Pundits On The iPad’s Closed System: It’s Doom For PCs, No It’s Great
6:30 am, January 30th, 2010, Leander Kahney
The iPad's closed system is great for computers or it's doom, depending on who you talk to. CC-licensed iPad picture by Glenn Fleishman.
Here are two interesting but conflicting opinions on the iPad, pro and con.
Con: Tech author Rafe Colburn says the iPad is a scary harbringer of the closed future of consumer computing.
“General purpose computing is too complicated for most people anyway, and the iPad’s descendants along with similar competing products from other companies will offer an enticing alternative. So I see the death of the traditional, open personal computer as a likely occurrence.”
Pro: But Facebook iPhone developer Joe Hewitt is extremely positively about the iPad’s closed system. To his mind it’s a major asset:
“The one thing that makes an iPhone/iPad app “closed” is that it lives in a sandbox, which means it can’t just read and write willy-nilly to the file system, access hardware, or interfere with other apps. In my mind, this is one of the best features of the OS. It makes native apps more like web apps, which are similarly sandboxed, and therefore much more secure. On Macs and PCs, you have to re-install the OS every couple years or so just to undo the damage done by apps, but iPhone OS is completely immune to this.”
I’m with Hewitt. The IPad is a cloud computer par excellence, and we will likely be able to run almost any software we want on it, but it’ll be on a server somewhere and not on the iPad. Colburn notes this too, but thinks it’s a bad thing.
Posted by Leander Kahney in Apple, Apple Tablet, News, Opinions, iPad | Comment on this article
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Does anybody know who invented that phrase “Cloud Computing”?
Please, I want to know who. I also want their home address. Their telephone number. I want to do violent things to their dog. Or cat, if they are a cat person.
Fred, on January 30th, 2010 at 6:53 am
Totally agree there. Most geeks won’t like it but closed works and at the end of the day I want to get the job done rather than faff around to make the system work before I can do anything.
martin_tf, on January 30th, 2010 at 7:14 am
So, at the end of the day, we’ve got our last generation of people that know anything about how computers really work. All the New Kids will just think of computers as gaming machines. Long Live Farmville in India, but a pretty sad development for a country that used to make good cars, construct beautiful buildings, and write terrific software.
NerdUno, on January 30th, 2010 at 8:19 am
I think this closed system is a major asset to Apple. Not everybody are are computer geeks like the majority of people on all these tech news websites, so a closed system from Apple is very attractive and easy to use to the non-computer geek.
This closed system only seems to be a problem to developers, computer know-it-alls, which i can understand as they do have the technical know-how to use a computer which doesn’t have a closed eco-system.
I think for Apple, the easy way around this is to give users the option to choose how they want to use the hardware they have purchased with their hard-earned money.
Geeks could choose to run their hardware on an open-source system, while technophobes could continue to use the device on a closed, safe system without the worries of knowing anything which is too technical.
Unfortunately, that’s unlikely to happen as there is no way that Apple will open the system up, in my opinion.
Andrew Macdonald, on January 30th, 2010 at 9:22 am
I’ve been wondering ever since the iPhone app store went live how
it is that Apple doens’t get in trouble in the EU with the European
commission ? It feels like there are some ainti-trust issues going on here.
Could Apple for instance stop Microsoft from releasing
a version of IE with flash for the iPad and iPhone ? This wouldn’t seem
fair, since Microsoft wasn’t even allowed to bundle Win7 with IE in
the EU because this gave them an unfair advantage over Firefox and
Safari.
Stu Fallon, on January 30th, 2010 at 9:32 am
To all the doomsayers: the iPad is not going to replace traditional computers. It will be a huge hit, but it won’t get rid of laptops and desktops (although the weaker players might not survive).
Also, Stu has a good point. I think with the iPad Apple will be forced to drop the stupid “duplicates existing functionality” excuse for not accepting some apps in the app store. I think we’ll yet see Firefox and Opera for the iPad (hopefully with Flash).
