An interesting comparison of the role of the iPad (and tablets in general) in the computer devices industry with the emergence of the fork in the historical development of cutlery or “flatware”.
A spoon, a fork and a knife are three different categories of cutlery. A smartphone, a tablet and a notebook are three different categories of computer.
A fork is its own category because it is far better at doing some key tasks. Better than a spoon. Better than a knife.
A tablet is its own category because it is far better at doing some key tasks. Better than a smartphone. Better than a notebook.
The author argues the requirement for each utensil (or device category) to do something very well:
Each utensil should be employed to do what it does best.
A fork does not aspire to be a knife. A knife does not aspire to be a fork. And most especially, a fork and a knife do not aspire to be one and the same thing.
Each device should be employed to do what it does best.
A tablet should not aspire to be a notebook. A notebook should not aspire to be a tablet. And most especially, a tablet and a notebook should not aspire to be one and the same thing.
The author concludes by pondering if Windows 8-equipped tablet/notebook hybrids are destined to become the sporks of computer devices:
They compromise on everything and excel at nothing. They provide far more features but far fewer benefits. They do many things but they don’t do any things better or even as well.
In other words: “jacks of all trades, masters of none”.