The iPad “Lock-Down” is Bad for Consumers

The Apple “lock-down” on the iPad is bad for consumers. The closed App Store that Apple rules with an iron fist is not the future model of computing that I would like to see.

I’ve been reading a lot about the iPad, primarily because that’s all there is to read in the tech world at the moment. In particular, I just read Jesus Diaz of Gizmodo’s post on MSNBC entitled, “ Apple’s iPad is the future. This is why.” It’s a worthy read but the headline suggests that the iPad will conquer the competitors. I hope not. This is why.

Apple products are undoubtedly inventions. When I think of revolutionary inventions, the automobile comes to mind and some analogies are apropos. Think back to the days of Henry Ford. In 1909 he remarked about Ford’s latest invention, the Model T, “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.” This is exactly what Apple is telling us by bolting the iPad to the App Store. Apple also goes one step further and prohibits you from repainting your car. You can only run Apple approved apps, pay commissions to Apple for their app blessings and customize the system within the framework Apple allows. The childhood game of “Mother May I” comes to mind. HackerNews ran a headline that read, “The iPad is a LEGO set that can only be assembled into what’s drawn on the box.”

Would you purchase a computer that could only run software that the hardware manufacturer approves? This is where I believe Apple is heading. The distinction between a tablet and a computer will be blurred as we add peripheral keyboards to tablets. Will the next MacBook support the installation of software?

Android tablets have more appeal to me because they will not be locked-down. You want a red car? You can have a red car. You can customize your system to your heart’s content but there’s a catch. Apple has been on a patent frenzy lately and Apple v. HTC shows that it may attempt to enforce some of them. Will Android tablets have pinch-zoom in the aftermath of Apple v. HTC? Imagine if Henry Ford patented the car stereo. If you wanted one, you’d be forced to drive a black Model T. Toss in patents on floormats, leather seats and virtually anything else slightly innovative. This is Apple’s playbook. They want to control your experience. Some people are willing to make accept the bargain, pay the so-called Apple “tax” mark-up prices and let Apple control their computing experience.

The patent system has its merits and without it companies wouldn’t innovate, so the argument goes. Perhaps the life of patents should be shortened, especially in light of the speed with which technology advances and the profits that companies can reap in such a short period of time. Recovering R&D expense happens over a shorter horizon than it did in the past. Instead, we have a patent system that helped propel a company that was once on the verge of extinction to the third largest U.S. company by market capitalization. Back to the point…

Is the “Apple-makes-decisions-for-you iPad” a product you really want? I’ll go with an Android tablet or just stick to my netbook that runs two linux variants and Windows 7.

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