Don Pope, on January 30th, 2010 at 9:52 am
The iPad is something I’ll keep by my couch to read or find out ‘what year that movie came out’.
I don’t want my laptop by the couch. It’s for real work.
But it will never replace my actual computers.
JAYnLA, on January 30th, 2010 at 10:56 am
With the iPad, iWork apps on it, and the attached keyboard, I could have used this as my main computer in college (social sciences major). This will be a hit in the education market. It would replace a computer for many people, but it will for some.
Dustin, on January 30th, 2010 at 11:32 am
Edit: It would NOT replace a computer for many people, but it will for some.
Dustin, on January 30th, 2010 at 11:34 am
For those users (a small minority) who need to fiddle: Jailbreak or become an apps developer.
If Apple opened up iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and officially sanctioned fiddling, they would be on the hook to support user customizations and help them untwist their pretzels. This, is an increase in support costs, which would translate to higher prices.
Keep it closed, keep it cheap, keep it reliably usable for the majority.
Windows is nice and openly hackable. Even though it blankets the earth, look at how expensive it is.
Adam Tauen, on January 30th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
I agree with Hewitt. This is the future.
The fact that these new OSs are ’sandboxed’, and therefore ’safer’ will definitely change the game in many aspects.
The world we live in is filled with Joe-consumers that will much rather enjoy a portable and affordable device that won’t require much maintenance than an eventual RESTORE TO FACTORY SETTINGS and a RESTORE FROM BACKUP. The same way we do with our iPhones from time to time after becoming buggy from installing and deleting thousands of crappy-apps. 99% of consumers are not represented by CultOfMac readers, and are not worried about Flash, multitasking or editing video on an iPad…
Businesses will soon switch their executives to iPads and iPad-like future devices. The reality is that most execs that need a portable device and currently travel around with a notebook will do just fine (or even better) with a lighter device that will let them Email, browse, give a presentation, use a spreadsheet and do some basic cloud-computing. Very few people need a system like a fully capable computer where you can actually program and create apps. What’s the point on having a computer with a humble 1.6GHz processor running an OS capable of running multiple complex calculations? You need horsepower on a Ferrari because you can use them, not on a Prius.
Plus, their IT needs will dramatically decrease. Let’s face it, the main reason for the existence of IT departments with an incredible amount of individuals is because most companies run Windows, and we all know our good old friend has the amazing ability to self destroy in time… Windows is as solid and strong as Jenga tower! It’s nice and solid when you just built the tower, but the more you use it and the more blocks you move, the more unstable it becomes. Until you finally realize you have to start from scratch and reinstall the whole OS.
The iPad has just open a new market, and a new way we see portable computers. These are Prius, meant to be Prius. A Prius will take you were you need to go. It is not a Ferrari or a Masserati, but it just does its job in a very efficient way.
Kudos to sandboxed OSs. 99% of Joe-consumers will love not having to deal with antiviruses, registry issues, slow booting PCs and stupid *.dll files that could not be found!
Wether geeks like it or not, welcome to a new era!
Me, on January 30th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
@ Stu Fallon
You said, “I’ve been wondering ever since the iPhone app store went live how
it is that Apple doens’t get in trouble in the EU with the European
commission ? It feels like there are some ainti-trust issues going on here.
Could Apple for instance stop Microsoft from releasing
a version of IE with flash for the iPad and iPhone ? This wouldn’t seem
fair, since Microsoft wasn’t even allowed to bundle Win7 with IE in
the EU because this gave them an unfair advantage over Firefox and
Safari.”
I don’t think anti-trust issues apply here. Windows is the defacto OS for people buying a computer. The average person doesn’t even *know* about Linux, and Macs make up only a fraction of the market. Effectively giving Windows monopoly position. That’s where the anti-trust comes in.
Besides who the heck would want to intentionally go out and get IE for any reason? Firefox or Opera maybe… but IE? Yuck.
