It’s 4.00am – Thursday 3rd March and I am awake and smile as I read my incoming ‘tweets’ from those fortunate to be live in San Francisco as Steve launches the new iPad 2…Later that morning I also watch the keynote event replay on my TV. (iTV)
If you’ve never seen Steve Jobs present then treat yourself because no one comes close to his perfect timing and flawless delivery – it’s very inspiring even if you’re not an Apple fan. View here.
So here we are now a few days later and the verdict is in – Steve and the boys at Apple have raised the bar again – just as they have done every year – for the past 10 years. Yes – every year for the past 10 years!
I’ve been reflecting on the significance of that statement. In just 10 years Apple have completely disrupted and revolutionised – two giant industry sectors and now they’re well into the third!
2001 – iPod and iTunes – MUSIC
2007 – iPhone and Apps Store – TELECOMMUNICATIONS
2010 – iPad and Apps – INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Some of you will question my take on the iPad disrupting the hallowed turf of the traditional IT dept, but the shift from Hi Tech to Hi Touch has already began and according to Apple we’re now entering – the ‘Post PC era!
So what exactly is the “post-PC” world? And why is it significant?
Talking to journalists last year, Steve Jobs provided a hint: “I’m trying to think of a good analogy. When we were an agrarian nation, all cars were trucks. But as people moved more towards urban centers, people started to get into cars. I think PCs are going to be like trucks. Less people will need them!
According to Joshua Topolsky – Engadget!: Apple no longer believes it needs to compete on specs and features. “There is no Mac vs. PC here” — only “the future” versus “the past.” It won’t be a debate about displays, memory, wireless options — it will be a debate about the quality of the user experience. In a post-PC world, the experience of the product is central and significant above all else. It’s not the RAM or CPU speed, screen resolution or number of ports which dictate whether a product is valuable; the focus now is more about the experience and creative freedom for the user,
Why? – because the Apple brand with its magical user experience is a clear leader achieving the ultimate Lovemark status – by capturing users hearts not just their minds!. With some 200 Million User Accounts – they are lightyears ahead of any IT competition!
Joshua again….Apple isn’t just challenging perceptions of the PC — they’re now saying that the age of the PC is over (at least for many people). They’re challenging consumers to ask if they even still want or need something called a PC (while of course making sure to point out that the competition is playing the same old game). And really, that’s all part of the plan. Apple is in the process of making the iPad the de-facto standard for what the next stage of computing looks like, both within the home AND within the workplace. From the look and feel to the kind of software and experiences you have on the device. Apple doesn’t just want to own the market — it wants to own the idea of the market. We’ve seen this all happen before, and we know how it ends.
So what brand MP3 player do you own?
In Australia this IT revolution is already underway. Informed IT managers within the Corporation, Government and SME’s are now redefining the notion that an employee gets the standard issue of desktop PC / Laptop and a Blackberry!
Informed IT professionals are beginning to Think Different and are fast realising that a great way to – improve staff morale, productivity and overall employee happiness has more to do with providing an IT lifestyle choice that integrates and delivers both the work/ life connected experience.
Thanks to genius consultants (like Rype) Informed IT professionals are now working collaboratively – to scope and deploy new enterprise level solutions that securely manage the workplace mobility environment as well as providing employees with exciting new IT lifestyle choices.
So within the savvy enterprises it’ll mean: Goodbye PC and Hello iPad 2
2011 – won’t just be the year of the iPad 2, rather it may well be remembered as the year of – an IT Renaissance!
Cheers
Ozechad
'ozechad' 
You have nailed it again Tony. When you look at the timeline of continuous improvement, it is no surprise Apple are always ahead of the curve. You often hear people in the LEAN movement quoting Toyota as the masters of process improvement, but perhaps we should be using Apple as the real case study? The only question now is “what’s next?” Maybe it will be Cloud vs. the whole darn weather system! But that’s just another competition Apple doesn’t need to compete in, not anymore. They’ve already won the race before it even starts – past, present and future! It’s the rest of mob that need to catch up. It is true surpetition in motion. Thanks for the insight.