Comments on: Does the iPad Signal a Change in Apple’s Core Brand & Identity?

By: Iqtedar

Iqtedar — Wed, 11 May 2011 14:18:40 +0000

This is a fundamental change taking place that long time Apple consumers better understand. It is also a justification for migrating to open source based systems.

By: cv harquail

cv harquail — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:19:29 +0000

Hi Will,
That’s my hope too. I’m probably overstating & simplifying the case here (or so my ex-Apple friends tell me), but I am worried about Apple becoming more like a big consumer product company and less like an art supply store… though, in truth, more people would prefer to buy than to d.i.y.
Thanks for your comments — I’ll be looking for your posts on your class’s blog!
cvh

By: Will S

Will S — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:08:08 +0000

I definitely agree with what you are saying. It’s almost as if Apple released this product just to say that it is still developing new things. I really don’t think that the iPad will be successful compared to its other products. Hopefully the company will release new products in the future that people actually want and by doing so, will continue to uphold the company’s identity as a creative brand.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:13:01 +0000

You knew I would chime in on this one, right?

I’m not convinced by your argument. Instead, I would make the case that Apple was never about its customers thinking differently — it branded itself successfully that way for a while, but what it actually delivered, consistently, was the service of providing elegant tools for work and play. Those tools might allow you to either create, or just get mundane tasks done — and besides, where does the boundary between those two types of work fall, exactly?

I also take issue with the idea that the iPad will not allow customers to create. It’s going to have iWorks, right? So we can still create texts, keynotes, manipulate images (I bet that includes at least cropping, if not other kinds of editing)… send emails…

Yes, I realize that these seem like fairly mundane tasks. I think the iTouch is more consumption-oriented, though — no camera (photography is an act of creation!), no ability to record sounds, etc. With the iPhone you get both. The iPad is simultaneously more text and more video-focused.

And yes, I realize that the whole closed-platform thing is problematic. I’m quite well acquainted with the controversies around Apple refusing to distribute certain iPhone/iPod apps in iTunes. But — they have released the SDK, which means that individuals outside of Apple will be able to write new apps. Within parameters, programmers from all over can still let their creativity rip, and us consumers will benefit from their innovations.

And finally, let me point out that the iPad is not meant to replace your laptop — it’s meant to allow you to access your own creations and others’ in a form factor that’s more convenient for some parts of your daily life. (And sadly, no, we don’t own stock any more!)
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..on wisdom =-.