When Apple introduced the iPad in 2010, it was so revolutionary that many people, me included, were scratching their heads trying to work out what it could be used for. Flash forward to today and there are hundreds or articles explaining how to use the iPad as a computer replacement. But the iPad did more than replace a computer for many people. For one generation, it presented a way for people that missed the personal computer revolution to join the 21st century.
Some people missed the revolution
The personal computer revolution started in the 1970s, when Apple and then IBM brought the first computers to market that were specifically made for the masses. Before that, computers were either huge and expensive or required the ability to solder and assemble components. By the mid-1980s personal computers were starting to become mainstream. The market for personal computers exploded through the 1990s with households and businesses buying a computer.
Bill Gates’ vision was “A computer on every desk and in every home.”
It was a bold vision but there was an entire generation of people it missed. People going through school and university had access to computers and became adept at using them. And corporates invested heavily, ditching centralised computing platforms and installing PCs everywhere, offering training to ensure staff knew how to use key applications.
But if you weren’t a student or working in the corporate world, the computing revolution was something that happened to other people.
How the iPad changed the world
The iPad is the simplest personal computing device available today. While I am a professional nerd and love playing with all the tech, many of my friends and family aren’t. They see their smartphones, tablets and computers as appliances. Sure they’re a little needy with the seemingly constant software and app updates but as long as they pass the “just works’ test, they’re happy.
The iPad’s screen makes it easy to find the app you want. The display is excellent and performance is slick, even on the entry-level 9th generation model that is a couple of years old. But the real magic is that it’s so easy to use that there’s no need for a detailed instruction manual. You can hold it any way you like and everything reorients so it’s facing the right way. Icons and all the other screen elements are finger friendly and accessibility features mean things can be customised to ensure maximum usability.
The end result is a computing device that enables people who missed the first personal computing revolution to get access to all the services many of us take for granted today.
I have a number of older friends and family who worked in jobs where access to a computer was not required. For them, computers were highly technical and complex machines. Things many of us take for granted, like using a mouse, were like placing someone who had only driven an automatic car in charge of an 18-wheel semi-trailer.
The iPad completely changed the equation. From the relatively light form factor – tablets before the iPad were close to an inch thick and weight two or three times more, the touch-friendly interface that wasn’t a desktop operating system shoehorned onto a touchscreen, and a ready-to-go pool of useful apps that ported from the iPhone made the iPad an instant hit for computer newbies.
There may be a lot of argument about whether iOS or Android is better but Apple was first to bring a user friendly, affordable smartphone and tablet to the market. And made it easy for everyone to use.
That’s a true revolution.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.
Anthony, you missed the fact that Tandy / Radio Shack were there WELL before IBM and sold gazillions of “personal computers”. I’d even venture they outsold Apple, as did many CP/M based computers in the early days. viz Compucolor and its like.
As a personal plug, I am actually putting together a manuscript of that time as *cough* I was there from 1979 – 1984 and sold via my store in Subiaco in Perth (Western Australia), a SHITLOAD of Tandy computers – Model 2, 3, 4 , 4P, 1000, 2000, 100, 200, 12 and 16 etc to corporates and government entities.
Tandy / Radio Shack only failed IMO as although the Model 2000 was far superior to the IBM PC (80186 processor v 8088), and had all the right software (Lotus 1-2-3, Multimate, dBase etc) it was not seen as IBM ie (no-one was ever fired for buying an IBM).
And the Tandy Color Computer, which used a Motorola 8209 (off memory) actually ran a version of UNIX called OS/9 that supported up to 5 terminals and 4 hard disks! Not bad for 1983.
I still have a working Tandy Model 100 which runs on a couple of D cells, has built in word processing, database, calendar, editor, BASIC programming and RS232 comms.
IBM and Apple were NOT the be all and end all by any means.
That history is so interesting and important. And I’d love to get t hands on a working Tandy 100. Off to eBay I go.