
parade their wares on the telly.“The announcement of the iPad not only sent the internet into
some kind of meltdown, it also became a talking point that found
its way into the newspapers, everyday conversations and pretty much
every media outlet with a spare minute in their schedules (and
plenty who didn’t). That’s accepting that the
consensus, as always, seems to be wait for version two before
jumping aboard. But Apple has nonetheless put a tablet computer
very much on people’s shopping lists for this year. Even if
they didn’t realise until a month ago that they actually
wanted one.”