People are throwing around a lot of strange words when it comes to describing the iPad. Instead of calling the iPad a personal computer, some have relegated it to the status of "appliance." This distinction is an interesting one to explore. What is it about a computer that gives them a special status above that of the mere electrical appliance? Where does the shift occur where we find ourselves working with a device that's far less capable than other similar devices? What makes some people compare the iPad to a T.V. or a microwave?

Even Steve Jobs himself isn't shy about referring to the iPad as a media consumption device. This is exactly what it was designed for. It is meant for informal situations in which one is sitting on the couch or heading off to work and waiting on the bus. Its long battery life makes airplane rides tolerable, and the gaming options mean you'll never get bored while waiting for a meeting. The iPad is primarily a media consumption device, but it is probably one of the best media consumption devices you will ever own.

There seems to be something special about personal computers. They aren't just appliances, and perhaps the reason this is so has to do with all the options we have available in personal computing. We can't yell through my T.V. and tell the guy the on the infomercial that his product is a scam, but we can produce a very popular blog that denounces his business. The latter is only possible with a device like a personal computer. "Appliances" don't do that.

The appliance is a relatively static entity. We provide a simple input, and it gives us an output. We put our clothes in the dryer, and they come out dry. We put frozen chicken in the microwave, and we get defrosted chicken after a few minutes. Personal computers are different. They allow us to create and take control. We can almost completely modify what they do. Try to do that with a microwave oven.

When you look at this way, comparing the iPad to a television set is kind of silly. Granted, the iPad will probably make you less efficient at writing that report for work, but that doesn't mean it only does one thing. Unlike your television set, the iPad allows you to interact with the outside world and create, just as you would on a personal computer. The only difference is the simplified interface and utterly different presentation.

Perhaps, in this day and age, we need to redefine what an appliance is or should be. Almost every electrical gadget we use, including television sets, makes use of some kind of computer. While most of the household things we tend to call "appliances" are typically static in the way microwaves and washer/dryers are, we find ourselves being able to use them in new and different ways every year.

So let's not insult something as multifunctional as the iPad by calling it a mere appliance. It's a new kind of personal computer that's great for some things and not so great for others. Back when the iPhone hit store shelves, people weren't questioning whether it was just another phone. It was apparent that something important had changed. Although the iPad might not be as revolutionary as the iPhone; there is a huge gulf of electronic devices separating it from the microwave in your kitchen. It isn't as useful as a desktop machine, but it's certainly better than your television set.

Article written by an Appiction LLC Staff Writer | Copyright Protection 2009-2010 by Appiction, LLC | Any use of materials on this web site, including reproduction, modification, distribution or republication without the prior written consent of Appiction LLC is strictly prohibited | All rights reserved and fully enforced