Open Forum Friday: Will the iPad Change How We Consume Entertainment?

Posted by on April 9th, 2010   Filed under: Open Forum Friday

openforumipad

Last weekend saw the release of Apple’s shiny new iPad, a device that some are calling revolutionary and others are dismissing as little more than a giant iPod Touch. Although this is something that will probably only be purchased initially by tech addicts and Apple fanboys, the iPad is clearly aimed at a mainstream audience, and looks to be more of an entertainment delivery device than a full blown personal computer. With this in mind, I thought it might generate some interesting discussion about the future of movies and TV in a digital world, and whether or not it has potential to change other aspects of our lives as well.

Netflix has already released an app for the iPad that allows quite a few “Watch Instantly” movies to be streamed directly over Wi-Fi, and Hulu reportedly has a similar app in the works for all of their content. On top of this, the iTunes store is stocked with movies and TV shows from every major studio available for rental or purchase. Is the ultimate On Demand movie library just around the corner? In the past, people have always complained (and rightfully so) that an iPod was too small to watch videos on, and that no one wants to sit and watch a full movie on their computer screen. With the iPad’s 9.7 inch screen, it does seem a lot more feasible (although, admittedly, more discerning movie fans will not be pleased about the 4:3 aspect ratio). The iPad also offers all kinds of new possibilities for things like video games, books, magazines, comics, and a combination of all of these things.

So what do you think? Is the iPad a revolutionary device, or is it just a lot of unwarranted hype? Would you watch movies on something like this? Will it change entertainment or will it remain a niche product strictly for technophiles? Give us your thoughts here on Open Forum Friday.



  • El Ultimo Hombre

    Well, it’s not going to change how I consume entertainment but I could see it having an effect. Just another geek toy to me.

  • kyriacos

    maybe is good for camping or holidays.. with a good 3g Card in it.. and an application like ”remoteTab” you can have access to your desktop and do even ”heavy jobs” like video editing..

  • Got one, and am about to go on a vacation, gonna load it up with movies for the plane and during the vacation. Too early to say if the iPad is “revolutionary” but “disruptive” comes to mind.

  • AdamH

    Here Sean goes again about his predictions on digital downloads! :P
    It will have an effect, just nothing substantial i think..

  • TheAllKnowingGod

    Ugh. IFad.

    Jesus does Apple suck.

    Grow some balls and buy a real computer.

  • Matt in Maine

    Still don’t see what the point of this is. To me, it looks like an over sized iphone… except without the phone call making part.

  • scoville

    It’s too pricey for what little it actually does. Right now it really is just a fad being bought mostly by sheep.

    But as we all know, sheep with money can dictate how things move in the future.

  • Ian

    I think that it will be possible with time and evolution for the tool to become something for entertainment and possibly replace the briefcase (unless that laptop already did that?) in some respects. I just think that this makes sense. Pads were what they used on Star Trek for books, and forms, etc. It’s just more of that paperless society stuff I suppose. Though for me comics need to be printed and held in my hand.

  • pcch7

    That fuckin thing is way bigger than I thought it would be.. No way you can carry that shit around without a bag or something..

  • kyriacos

    you know what’s funny?

    Its obvious that the technology for a powerful touchscreen tabled laptop product exist.

    I own a 17” macbookpro and the Ipad is pretty much the same size as my laptop. they are both insanely thin.. so practically you just take macbookpro and replace the keyboard with an ipad touchscreen..

    maybe they will do this next year and name it.. ipad-pro or smthng., one thing at a time right?..

    … :) you know what’s even funnier? i drop my Macbook on the floor last week and i broke the lcd display..

    Just to replace the screen (that is not even a touchscreen) 800Euros
    (that is one million Canadian dollars i think) :)

    it costed more than an ipad :)

  • Maopheus

    So it’s a giant Ipod Touch. Well only Apple can make a giant Ipod Touch, it can’t happen on its own so obviously the appeal is the technology and features available on the IPhone/IPod Touch platform but much larger. I believe that it will add an extra element of change for entertainment consumption, especially in the portable realm. People will be able to watch visual entertainment on a device larger than what was previously available and with very low weight. But when it comes to premium home entertainment a big HD TV is still the way to go. So the iPad itself I don’t believe will fundamentally change the consumption of entertainment. What will change is the delivery method.