Conrad, on January 30th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
sandbox might be too limiting for geeks…. but it sure as hell helps the rest of the non-techie world catch up to technology. it’s an equalizer. egalitarian. easy to learn, easy to catch on, more intuitive. “for the rest of us”
then again, most geeks here are not egalitarian, just self-centered when it comes to technological empowerment
Bubbahotep, on January 30th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Why isn’t the death of the open, complicated personal computer for consumers considered a pro? I can see myself someday only using Mac OSX machines for professional applications, and consume media and websites like this on the iPad.
francis, on January 30th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
To the teenagers and younger crowd that are still heavily gaming and tinkering to get every drop of performance out of their PC, they like Windows. Once you have had 15 or 20 years of dealing with it, it’s a nice change of pace to never have to reinstall your OS just because ever pc of software writes code to your file registering and drops a nice turd you now have to go clean up. Makeing the full switch in late 2006 I was convinced I would end up needing a Windows PC in the house for something. Well it made a nice place to stack some papers on top of, and helped keep the computer warm when I would turn it on. Basically never used it, as i had found my gaming days begin to fade the PC really served no purpose for me. The lifestyle i now lead is more focused on family and friends, vacation and work. Photo’s and Video are so much easier for me to manage and share with a Mac.
It just works, that is why the average “non tech” consumer enjoys the Mac line of computers and will enjoy the iPad to consume the media they create on their Macs.
The 3 or 5% of the nerds that are disappointed it’s not some supercomputer that will replace their desktop or laptops won’t effect how Apple goes to market, won’t effect the sales success and can’t stop the evolution of this kind of tablet computing.
GS, on January 30th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Windows was made famous and “successful” because it begat the computer geeks and the I.T. departments that were able to hold a tremendous amount of control over the “dumb” average user. Mainly because no one really understood how or why they work the way they do.
To an extent, Macs were a bit less complex; but only enough to be rejected by the general geek and I.T. population. A rejection that would keep it a bit player in computer share for some time.
The iPod, iPhone and now the iPad will prove that a “closed” system will ultimately eliminate the need for the geeky tech support gurus that so many computer users had come to depend on. That’s not a bad thing.
However, anyone who has read a gadget blog or any of the countless tech news site reports (and their endless ridiculous comments) that have surfaced since the introduction of the iPad, will quickly realize that all the geeks know this is exactly what is happening.
I for one, have never seen such a collective amount of negative press aimed at a single new product. And these people going on record are not just your run of the mill geeks either. These are intelligent, and many highly respected individuals. For God’s sake, nearly every company in the tech industry is also lining up to take shots at this new product.
There was quite a bit of bad press aimed at the iPod and at the iPhone as well, but nothing like this. I’m led to believe that these tech pundit’s that have crafted the notion that a “closed system” is a bad thing realize that the iPad is just the beginning of how general computing will look from here on out.
Gil, on January 30th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
the “server” can be a wonderful nice mac at home.
the “pad” can be a open window on your great and open software you put on the computer at your home
some can even be IN the pad.
-
no one will stop me to make open software, open source code, to compile it, to share the source, and use it on a PAD !
no one. because I can already do it on iphone
-
the general computer is great to allow professional, enthusiast, hobbyist, ME, to put our own made tools or custom tools in our house, ready to be use on whatever pad.
Linux will be wonderful for that. (and still linux can be used to create new pad, wait for android or chrome)
The general computer will be still here to swallow peta and yota-octets of content for you and your family
but a device as an ipad is a better way to interface with that.
-
we need to simplify, to remove, to stop the “p.c.” madness. The chaotic mess of the PC is not the better tool to use. We can do better.
The way apple is solving problem in the iphone and ipad (sandboxing application, removing windows management, files management and stuff) is all about bringing a TOOL easy to use. Not to be harassed by virus, dialog box and technicals words.
