Comments on: TWIS#11 – This Week in SaaS number eleven- how will iPad effect SaaS

By: Justin Pirie

Justin Pirie — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:09:55 +0000

Fundamentally I agree Mike- but what it represents is a major step forward for situational devices, just as the iPhone was for phones. Yes it lacks "critical" features, but yet I still love my iPhone and it does a better job for me than any phone EVER!

I think we need to forget about it's shortcomings and focus on the value it'll be able to deliver to mobile workers and as a situational device. I certainly want one, if only to read blogs!

JP

By: michaeldunham

michaeldunham — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:03:50 +0000

I agree the “vision” of the iPad is in the right direction for device usability – but… This is first generation and we are missing a few things. First, it doesn't multitask – at all. Y0u can't receive email and takes notes during a meeting at the same time. Yes, there is push notification, but that isn't going to solve the basic problem that for most “knowledge workers” this is the equivalent of being disconnected – one app, one SaaS, one thing at a time.

Second – as good as I expect the device “user experience” to be – I really don't believe most SaaS vendors have themselves reached an understanding of what an excellent online user experience means and what this type of device itself will enable. As we all know, this is just the tip of the iceburg – Goggle's aim is to enable their Chrome OS in tablets. In a lot of ways, Chrome OS is better suited to the types of tasks this environment will find a home in. I don't expect Apple to sit on its hands in this regard, but right now, the iPhone platform has some limitations that make it somewhat limited as a target device for SaaS. Limitations aren't bad though, as we all know, limitations spawn innovations quite well.

By: Justin Pirie

Justin Pirie — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:05:13 +0000

Ron- great post!

I wasn't aware of the Android tablet- thanks for giving me the heads up on that one...

Talked about here: http://bit.ly/cINbU9

Killed off??? :http://bit.ly/a9ZNki

As I've said before, open beats closed every time and I can't wait for Google to bring out a tablet, especially if there as obsessed with the detail like they were on the nexus one. This brings the best of both worlds- attention to detail in the device and an open platform for innovation.

It Makes No Business Sense Unless You Are Google: Oh wait! Google simply makes more money when more people go online, thanks to adsense. Whoa, what a coincidence! The only thing a web tablet would do is get people online.

http://bit.ly/bKJrrS

Thoughts?

By: Ron Arden

Ron Arden — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:47:56 +0000

Justin,

I think you are spot on about the iPad affecting SaaS. I wrote a post about that this week http://bit.ly/doEd7x . I see the iPad and the upcoming Google Chrome OS tablet (rumored) as changing things dramatically. These device have less disk space than even a netbook and will take advantage of the cloud for applications and storage. This also helps us with all the devices we have everywhere. Why sync things, when you can just point to the cloud. This way you can use the device you need, when you need it. I forsee a lot of cool applications being served up through SaaS for these new tablets.