  • I see a contradiction forming for apple, I was in a apple store and the attendants are so proud of their small iphones with credit card swipes for purchases of product. wouldn’t it make more sense for them to carry an ipad were they can do more things like the online form that they made me fill out at a display workstation?! but then they can’t be cool and pull out their iphone for with the credit card swipe like it some kind of nerd six shooter. seems apple is in a “size matters” vortex.

  • angelocrator

    The Ipad can do less than half of the things my same-sized netbook can do and costs twice as much.

    Stupid lemmings who buy this but my hat off to Apple who is still able to sell mediocre and overprized products by making them shiny and pleasant to the eye.

  • Hugo

    You can buy a paper weight for 2 dollars. Why would you spend at least 500? If you bought an Ipad. You probably have some other issue’s in your life. Also, If you did buy one. I hope you got a tube of lube with it.

  • I’m a bit surprised at all the negativity. Where are all the Apple fans? How many people out there used to think they didn’t need an iPod and now own 5 of them?

    Keep in mind, it doesn’t have to be the iPad specifically that changes things, it could be just the idea of a tablet device in general.

  • Big Hungry

    I will wait on the 2nd Gen ipad, and I will say hands down apple is the best computer I have ever had. Once you go mac you do not go back!

    Time machine has saved my butt more than once. I accidently over saved and/or deleted a file I needed and I went back to a year ago and the doc was on my desktop. I grabbed the file I needed and took it back to the Future. Doc Brown would be proud.

    As far as the ipad – the only downside is it does not fit in your pocket, but that is what the iphone and ipod touch are for. Time will only tell how this will change things but everyone I know who has one says it is great and the larger screen allows you to do more. Also as HTML 5 takes over (I hope) things will just get better.

  • I’ll change the world right now APPLE! build an ipad that wraps around your forearm like a cool non-gay He-man bracer. you can talk on it like a spy, make everyone listen to YOUR music like the days of the ghetto blaster on your shoulder, and when you want to watch a little HD brilliance or type up your manifesto the iarmlet (copyrighted) unfolds from your forearm and snaps into tablet form. make it so steve blowjobs!

  • Paul Andrews

    I must be missing something; tablet PCs have been around since 2001, so why is this a new product ? It hasn’t even got USB !

  • Drewsifer

    I’m an apple fan and find the ipad to be too large and pointless, plus you need a fuckig squegee an windex to clean the thing. This product makes about ad much sense as the new gameboy XL

  • The immaturity around here on this subject is quite astounding. I agree that Version 2.0 is more interesting to me when they integrate a web-cam and some sort of blue-tooth or wireless USB type interface (I’m sure 3rd party accessories will also solve this), but I think this is a great idea. A smarter, slicker netbook for content consumption would work nicely in my house. We are about ready to retire our mode 1.1 EEE PC at this point.

  • I think right now the iPad will be nothing more than a toy for those with expendable income. But in a few years, with improvements, the iPad version… say… 3.0 will be in everyone’s home.

  • Mike

    before my iphone i was a hater. Now i dont use my laptop unless i’m doing video editing or recording music. 95% of my regular web browsing is done on my iphone. And why not? It takes 30 seconds to bring up my banking info on my banking app. It takes 10 seconds to check the score on any sports event on the scorecenter app. My email is sent directly to my phone. Facebook app does everything. The twitter app is instant and does all the photo uploading for me…

    The ipod allowed iTunes to be the #1 music seller in the world.
    The ipad will do the same to books, magazines, tv shows, and movies…just wait…it’s coming.

    How many people do you know that only use their computer for casual browsing and to listen to music? The iPad takes this person’s daily internet use to a whole different level.

  • Mike, you make good points. However, the high price point will still make it difficult for the masses to buy an iPad just yet.

  • I do wish more home recording learning materials were geared toward beginners who aren’t necessarily techies.