It will not destroy general computing. It will, in the contrary, enlighten it, emphasize its usefulness, allow people to use it and I hope reconcile people with computer. Computer science can be a nice thing, who bring great tool to create arts and help people
It was that very goal of the Mac in 84 !
oomu, on January 30th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
“Geeks could choose to run their hardware on an open-source system, while technophobes could continue to use the device on a closed, safe system without the worries of knowing anything which is too technical.
Unfortunately, that’s unlikely to happen as there is no way that Apple will open the system up, in my opinion.
”
that wonderful idea is already possible : the MAC !
with the opensource-based unix Mac os X !
or just put on it a marvelous Ubuntu Linux with the result of decade of passion, love and work of thousand of great hackers.
it’s HERE
-
and the better news ? we can TAP in that power from a console, a graphical windowed interface or an efficient and direct tactile interface.
-
the iphone, the ipad, the iwhatever, are not the only-one-computing, it’s an interface and tools.
you will add software in your ipad
but it will be also a window to the web, to internet, to yours computers, to whatever you want. No one can’t deny you that. It’s an open world. And all of that, if you want.
-
Let people be free of the Big Computer and its crazy complex interface. You won’t loose your computer. It will reconcile people with computing. We will all win.
oomu, on January 30th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
“I’ve been wondering ever since the iPhone app store went live how
it is that Apple doens’t get in trouble in the EU with the European
commission ? It feels like there are some ainti-trust issues going on here.”
apple was never in a situation to use a monopoly to harm the market.
why ? because Apple has NO total control of one market.
you dislike the apple app store ? fine, you can buy an android ! a nokia, a palm, heck even a windows based one ! other shops, other choice, free market !
-
you can buy a music device NOT made by apple. and be happy with it. there are many, mp3 works on all, you can plug them in anything you want .
-
but in 90s, you mostly couldn’t buy a system not windows. and Microsoft used that to destroy companies remotely dangerous for its business, illegally. Using its control to force partners to lock the market, threatening to block them access to windows. without windows, no business…
Ask to Netscape, Stacker, Sun and others if it was legal.
it’s very specific. IBM was the same. Before them, was At&t.
-
success is not a crime , in europa or usa. But to use total success to lock the market and prevent new players in secret ways and harassment is BAD.
it’s not Apple here and now.
it _was_ microsoft (it’s no more).
it may be intel
oomu, on January 30th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
“If Apple opened up iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and officially sanctioned fiddling, they would be on the hook to support user customizations and help them untwist their pretzels. This, is an increase in support costs, which would translate to higher prices.
”
just pay the Iphone Developer contract (99$ , no more ask) , obtain the certificate and you can program whatever you want and add to yours devices. It sucks it’s 99$ just to have certificate for its own device, but you can.
Jailbreak them and do with them anything you want.
oomu, on January 30th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
I am the geek in I.T department who should be angry against apple because it didn”t bring me a magical computer with complexity.
no. I see here opportunity to bring great computing tool to people constantly annoyed by PC Windows and even useless stuff of the Mac.
And when people are at last happy with computing, it will bring a lot of work to do : better application to do, better network to do, better content to bring, better computers to create and new innovating stuff to help them.
I know people will ask me MORE works because they will be happier to use it.
oomu, on January 30th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
Everyone do the iPad dance!!! Do it and let me
know what it says.
Noob, on January 30th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
@Bubbahotep You say that “most geeks here are not egalitarian, just self-centered when it comes to technological empowerment” and as a geek of 28 years and a developer for over ten, I resent that statement. I like the iPad, I love the concept. I think that I am seeing the future of computing for 95%. I am even considering as an experiment, ditching my MacBook and using the iPad as my home computer (and possibly for some outside work as well) for a period of time. The fact that the iPad is a closed system thrills me. I switched to Mac because I really don’t have the time to mess with crashes and system glitches. I need to code. I think that the iPad really brings a much safer environment to the folks that still pass around email hoaxes and install free screensavers on their windows machines. It will also add extra ways for us as techies to help bring technology into places it has never been before. I personally am thinking about switching my main home mac for an iPad. Read more on my thoughts here: http://www.weatheredwatcher.com/blog/articles/thoughts-on-the-new-ipad/
David Duggins, on January 30th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
@Stu etc.
the iphone is about to close year 3, don’t ya think if the EU was going to zing them it would have happened by now.
