IPad ushers in curated computing, what's next? | Hacker News Reader

IPad ushers in curated computing, what's next?

arstechnica.com

31 pointsangstrom16 comments

Actually, the concept isn't really new, people are just slapping a new name on it. Look at video game consoles: that's also "curated computing". That's one of the nicer examples of "more relevance through less choice".

The real question is just how far you can take it in one direction. I don't think that general-purpose computers can be taken too far in that direction, but that's just my personal opinion.

"Curated" computing is not going to result in the disappearance of the non-curated kind. As you point out, it's been going on for awhile. So long as GP Computing has a market, it will exist.

"Less Choice" is Apple's model, but it's not the only one. After playing around with the Nexus One from Google I/O, I'm convinced that a fully-functional platform is just as good as the locked-down Apple one.

I'd probably recommend Apple's mobile and tablet platform to less tech-savvy people because it's definitely a more streamlined experience for people who only do the things that it can do.

I'm torn right now because I really want an Android-capable, Google-branded tablet. It's not necessarily the curated computing experience, it's the form factor that's less frustrating than surfing on a phone keyboard, but more convenient than lugging my 15" laptop around.

While arguably jump starting the market for tablets, I don't really believe the iPad defines what tablets will or will not do in the immediate future. I suspect we'll see far more flexibility in future devices, especially from Apple's competitors, who can use a more open approach as a selling point against the iPad.

A really good curated model has a definite market. It's also a large and lucrative market, since it represents the mainstream. Lastly, it's been an underserved market. (Come to think of it, isn't Facebook also "curated" networking?)

I totally agree, but as mmastrac points out, the form factor is very compelling. I can't imagine someone won't figure out a happy medium between "passive" users and more active ones.

Why not just different Configs to suit different users?

I wonder if some early aviators were outraged when commercial pilots first started piloting people around in closed bodies:

"Why do you need a pilot when you can fly these babies yourself?",

"The wind in your face is half the joy!",

"Flying is supposed to be dangerous!".

It's easy to cry "dinosaur" when you're using a flawed analogy. Your flying analogy is about the evolution of a technology whose purpose has been narrow right from the start: get people and/or things from A to B real fast. Computing has very quickly evolved from a narrow purpose of "executing computations" to something extremely versatile. In that context, iPad is not really the evolution of computing, it's a specialization of one part of it.

> "Computing has very quickly evolved from a narrow purpose of "executing computations" to something extremely versatile." [emphasis mine]

Has it? I mean, from the user perspective.

Whereas PCs are extremely versatile, curated walled gardens like Facebook and the iPad argue very loudly that versatility itself is not something users care about. Certainly not at the high costs to usability and stability that have traditionally gone hand-in-hand with it.

It may very well be that only those on the bleeding edge are willing to pay those costs.

In that context, iPad is not really the evolution of computing, it's a specialization of one part of it.

Note that most people's experience of aviation is on airliners, which are highly specialized airplanes.

Curated computing is exactly what a whole section of the market needs: No Viruses; No Malware; No Porn; Automatic backups as you charge; One finger Facebook.

I'd argue the market would react well to curated porn as well. Clearly, almost every single person online is interested. Remove the malware and unintended consequences (e.g. other people stumbling across your browsing history) and it would also be a huge hit with a substantial market.

Further, I think it's wrong to slip social judgment into a largely technological concern. Porn is something some users may not want and certainly don't want showing up when their kids use a device, but it's hardly on par with malware and viruses.

There are obvious benefits to "curated computing", but is there any evidence that the App Store wouldn't work if users were free to use software from other sources? If not, if the App Store would be completely undermined by giving users the ability to install software directly from the web, wouldn't that indicate that consumers don't actually prefer "curated computing", but are merely willing to put up with it in order to have the nicest device available?

Well, there's a spyware infested world of Windows computers and a large contributing factor to that is that they allow you to run software from any sources.

Perhaps 'curated computing' is just a more acceptable way of describing a walled-garden?

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