More Is Less
Something really good happened today.
And it surprised me considerably because I really didn’t expect to close the evening genuinely glad that I didn’t get all I wanted.
Unless you’ve been under a rock for either the last 24 hours, the last week, the last several months, or (for those who know their technological history) the last ten years, you are fully aware that Apple finally debuted their much-anticipated tablet, called the iPad. A brilliant name, in my opinion…but I’m not interested, at the moment, that is, in discussing marketing and advertising and big $15 words like ‘neuro-associative conditioning’ (read: the better part of our solar system already has a love affair with the iPod, extrapolate, extrapolate, extrapolate).
It’s no secret AT. ALL. that I’m a huge fan of Apple products. And before you devolve my good name into ‘fanboy’ status, let me be clear: I only like the best. The best. And I don’t care who makes the product, if it’s the best, I’m loyal to the end. Likewise, the day that product or service is no longer The Best, I take my loyalty elsewhere.
Period.
Or, in other words, if your Kool-Aid tastes good, I’m drinking.
More, I love technology. I LOVE it. Ever since Star Wars made the jump to light speed into my eleven year old life, I’ve had a love affair with buttons and lights and click-beep-engage. Not gonna lie. The more the better. Less is more? Yeah no. More is more.
Well.
The anticipation for the iPad reached fever pitch in the last several weeks such that the list of Must Haves grew and mutated and expanded into a device on which most people, including me, lost all perspective.
What the iPad does it does well, in my opinion (but for a reason I didn’t expect). And though the line-up of dissenters is longer (today) than those praising the device, and though a majority of them espouses a litany of ways in which it fails (and miserably), by virtue of what it doesn’t ship with (read: a video camera and multitasking, to name a few)…
…it was while watching the presentation that I gradually realized something for which I found myself surprisingly glad:
The iPad doesn’t do everything.
My good friend Jill and I were nearly drunk with excitement and IM’ing back and forth for the duration. As we began noting what wasn’t included in the device in spite of the rumors, I mentioned (in jest) that this was proof that “Steve loves us and wants us to relax.” Jill fired back with, “I don’t want to relax. I want to write an email, drink my coffee, send a text, and drive all while putting on mascara.” I nearly fell off my chair laughing. (*fist bump to Jill)
I read several pundits all over the world sounding off about the dawning of this new era (and trust me, it is) (and trust me, I’d know)…and I was pretty impressed with the near virulent disdain of the iPad’s design, function, capability, etc., etc.
It was the vitriol over multitasking (or absence thereof) that arrested my attention most. And the more I thought about what ‘we didn’t get,’ the more I found myself…well…breathing a sigh of relief.
As excited as I’ve been about the coming of this new technology, I have to admit that I was a bit less than enthusiastic about yet another screen jockeying for my attention (and likely winning it). “My marriage lol is NOT going to survive this!” I joked with my friend Jill. To say nothing for the likelihood of more monthly costs, yada yada yada.
But, at the end of the day, I can’t help but admit that I’m landing on the grateful side that this device doesn’t do everything and then some. The more I write, the more I like writing. The more I write, the more I seek quiet and simplicity. And for as impressive as multitasking might be, I don’t think any one of us (adults) is going to get very far trying to convince the rest of us that spinning all these plates has made us better, more peaceful, or more centered people.
So.
The iPad is a game-changer. Like the iPod was, as an mp3 player. If you don’t believe me, stop reading and go count all your CD’s, your cassettes, and your albums (kids, ask your parents). There is no shortage of vantage points and pontifications about the print industry and it breathing its last, so I’m not going to regurgitate any of that here. It’s out there if you want to search for it and read for yourself.
Email, browsing, photography, books, music, video. You know the drill.
For my part…do I want one? I do.
But I want one because I’ve gotten tired of multitasking being the New Normal. I want one because I like the idea of actually divesting myself of the constancy of All Things All The Time.
As I write more often, photograph more often, and communicate more…specifically, I see the iPad as a device affording me the reductionism to do just that.
Just that.
And I like that.
Aaaaaahhhhh whatever, it’s an overgrown $500 iPhone. It doesn’t multi-task, have a camera or an optical drive, and it’s not recognizable on a network…and I want one too!
Shhh, there there. I’m sure your dad already lives in mortal fear of this new technology. Meaning there’s one more for you :)
You guys are both butt cracks!, Dont drag me into your cult. My abacus and 10 key adder are just fine, thank you. And I happen to know that you DO “want to write an email, drink my coffee, send a text, and drive all while putting on mascara” TC… while in your stiletto pumps! Sally!
I thought we agreed to leave the stilletos out of this…
Then only question is Wifi or Wifi + 3G. I’m thinking just Wifi. Bigger hard drive before 3G. Hm…decisions decisions…
Funny, Mike…I’ve been orbiting around the same thing. I like the idea of life being one in which, with every lap around the track, I set down more and pick up less. And the VoIP looks promising.