Andrew Nimick - Technology consultant Andrew is an independent technology consultant whose focus is what technology can do for business and finding the best tools for the job.

The iPad has now been on sale in New Zealand for a few days and true to form it has sold very well. It is undoubtedly the "must have" item of the decade. But what for?
Well that is actually one of the clever things about the iPad. Like Twitter it is game changing because it is creating a new type of platform around which people will and are constructing never before thought of usage. In some situations it will do very nicely and others not so well.

Some examples:
Police use with the right apps loaded yes, great for maps/ reports/rap sheets. Put one in every car and watch them find new ways to use them.
Same with Customs, ambulance crews and doctors. The communication capability between the two would be great especially with a camera attached (iPad is lacking in this area).
Teachers, a return to the old chalk slates (hence the term is used sometimes for the iPad) or the old Roman wax tablets (an idea 2000 years in the making). Great for field trips. The supply chain, dealing with orders.

Notice that these roles all have mobility? I still do not see it as a major tool in the office. At this price it will never be a replacement for a fully fledge laptop or desktop computer. It cannot multitask and is no good for laying out complex documents - the viewable screen becomes too small. Great for meeting notes and brain storming, but not for writing them up.

The price is an issue. I recently bought a 13 inch Mac Book pro. It is without doubt the best laptop I have ever owned or used. Feather light and easy to carry around, it does everything I need and has far more real capability than an iPad.

For office/ creative use.
Ignoring the suggestions above the iPad will be a device for consuming. News, books and videos the web infects information of many kinds.

A comment I read recently summed it up: "For me the iPad has replaced the TV as my means of consuming world events and news."

Game changing indeed.