April 27, 2010
Jobs
The iPad is the ultimate Steve Jobs device-- so hypnotic that not only do people buy one without knowing what it's good for, they keep feeling like they ought to use it even when they have better alternatives for everything it does. It's a triumph of style over substance, cool over utility, form over actual function. The viral YouTube videos of cats and two-years-olds playing with it speak truth in their unsurpassable combination of draw-you-in cuteness with utter pointlessness. It's the perfect lust object of postmodern consumerism, irresistibly attractive but empty -- you know youâve been played by the marketing and design but you don't care because your complicity in the game is part of the point. -- Armed and Dangerous » Blog Archive » Apple, postmodern consumerism and the iPad
Posted by Vanderleun at April 27, 2010 9:15 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
Feh. I use the thing all the time, every day. Don't use my laptop for games; use games on the iPad. Better for web browsing. News apps are great for quick updates. Father enjoyed flicking through family photos; wouldn't have known what to do on a computer. Kid likes to watch cartoons on it, driving home from piano. Perfectly useful and pleasurable device.
Posted by: Lileks at April 27, 2010 10:11 AM
Hey, what can I tell you. "We report. You deride."
But you HAVE to like it for you are the DEVICEMASTER of SLOR!
Posted by: vanderleun at April 27, 2010 11:16 AM
I'm sure E.S.R. wishes the iPad were as big a success as linux-on-the-desktop and as miserable a failure as the iPod. Oh, wait.
Posted by: tehag at April 27, 2010 1:45 PM
I'm right there with Mr. Lileks. I bought an iPad three days ago and just love it.
I don't really understand the fan-boys or the Apple-bashers. Each device stands or falls on its own merits. I find the iPad to be spectacularly useful and convenient. You may not. Somehow, we'll still get along.
Posted by: Dar at April 29, 2010 10:12 AM