The iPad And The Question Of What A Computer Is

Apple released the iPad this month, and the most interesting question for me is not whether it is a large phone or a small laptop. The device makes me wonder what we actually require before we call something a computer.

The iPad has a large touch screen but no traditional keyboard attached to it. Applications are installed through the App Store. Files are less visible than they are on a desktop operating system. Many normal computer tasks are hidden behind simpler interfaces.

For some users, this may feel limiting. I am used to seeing folders, moving files freely, connecting different devices, and installing software from many sources. A traditional computer gives the user a large amount of control, even when that control creates complexity.

The iPad chooses a different balance. Reading, browsing, watching video, viewing photographs, and using simple applications feel direct because the screen itself is the interface. There is no mouse between the hand and the object on the display.

I can imagine this being especially useful for people who do not enjoy managing a computer. Many users want the results of computing without becoming administrators of their own machines. A tablet can hide some of that maintenance.

The question is whether creation will feel as natural as consumption. Writing long documents, programming, editing complex files, or managing many windows still seems more comfortable on a laptop or desktop. Maybe tablets will develop new ways to handle these tasks, or maybe they will remain a different category.

I do not think the iPad will replace the personal computer immediately. It may do something more interesting: divide computing into different shapes. One machine for heavy work, another for mobility and direct interaction.

When a technology becomes mature, we stop asking what it is. The iPad still feels uncertain enough that the argument itself is part of the fun.