The iPad: Something Fresh and New

Steve Jobs has spunk.

His invention of the iPad is mind boggling to me. I never understood the hype behind new technology; I was never one to stand outside in a line for a million hours just to get the latest gadget. But the more I read about Steve Jobs, I get it. I still don't understand why someone would stand outside in the middle of the night, but I do finally get the excitement.

In terms of the iPad: his design is impeccable. It's simplistic and genuine, just as he wanted and designed with the iPhone. In terms of artistic expression, the simpler the better. Anybody who takes an advanced art class or is an artist will tell you, the simpler the better. Keep simplifying. When this process is occurring, the ideas become clearer, the point you want to make to the viewer is easier to understand. People get it. This is was Steve Jobs has done with the iPad. People understood it. The fact that an "illiterate six year old" could pick up the iPad and use it even though he's never seen this sense of technology before captures the spirit of what Jobs was creating. The rounded edges make the instrument friendlier to the viewer - nobody wants to pick up a boxy piece of technology - rounded edges seem more huggable. I've always had a great draw to the color of the iPad as well (iPhone also); the color is not ivory, but it's not quite white. It really is perfect. The logo on the back of the iPad is also striking. Simple, clean, and tells the consumer exactly where the product came from. Jobs is very good at that - branding. There is no possible way for a consumer to walk in to an electronic store and get confused over whether the product is from Apple or not. The design is thin, easy to carry and transport from place to place and also extremely easy to use as well as personalize.

We have to give it up to Steve Jobs. He really has revolutionized technology, branded it extremely well and has created a company that is always ahead of the competition. By this point in Walter Isaacson's biography of Jobs, if you are not a fan, you will never be. I almost feel like I should now go out and buy an iPad, or to be hip, the iPad Mini.



{Winston especially enjoyed this chapter about the iPad}