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iPad: a revolution in personal media consumption

I had pre-ordered an iPad for my wife as a possible laptop replacement.  As I side benefit, I got to play with it on the first day it become commercially available thanks to an on-time delivery by UPS.  For the record, I had pooh-pooh’ed the iPad when it was first announced as a “larger iPhone”.  After getting a chance to play with it for a couple of weeks, I believe this is the dawn of another computing revolution, centered around new ways to consume media.

Three days after the iPad came out, on a Monday, I was on a plane to the west coast for board meetings.  There were so many people using iPads comfortably, you would have thought the device had come out months before.  Many of these people were some of the early adopters no doubt.  But it was clear that people were delighted with the device.  Early reports showed that sales were crisp but that supply was more than adequate.  But as time went by, Apple run out of devices and had to delay introduction into overseas markets.   Why the acceleration in demand?  Because, based on my experience, you have to actually use this device to appreciate it.  More people are using the iPad and telling their friends about it.

Remember the first time you used a PC (1981), the first time you used a graphical user interface and a mouse (1984), the first time you saw a browser (1994), the first time you used an iPhone app (2007).  Well, this is kinda like that.  It feels different and unique.  It feels like the beginning of something new and exciting.  My wife’s initial response was:  ”can we buy some more of these so you can stop using mine?”

I won’t go into any detailed review of the iPad.  Walt Mossberg did a great job evaluating the iPad in his review.  In addition, my partner John wrote a few days ago quite perceptively about some insights into why this device is so different.

Based on my use of the iPad and those observations, which I agree with, I think the iPad and other such tablet-like devices hold the promise of radically changing how we consume media in the home.  At least based on the software features to-date, I don’t think this is a laptop replacement device just yet, although I think with multitasking coming later this year and better document storage support it can get there.  However, I think the device can change the way we buy and read books, read the newspaper or magazines (check out the WSJ app and Time magazine), watch video (not with family as a social event, but as a personal video player; business travelers can relate), play games (check out Real Racing HD), help entertain and educate kids; even listen to music and surf the web, which have been well served by other devices.  I think this device has the potential to change some of those industries just like the iPod+iTunes changed the music industry and helped bring it into the digital age.

Why do I think that?  Based on some personal experiences with the device that felt very different and more natural than anything else we are doing today:

• Browsing and sharing some information with the spouse in bed
• Discussing the family calendar and kids’ activities
• Reading a book in bed
• Keeping the kids busy with a video in the back
• Getting the kids to play with educational apps
• Reading the WSJ on the WSJ app
• Watching a movie with the Netflix app
• Playing a couple of video games

The list I am sure will get longer.  Why didn’t devices like the Kindle capture the imagination in the same way?  The advantage of the iPad vs. the Kindle is that it is a multi-purpose device, not just an e-reader.  It makes it easier to spend the $500+ on the iPad.  It will change the way we consume personal media in the home.

So, my advice to entrepreneurs in media businesses is to quickly start thinking about the iPad and other tablets and have a strategy to get on them and serve the audience that keeps growing.