The Apple i-Pad

Nobody has yet said that about the i-Pad as far as I know…well, because it’s not true.

But what they (and I’ll define who “they” is in just a moment) have said is: “the i-Pad changes everything!”

Well, that’s not true either, but reality, practicality and obsessive fandom don’t play well together.

I say: congrats to Apple on creating another good and useful product. To me, that seems like a positive review. But Merriam-Webster called me early today to advise that i-Pad reviewers and users have used up all of their dictionary’s superlatives. “Magical”, “Revolutionary”?

The i-Pad is a communication tool, and an expensive one. It has the potential to change portable computing and mobile communication from the way it exists now. New devices are supposed to do that…it’s why we buy them.

But from even the smarter analysts of social media and technology, down to social media experts (aren’t we all) and even the lowly end “users” (I never thought I’d miss the moniker “consumer”)– their unanimous, overboard passion for the i-Pad (pro or con) is asinine.

The i-Phone is a good mobile device (disclosure: I bought one) with many features and some short comings….it didn’t and doesn’t change everything (oy, did “they” go nuts over that device). Neither does the i-Pad.

Whether it’s a desire for a snappy headline or just a bunch of zombie-like devotees – the write-ups and even broadcasts about this stuff seems neurotic. It goes beyond marketing.

I recognize the whole weird Apple addiction/superiority thing but people are getting a bit stupid about this stuff.

The development of electricity, the telephone, the light bulb, the airplane…these things each changed everything. Literally, figuratively and absolutely. Even if you’d like to make a case in this category for the first computer or the first portable computer – I will certainly welcome your opinion about how these items “changed everything”.

But so far there has been no i-Anything that has “changed everything”.

Short attention spans and instant gratification seekers lack perspective yet they live in a world of absolutes (“best” this or “worst” that). I’m guilty of it sometimes and I bet you are too.

But it seems we can be shaken from “absolutes” coma and gain some perspective eventually. I hope these Apple and i-Pad fanatics will get some soon too.

Is it just me noticing this or are you seeing it too? Am I wrong?

Tags: advertising, branding, commentary, commercials, marketing, social media, technology // Comments Off on ‘the i-Pad is bigger than Jesus Christ’