So like most of the tech world, the last week of January, I was glued to the net searching for iPad information.  Rumors had leaked and the World was expecting what many were calling the iSlate.  Early the morning of the Keynote  I saw a blurry photo of what looked like a huge iPhone.  I was hoping that it was much, much more than that.  After the Keynote was over, I was left pondering if it was at all, anything more than a large iPhone, without the ability to be a cell phone! I have had much fun bashing it on Twitter and Facebook!  I despise the name! the iPad sounds so much like a new Johnson and Johnson feminine napkin! And I bet next year, they reveal one with a bigger screen and call it the iPad Maxi! But then, you get to looking at what it's capable of doing and suddenly you can't help but notice what it's not capable of doing! For years, Apple has knocked the "Netbook" category of PC computing.  their argument has been that the netbook is not a good computing experience.  And who can argue that smaller screens and cramped keyboards are not exactly positive things about netbooks? But when you take your typical $350 Netbook and compare it to the iPad, you realize just how much MORE capable a netbook is right out of the box. Web, email, Instant Messaging, Skype, and you can do them all at the same time, because Netbooks can multitask! Yes, give Apple credit for a beautiful screen and multi-touch ability, to easily move from landscape to portrait, and back to landscape.  But no multitasking for the iPad. No camera! I feel that Apple has totally missed the mark with this product! It could be so much more!  But that is me . . .  And not my wife!

Two days ago, she forwarded a flyer to me that Apple had mailed to her, telling me she was saving her money now for the new iPad. She just loved it!  She mentioned the eBook reader as the largest selling point to her. And she just loves the App store on her iPhone. And then I remembered her iPhone. I bought her the iPhone after she had owned a long string of my smart phone hand me downs. Before her iPhone, she spent time with two Palm Treos and the HTC TyTN II.She complained about them being too complicated. She liked having her email on her phone, but found most other applications not worth the effort.  But she took right to her iPhone. And I have seen  her do things on it that have really impressed me. While we were driving across the Country, she looked up hotels, close to where we were going, checked the ratings, and booked one, all on her iPhone! If I haven't made this clear, let me just say, "Geek" is never a word I would use to describe my wife. Before her iPhone, she loved her 4 gig iPod. Apple has done a great job of making my wife a fan.  When I pointed out, that the original iPhone couldn't do video, 3g data, or GPS like my Windows phones could, she didn't care. Because her iPhone did other cool stuff, and did it with flair. And I think that is what I, and many others might be overlooking in this new device. The appeal of the iPad to the the non-geek.

So my wife really doesn't care that it can't Skype. She doesn't care that it doesn't have a camera, and that it can't check her mail while she is listening to Matchbox 20.  That it has no IM abilities out of the box.  She only see's it as big version of a device that she already loves! She even noticed that the AT&T data plan seems reasonable. I am sure that she sees herself reading her favorite books, and surfing the web, and playing her word games. All things that she does "One App at a time".  What I didn't like about the iPad are exactly the things that she loves. Because of this, I am betting the iPad is going to be a successful product for Apple; in spite of what I think  of it! And I am betting there are a whole lot more non-geeks who are thinking like my wife. And lets face it.  There are still more non-geeks than geeks in the world we live in.

 I beat the snow off my truck this morning, Decided to take a drive out and admire the wonder of snow! Happened to have my Flip recorder with me. Thought I would share for all those missing snow??

OK, let's quickly review: You basically have three main categories for Computers. 

• The Desktop- Solid performer, not very portable
• The Laptop or Notebook- Portable and Powerful
  
• The Netbook-small, lightweight, inexpensive, not very powerful, ultra-portable.
  

But for 2010, I am pretty sure we will be hearing buzz around a new Category many are starting to call the "Smartbook".  What makes a smartbook so smart?

• Instant-on access — no boot up time or waiting for email to download
• 3G connectivity — get mobile broadband speeds with your wireless network carrier
• Ultra-portable design — less than 20mm thick and less than two lbs.
• All-day battery life — 8 to 10 hour charge, plus week-long standby
• Built-in GPS — location-aware, to get you there faster and easier
• Customizable interface — intuitive, one-touch navigation to your favorite applications
• A Price Point below $200- Expect Google's Android mobile operating system to appear at least on the first of these devices.

Take a SmartPhone and a Netbook, and morph them into one device and you have what the industry is calling, the SmartBook. This device is more than capable of web surfing, email, Social Media, and light duty wordproccessing and spreadsheets. Connected to the World through your carrier's dataPlan, as long as you have service, you are connected to the World!

Below is a video from Qualcomm (the chip maker driving the concept of the SmartBook) touting some of what you can do with one of these devices.

Google is calling a press conference January 5th to reveal what most are calling the "GooglePhone".  This phone has been spoted on the net and confirmed by a few Google Employees, who were given the phone a few weeks ago in what Google called a Mobile Lab.  The questions most of us have is what will this phone offer that current Android based phones won't offer? Below is the Purchase pricing that has recently leaked onto the web. Click to enlarge.

According to the pages, the phone will be available in two ways: as a $529.99 unsubsidized and unlocked device, and as a $179.99 T-Mobile device locked to a two year contract. Sound familiar? It should, because it's exactly the same story as every other phone available on the market right now. Additionally, the pics seem to suggest that there will only be one plan available should you get the device on contract -- 500 minutes of talk time, unlimited text, data, and mobile to mobile for $79.99 -- which happens to exactly equal what you'd pay for a T-Mobile Even More 500 plan with unlimited smartphone data and unlimited messaging, so that means there's no bogus premium here. And then there is the personalization option. You'll be able to get the phone engraved on a metallic bar on the back of the device. 

So does this mean, that you can purchase this phone unlocked from T-mobile and slam your AT&T sim card in it? Yes, however, it looks as though this phone only supports EDGE data streams and not AT&T's faster 3G data. What I do believe, is that this cell phone is the first of many "Google Phones" to come that will challenge carrier model. I am guessing that you will be able to purchase this phone unlocked from several different places, like Best Buy, Amazon, etc.  But there are many questions that remain. I know I for one, will be tuning in come January 5th to learn just what Google has planned for this new direction!

 So for a week now, I have been hearing this buzz about a real "Google Phone". The first time I heard of a Google phone, it turned out to be an "Alliance" with manufacturers to put Google's Android Mobile Operating System on smart phones. Take Microsoft's business model for selling Operating Systems and apply it to Hand Sets! 

But the net has been abuzz about a new "Google Phone".  Real facts are hard to come by at this point, but here is what seems to be the truth. The Google phone has a name. It's called the Nexus One. It is a device built for Google by HTC. According to Google's blog, this handset has been given to employees to play with in what Google calls a "Mobile Lab". It is running the latest Android build, (2.1) and from the pictures showing up on the net, is certainly a very attractive device. 

But what does this phone offer that other Android handsets already on the market don't offer? The best I can tell, nothing in the software or the hardware department.

But what if Google used this phone against a new Business model? What if Google sold this phone to the public unlocked? To date, this has not been successful. Nokia has tried it here in the states, and how many Nokia smart phones do you own?? Google has made their Billions selling advertising . .  So will Google compensate the manufacturing costs with advertising built into the experience? I doubt it.  

Now, at this point, everybody is guessing and that includes me!  But here is where I would love to see Google take the Google Phone:

Sell this device unlocked for a pricepoint less than $300. I have read many times that Apple spends less than $90.00 in parts for each iPhone sold. I am guessing that this phone is similar. Google, you have the clout to change how smart phones are sold in the World. You can challenge the carrier subsidized model.  If you do, the public will flock to your Google Phone.  Your mobile market share will quickly grow, and with market share, comes content that you control. And businesses will know that it is with you that they need to spend their advertising dollars!

I am not sure this will happen either. Google has worked with Motorola, Samsung, HTC, and others to build the current line up of Android devices. I doubt that the above business model will make those manufacturers happy . . . .  But everyone seems to believe that Google will be rolling out this device as soon as January, 2010. Until then, my fingers are crossed that Google sells this phone unlocked!  If they do, I will be one of the 1st to order this device!