Charli, on January 30th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
I will keep my Macbook for doing my major things on and use the iPad for relaxing on the couch with or in bed, two things that seem pointless on the iPad for me, is 3G on the iPad as I will only use the built in wifi and the other is the iPad dock with keyboard if I have to use that I might as well use my Macbook.
Apple has been clever releasing the iPad at this time,the ereaders available now seem like one trick pony’s, how long before we see other tablet computers?
poppa, on January 31st, 2010 at 3:56 am
Fuck windows. I love sandboxed close ended OSes, saves you the time to actually do what you bought the machine for. To work. Fuck registries and open source douchebaggery.
Subhash, on January 31st, 2010 at 10:32 am
The iPad will not replace PC’s. As technology develops, the PC’s and iPad will continue to evolve. More powerful PC’s will be more like desktops–anyone remember Cray Computers?–would take up the space in a large closet but had the computing power as a present desktop. Computers just keep getting more powerful in smaller and smaller packages. Besides if you have been reading around, the iPad is not everyone’s cup of tea. H*ll Apple is not everyone favorite either.
I like the fact that Apple has kept a closed system. When I first started using the Mac–’84-85, it was nice to be able to get what I wanted to do done and not worry on which key in what program I needed to print a document, or to change format, etc. I only had know how to use Word or Excel (both got their start on a mac), and not have to read two manuals on DOS (OSBW–that’s Operating System Before Windows) along with the tech manuals of the computer and program. Keeping the system closed enabled Apple to focus on the future, and not be side tracked by what other developers wanted Apple to do to conform to their needs. Apple sets the parameters to their systems and if developers wanted in they conform to the parameters. Seems to have worked for the iPhone and Macs.
For now I’m happy with my MBP and will probably get an iPad 3G or 4G.
FineTunes, on January 31st, 2010 at 2:17 pm
–
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ALT-PAD is a (unique in the world) BLOG where you can suggest the specs of your IDEAL iPad or TabletPC:
–
http://alt-pad.blogspot.com/
–
–
gaetano marano, on January 31st, 2010 at 4:01 pm
First celebrity to get the iPad….
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/f7a03edbd7/pee-wee-gets-an-ipad
poppa, on January 31st, 2010 at 4:22 pm
I have to say, the responses here are rather sickening.
Do you listen to yourselves? You’re basically saying that the “average” person is too stupid to use a computer, so we have to tell them what they want and shove it down their throats, and use marketing to make them think it was their idea all along.
That is Apple’s entire business model in a nutshell.
Should something work? Yes. It should work the way WE as consumers want it to.
Do you really want to say to the next generation, “hey, you’re too stupid to learn how to use anything, so we’ll just force it on you!”
That’s the message you’re sending, and I for one am insulted.
Jason, on February 2nd, 2010 at 1:38 am
@Jason – You should be insulted by your own ignorance. We are not saying we are incapable of learning to use a computer. We want to “purchase” products that do what we want them to do without have to get a degree in computer science to figure out how to run them. When we are at home we don’t care about what .dll is missing or why we have some jerk planting malware, spyware, trojon horses or virus on our system. We want to do what we want to do. When we are at work if necessary we can learn that crap at work. Apple’s model is not a marketing job for the average stupid person incapable of learning how a computer works. We use computers that just work. You should apply your irrational thoughts to the next car you purchase or plane you take your next trip on. Let your next vehicle all of a sudden have a virus and stop working. All you will have to do is get an education in electrical engineering or computer programing to fix it, if you survive the crash. This time it won’t be a blue screen of death, but possibly a splat, some harps and preparations for your next life where you can focus more on learning how to repair your flawed systems. To each his own.
Bearman, on March 17th, 2010 at 4:22 pm