Want an IPad? I Don't

Surprising almost no one, Apple has given the world Steve Jobs' greatest creation yet. Set to usher in an new era personally crafted by the man himself. A new ray of hope for print media and the already hopeful but still burgeoning e-book market. A new device expanding the iTunes/App store platform for Apple, the big Studios, Networks, Artists and App Developers. Although to be honest Steve, forget about the cash for a second, you had most of us developers at 1ghz apple silicon, the rest at 9.6 inch screen. But then you knew that. Nicely done sir.

Let me back up a bit. Hi there, I am one of those rare and ever dwindling members of the population who does not own any apple products, or stocks, not even a par of ibuds.

As the live blog of Steve's presentation scrolled up my screen, I had to consider why that was. I can almost hear it from my teen age daughter "Why don't we have iPods and macBooks around the house Dad?".

It's not because Apple's products are not attractive, well designed or easy to use. It is not even due to my firm, some might say religious beliefs in free software and open source.

I personally adore Steve Jobs and his story and wish him nothing but success, (as if he needed it). If you will allow me to digress, we'll back up a little more.

I grew up as Bill and Steve started changing the world just a few years behind them in age. They were my heroes, my inspiration to devour every piece of technology I could get my hands on. Imagine my surprise to see that row of Apple IIs in the classroom / newly converted computer lab in the last year of junior high. Already a personal computer (Atari 800XL) owner at that age, I spent many an hour in that lab, programming, and gaming. Swapping many a floppy, if you will. I grew a casual attachment to a couple of new GSs late in the year. I left for high school with the dreams of capitalizing upon my experiences.

The high school was brand new, and its multiple computer labs were stocked with the latest in computing technology and it was remarkable in at two memorable ways. It had these new things called whiteboards and the total absence of Apple computers. Lots of catching up to do, carrying forward little more than my typing skills, and even that had to be considerably modified. Though the graphic and sound capabilities were laughable, working on those IBM PC and PC jrs gave you the feeling that there was a future in this no matter how much fun it was.

So is that it?, an underlying deep seated resentment for wasting those few prepubescent semesters learning a useless skill (and staying after school to do so) and then having to do it all over again?

I don't think so, I've always reveled in the discovery of new languages, Operating Systems and devices, Credit my ability to quickly adapt to new technology with that sudden transition all those years ago.

Perhaps it is the self described Cult of Mac? The rabbid internet "Apple fanboys" who have for years wasted post after post explaining that one mouse button was all you ever needed and that the PowerPC was far superior to x86. More than one of them is right now composing an angry retort explaining how useful it is to browse the web without flash support. But no, that is not it either, spend more than a few minutes browsing free software and open source forums, mailing lists or blogs, and you will soon discover this is not a phenomenon unique to Apple.

Towards the end of Mr Jobs presentation I was running out of possible reasons and bordering on unfounded defiant resistance. Have you seen it? We all want one.

Throughout my life I have rationalized it with a simple economic argument. Whenever pressed for my opinion on this or that Apple logo'd electronic computing device, it was always far more expensive than a competitors faster, more configurable/ less restrictive device without that logo. Since MacOSX, I have also counseled that the Apple logo denotes a fair measure of reliability and usability, if you are willing to make that trade. When the person asking was over the age of 48, a graphic artist, or musician my advice was condensed to, "Buy it!". My own electronics budget for many years was, shall we say, not Apple conducive. Hard to justify one Mac versus a couple three Linux PCs.

So is it as simple as that, are Apple's products just too expensive? Am I really just cheap and stubborn? Turns out almost.

The presentation wraps up with the one surprise Steve still had up his sleeve. One piece of speculation and rumor that needed to be proven untrue, the reported price. And this is why Steve is still my hero and why I don't care where he gets his replacement organs. All along, his strategy with this iPad was grander than anyone had posited.

Late last year Nokia launched their newest smartphone, the n900, a natural successor to my beloved n8x0 series "internet tablet". Price: $569.

Around the same time Motorola launched their Google Android powered Droid phone with a marketing push that even Apple had to be impressed with. Price sans Verizon contract, $499.

A few weeks ago Google decided to kick off the new year with a new branded phone sold through its new online store. you can now buy your phone directly from Google. By all accounts, the Nexus One is a fine little Android device, similar in function to an iPhone. Price without a contract $529.

Meanwhile, in the PC industry HP, Lenova and just about everybody else is scrambled to throw together the required bits to create a device that closely resembles a tablet or slate for "Rival Steve" to demonstrate running Windows 7 at CES, ahead of Apple's (i)nnouncement.

After facing years of criticism about prices from customers and in multiple Microsoft ad campaigns, touchscreen smartphones with comparable features start coming out of the woodwork right around the iPhone price point. Joining in, potential tablet competition decides to come in at macBook prices.

What looks to be an uncharacteristic move for Apple, is really typical Jobs. Faced with competitors on all fronts, he changes the rules everybody had become comfortably accustomed. While pretty sure their devices would cost less than Apple's, none of the above expected to compete with a $500 unsubsidized iPad.

I certainly wasn't expecting Apple to compete for my impending device expenditure. Unfortunately, we disagree on one important matter, Choices, I like making my own.

So I will not be joining the cult just yet. Not just because of the very frightening thought of my co-workers walking around with iPads in place of the ever present iPhone. Attack of the Giant Pod People. At the very least we will have to widen the halls for safety reasons.

Who should be able to approve what applications run on the device I just bought?.
We can all sympathize with the stated reasons for the level of control Apple exerts, they obviously have to protect their brand, and with 140,000 Apple chosen apps available for the iPhone, iPod Touch and the new iPad, there is plenty of choice for most. You just won't be able to choose an app that Apple doesn't want you to choose. As a consumer or developer you have the choice to work with Apple, or work around them.

As much as I want an iPad, I'll choose to support a model where the choices are mine. Something that won't make me work around it. Somehow, I think Steve will do just fine without my 500 bucks.