It's hard to get a read in the immediate wake of an Apple announcement. I mean, the company's semiannual new-product events are essentially press conferences in which members of the media are invited to cover Apple's latest big announcement, right? So why does virtually every sentence by Steve Jobs and friends prompt so much cheering by
the attendees, who ostensibly are there to report objectively on the event? Well, it's because many members of the media are Apple fans to begin with, and many of the attendees are simply fan boys who also happen to write for a website. That's why I always remain skeptical until Apple's latest news filters through the breakwater that Apple so carefully constructs.
But Wednesday's announcement was a little different. Take Engadget's excellent live coverage by Joshua Topolsky. Mixed in with adulatory comments like "Steve is back!" and "Wow, new drop downs in the mail interface... and a large onscreen QWERTY!" were unexpected criticisms such as "We're basically just watching Steve casually browse. This is odd." and "Magical? Really? Doesn't seem that magical to us!"
And then came the reaction by the biggest Apple fan I know, syndicated AV columnist Don Lindich. I once had to ask Don, as his editor, to stop writing so much about the Mac in his earlier columns. He proudly proclaims that he has "converted" many of his readers and friends from a PC to a Mac. Yet his latest Sound Advice blog entry is all about how underwhelmed he was by the iPad. He also notes that 71 percent of the people who participated in an online poll were not impressed by the device.
"Steve Jobs is a lot smarter than me and he is really excited by the iPad, and I have not seen one yet," Don wrote, "so maybe I am missing something here. Still, that Netbook is looking better and better."
There are loads of other negative reactions, too.
I am no Apple acolyte (Macalyte?), but I would love to give the iPad a go. I also still have no idea how I would use it on a daily basis. I have a feeling that's how many people view the device -- coupled with the reality that the magical $500 price tag is for a basic model that most people won't want, with the real price being closer to $700-$800. Of course, things might change once people actually get an iPad in their hands a few months from now.
Oh, one more thing: With Apple finally confirming the device's real name -- with conjecture that it might have been called iSlate, iTablet or whatever -- an old MadTV sketch that had already co-opted the name to promote a faux feminine-hygiene product has spread like virtual wildfire. "The new Apple iPad. Please don't make us explain how it works." Hilarious. Here it is:
