Apple's New iLust

One of the more aggravating things about Microsoft Windows, and there are many to choose from, is the mystery of when the computer is ready to use. After turning on the system (or rebooting, which must be done frequently), the Windows software loads with a pleasant chime and the desktop is presented. Then icons begin to accumulate in the "systems tray" on the lower right, and some of these mini-applications start doing things. Usually the quixotic pointer/hourglass icon appears, which is the systems way of saying "I'm half listening to you." Clicking on anything during these unsettling moments may yield nothing, or applications may spring into existence five minutes later.

I'm sure they'll fix all of that with Vista (cough).

Apple Computer, meanwhile, has made stupendous amounts of money by thinking carefully about the "user experience" - which sounds like a vapid MBA expression, but it only refers to the details of the interaction which takes place between people and technology. How many clicks to get to email? Are there ten choices for turning off the computer - including Sleep, Hibernate, Doze, and Catnap? Must the removal of software sometimes involve such arcane tasks as deleting thing from the "registry"?

Devices like the new iPhone, if they work half as well as advertised, have the capacity to transform the way we communicate and interact with information. Most of these features have been seen before, but seldom have they been integrated so thoughtfully. This is a device which knows when you are looking at it sideways and adjusts the screen accordingly, and it knows when you are holding it up to your ear. The screen looks crisp and bright, and the touchscreen interface seems to eliminate the foolishness that most other cell phones require when it comes to interacting with personal data.

Certainly the iPhone also has the capacity to transform your wallet, for the initial cash outlay in the $400 to $600 range comes along with a contract with Cingular Wireless, which (at $60 per month) is another ~$1500, minimum. Apple is in more difficult territory here - it's one thing to control the hardware and software, but in today's world the network is just as critical. Let's hope that one clear side-effect of this ultra-hyped "revolution" is that many of the related industries will strive to meet a new, tougher standard.

Update: Wham! Apple gets slapped with a lawsuit from Cisco.

Tags: Apple, iPhone
Vista