...I happen to be planning to use my new iPad in my business for two different functions I have not had in place at all before now:

-to keep my appointment schedule, and

-accept credit/debit cards via the Square app and plug-in device.

I own a barber shop, as low tech as it gets. I don't even have a TV in the shop (they always end up on cable news, and I hate that stuff).

I do, however, take appointments via my cell phone (not an iPhone).

My iPad is going to be a functional center for my new method, and I am hoping to provide my customers with a web-interactive scheduling calendar so they can book their own appointments in the future. Obviously, they will access my calendar their own way; I'll keep track of things and make my own entries on the iPad.

None of those changes were even considered before I purchased an iPad.

Maybe the high-falutin' corporate big boys -- who I don't particularly care for anyway -- won't adopt an iPad for your article's reasons. But little guys like me just may find ways to use an iPad in business that the ossified PC/Microsoft community never expected.

Funny how fanboys always rush to wade into Farrell without actually doing any research. The comment that Apple never wanted the iPad for business is trash the US press is full of comments like that. http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct2=us%2F0_0_s_0_1_aa&ct3=MAA4AEgAUAFqAnVz&usg=AFQjCNEk5UPgxsd4RaGOWjZsUTx7w4Us9g&cid=8797522492850&ei=ZTqwS9DnNsae_gbBw5KMAg&rt=SEARCH&vm=STANDARD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfgate.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Farticle.cgi%3Ff%3D%2Fc%2Fa%2F2010%2F03%2F28%2FBUJ41CLUBP.DTL

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With the imminent arrival of the Apple iPad, it seems at least one major television network is updating their website to provide video playback support for new tablet device -- without Flash. CBS.com's website began displaying a couple of strange "iPad - test" video links, first noted by The Other Mac Blog.

We investigated further and found that clicking on these "iPad" labeled links in your normal desktop browser brings you to the usual Flash versions of these videos. Of course, these wouldn't properly play on the Apple iPad due to Apple's well known decision not to support Flash. However, if you visit CBS.com using the iPad SDK Simulator or spoofing your browser's User-Agent to impersonate an iPad, you are sent to a different version of the video:

This new version of the video does not yet work but appears to be based on HTML5. The css files reference HTML5 and have a number of "webkit" specific calls. Webkit is the browser engine used in the iPad's mobile safari. While the videos don't currently play, the "fullscreen mode" reportedly already works in the iPad simulator.

Apple has been a strong proponent of HTML5 and has suggested it as an alternative solution to Flash. It appears at least one major network will be supporting HTML5 alongside Flash video to deliver their content at iPad launch.

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Another clueless rant by Nick "I only write Apple FUD" Farrell.

ipad has no market, they are just wildly handing out suggestions over at apple, no need to analyze or think about them, if the ipad gets a foothold it's on ground that is created by its uptakers, and I don't think anybody knows who that might be, personally I think it's nobody.

Apple’s control is renowned, but for corporate users Apple’s developer license gives businesses full control; you can develop an application in-house (not for App Store distribution) and run it on all devices without having to go through Apple’s approval process. That seems fair.

Apple has taken strides to improve security, but the subject is fundamentally hard. It’s an arms race. You failed to mention that at the recent competition, every single browser fell (possibly with the exception of Chrome, I’m not sure). Another important detail is that these hacks took weeks to develop prior to the competition.

Stop spreading the FUD, or, in simpler terms, STFU. You know not of what you speak.

At the end of the day does it really matter one way or the other? Apple or PC?

Are our lives so empty that we have to quibble about these meaningless dichotomies?

At the end of the day it is not our tech that defines us but our actions and relationships!

I am sick of the rabid fanboism from both camps! Use whatever you like!

</rant

There is only one business that the iPad needs to crack........EDUCATION.

It's the platform for future businesses.

I've spent 9yrs in IT for Education and it's big business and schools spend thousands each year.

Even wonder why your council tax mainly goes to Education?

iPad will get into the offices very quickly but from the back door. People will buy them for themselves and will bring it everywhere, including work, just like they do with their iPod.

"Since we can't see Apple giving up any measure of control while Steve Jobs remains at the helm, we think it is safe to say it is doomed to remain a consumer product outfit for a while."

