iPad, help apple develop it by buying one
Almost every mac fanboy I know has gone through the 1st date syndrome with Apple’s new product releases. The day approaches, you get nervous and excited, almost desperate, and when you finally get to meet, you are pretty chuffed to get your hands on it (and be seen out with it). But, inevitably something goes wrong. There are awkward silences or moments where the wires seem completely crossed, something doesn’t feel right, things get a little frustrating, it’s not as good as you wanted it to be. However, you feel you must pursue the relationship because of the sheer beauty in front of you. But the fact remains, every first date with a new apple product always lets you down a little.
So, those of us who have some experience in this area know better. Wait for the second release, when the battery is fixed, when the apps are mature, when the touchscreen is more reliable, when the headphone socket fits most headphones without you having to shave a bit of the base of the jack (anyone who had a 1st gen iPhone will know).
The little things, that Apple does so well are usually done in the second gen of a product launch. So the question begs? why buy the first gen product, why buy the new iPad?
The answer for me is “I won’t”, I will gladly forgo the teething pains of a virgin product. I have deliberated over it, but ultimately the need for a larger iPhone like pad, with no phone, camera or flash (adobe), is just not doing it. Prestige is not enough of a wager to swing me over to the new iPad for the first run.
I remember when watching the keynote, the little blue plugin bricks appearing over the screen (which Jobs failed to mention), made me think – ahhh there’s the compromise, there’s the sign that I will get a little let down. If only, if only she had flash.
There is a lesson here, a definite tactic to releasing a product that is 80% there. It captures the initial buzz and sells to the ardent fans, without the cost implications of holding on to an unreleased product. Then, continue to develop the product in the wild from the feedback of your supporters, the people who absolutely will be vocal about your product’s failings. Read the blogs, hear the complaints and then fix them. Essentially the first release of the iPad will be the last phase of Apple’s testing.
Hardware does not have a beta, just a huge product launch.
