I think the Apple iPad will be amazing and that most tech critics just don’t get it, because they are too distant from the needs of the casual users. Therefore I trust Steve Jobs on this rather than anyone else. Time will tell who was right and who was wrong.
Some quotes from the respected tech journalists on Apple devices in the past:
The Macintosh uses an experimental pointing device called a ‘mouse’. There is no evidence that people want to use these things.
(John C. Dvorak on the introduction of the original Apple Macintosh in San Francisco Examiner, 19 February 1984)
No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame.
(Slashdot editor CmdrTaco comments on the release of the iPod, 23 January 2001)
The original iPhone was also almost universally criticised for lack of many features (some of which have appeared in iPhone 3G and 3GS). So with Apple it is best not to listen to the reviews, but try these things out on your own.
Next week, I will be in Riga, Latvia, attending the centenary of the birth of Sir Isaiah Berlin as a part of the East-East group of young intellectuals from Eastern Europe. It looks like there is going to be a lot of interesting discussions ahead.
Apple has finally extended the reach of the App Store to Estonia, allowing my to legally buy applications for the iPhone. It is pretty cool, but of course I’d also like to see Apple allowing Estonians also to buy music and film, and to order photobooks and calendars.
So far I think I’ve spent more than 10 euros at the App Store, and it has been open for two days only…
Must see TV. The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart destroys CNBC’s financial commentator Jim Kramer and also makes a greater point of lack of accountability from everyone (banks, analysts, media) involved as the reason for the economic crisis.
So, I am buying Apple’s new earphones from Apple Store in Green Hills, Nashville, and had this conversation with the salesperson:
Me: “I’ll have these”
Salesperson: “Do you pay with credit card?”
Me: “Yes” Hand over my Hansapank MasterCard Gold
Salesperson works with the machine, it shuts down, gets a new battery, asks my e-mail address, I give it to her.
Salesperson: “What’s your Zip-code”
Me: “I don’t live in the US”
Salesperson: “Oh, where are you from?”
Me: “Estonia, it is in Europe”
Salesperson: “Are you with these guys there, they are also from Estonia?”
And there was a couple from Estonia in the Apple Store in Green Hills mall in Nashville jsut before closing time buying a MacBook. We had a brief exchange, I told I was here for to visit Vanderbilt and they said they were just visiting as well. So, you can really meet Estonians everywhere in the world…
I have arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana, the United States of America. After a gruelling, but quite problem-free 20+ hour flight and 20 hour sleep in the coolest hotel I have ever been to, I must say that I feel great about being here. Yesterday we (I am travelling with a colleague) did nothing except walking around the Vieux Carré a bit and had alligator and shrimp Po-Boys and local beer at the Pierre Maspero’s Restaurant.
We will be in New Orleans until Monday morning, after which we go to Nashville, Tennessee. I will write more soon.
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