I imagine Steve Jobs, the Apple board and employees, investors, and consumers can with live with being "doomed" in the same way they have for the past ten years or so.

I've read so many articles like this hoping for a reasoned justification but there never is. Business IT nerds are simply apoplectic with rage because Steve Jobs and Apple simply do not care what they think or want. After having the PC sector prostrate to the corporate world for 30 years, anytime a company fails to bow and scrape, tech nerds tense up.

So, sure, Apple is "doomed" to keep having massive growth, record-breaking sales, and an ever-growing market share.

I hope they find *some* way to survive the catastrophe.

P.S. Umm I just read David's first comment and needed to say Kudos great rebuddle... And oh yes I have an iPhone, mac mini w/glorious 23"screen, and soon to be ipad. You are right apple heads as I call us enjoy the mobility simplicity and complexity of our devices. If pcs are so great talk about them and leave our brilliance alone. Food for thought if PCs are so great why is mr. Gates and crew trying so hard to emmulate look and feel into windows?

Well yeah I agree with the lines that the ipad won't be an overnight brushfire in business, but where you are wrong is like dan above said: Macs are really secure computers... That said and mac is heavily integrated in business already just certain fields (graphics, movies, music, photography, animation, game design..etc) the macs have been used for years in these industries. So if your not a fan of the ipad it's okay, but you should research a little more before commenting. Oh and it's okay to be mad when my ipad still sells for 100+ in 2 years and your pc tablet will go for 30 bucks on craig's list!

What does "it is doomed to remain a consumer product outfit for a while." even mean???

Um you might be right that the iPad won't make it in business but your facts on security are dead wrong. This week was the famous browsing hacking contest and only this week did the iPhone finally get cracked to run a remote executable. Even then it was only partially cracked unlike Explorer, Firefox, etc. One thing Apple has is that every program has a unique code and the iPhone won't run it without a valid code. All are assigned by Apple through the App Store. That means if malicious code somehow makes it through not only does Apple know where it came from but they can remotely disable.

I have to agree with the first post, i've not read anywhere; and certainly not from a direct source that the ipad is targeting businesses.

"IF YOU READ the tame Apple press you would believe that Ipad is going to be in every business."

Really? You actually think Apple believes the iPad will be in *every* business?

When an article starts out with a straw man argument, you know you're not going to get reasonable and unbiased opinions.

"But one thing that no one is daring to point out is that if Apple hopes that its Ipad will boldly go where no tablet has gone before, it will have to make a fundamental change in its corporate culture."

A fundamental change? Why because their app filled smart phone never went anywhere? Haha. And it's iPad, not Ipad.

You go onto talk about the general security of Apple products, while never giving any details or sources. Well you did give a lame attempt and say "Recent hacking contests always show that Apple products are the first to be turned over and the Iphone is one of the easiest."

What recent hacking contests? What exactly were the results?

"Tablet devices from the likes of HP and Dell will have the advantage that they will come with security software and much of corporate IT security infrastructure is based around it. It is probably for this reason that we have not seen high business takeup of the Iphone."

It's iPhone, not Iphone. While HP and Dell will do well in the emerging tablet market, they don't have an advantage over iPad. 1st, look at all of the hype, interest, and orders taken already for the iPad......the thing hasn't even gone on sale yet! 2nd, there are the apps which is one of the things that makes the iPad unique.

The iPhone shot to stardom due largely to the popularity of apps. The iPhone is still increasing in popularity and use.

The same thing will happen with the iPad. It's not the usual boring tablet that has only been offered up until now.

"Rival software and applications have to fit into his glorious vision or they are deleted from his App Store."

Do you realize this is a business? Do you know how well Apple is doing as a business?

There's a reason why millions of people are always complaining about something to do with Apple or it's products in relation to their own non-Apple products.

Have you ever heard an apple-product user bitch and moan how their device doesn't fit well with others? NO. You basically never hear that. Why? Because Apple products are generally superior and their user base doesn't need support from other companies in regards to their Apple devices. Boo-hoo. You'll get over it someday I'm sure. And then maybe you'll spend time telling us how great your non Apple product devices are rather than spending your time telling us how bad you think Apple products are.

I think your opinions and conclusions are ignorant and myopic.