In just a few days from now, Apple will finally roll out its new iPad, that the company touts as a “magical and revolutionary product at an unbelievable price (!)”
But the big question is who is going to buy it? Sure, there will be the fanboys and Apple maniacs who’ll stand in the cold pouring rain to snap up the latest shiny toy offered by His Royal Steveness. But apart from this demographic, who else is eager for an iPad. No one seems to know. Not even Apple, according to The Economist.
In its new technology blog, Babbage, The Economist wonders if the iPad is aimed at road warriors–people who spend a lot of time travelling for work. You can already access email, Facebook and the iWork suite on the new gadget, but in the absence of video-conferencing abilities, it’s hard to see why businessmen would want to switch from a laptop or Macbook.
So is Apple trying to use the iPad to entice grandpa and grandma to get online? For several people past a certain age, operating a computer is like trying to activate a nuclear reactor–complex and incomprehensible. So, with its touch-screen technology and easy navigation, the iPad would be the perfect tool to launch oneself into the great online vortex. Also, the iPad could serve as a great educational tool in developing nations.
Already, Apple has seen close to 190,000 pre-orders for the iPad. But once the fanboys are out of the way and the initial enthusiasm fades—it would interesting to see who finally goes home with the gadget.
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