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There were a lot of mixed reviews when Apple introduced its new iPad device. Some people liked it; others hated it. After initially believing that the iPad was nothing new, upon reflection I think that it will bring about a few things that will change computing and technology forever.

For starters, there are cloud-based services. Remember Apple’s acquisition of Lala? I think it’s fairly obvious, that Apple is going to be putting your music in the cloud in a future iTunes update.

All your media, anytime, anywhere.

For example, when you buy a song from iTunes, you’ll be able to download it to your device, but also access it over the Internet. So it won’t really matter if you have an iPhone or iPad with just 8 or 16GB of storage. You will be able to access all of your music over the Internet. And hopefully, even all your videos, photos, etc., through MobileMe.

All of your media, anytime, anywhere. That’s the promise of Internet-based services.

The second thing that will change is the availability of Internet-enabled Computers. Having Wi-Fi on a laptop is great, but it’s not the same as having 24/7 access to the Internet.

I learned this after visiting my parents in NYC two weeks ago. I had my iPhone and my MacBook Pro but my parents don’t have broadband Internet. So I had no Wi-Fi network and no Internet on my laptop. I was able to access the Internet via my iPhone, but my laptop felt pretty useless. I never realized how small my iPhone really was compared to my 15″ laptop.

In fact, I’ve found myself constantly searching for Wi-Fi hotspots, whereever I go. If I’m driving in a new neighborhood, I always look for cafes and wonder if they have free (or even low-cost) Wi-Fi. Looking for a Wi-Fi hotspot is a lot like looking for a phone booth. It’s inconvenient, hard to find, and you need to pay extra. Having 24/7 Internet on my iPhone is great, but I also want it on my laptop. Sure, it would be better if AT&T allowed me to tether my iPhone with my laptop, but having a built-in 3G connection is even better.

I’ve been pricing broadband USB cards for my laptop, and they generally are the same price no matter which provider you choose (Sprint or Verizon). In particular, I think the Mi-Fi device is the way to go, since it uses the wireless 3G signal and creates your own personal Wi-Fi zone for up to 5 devices. Prices for the Mi-Fi box is anywhere from free, to $99, while monthly service is about $60.

Conceivably, the price of computers may come down if they are subsidized by wireless carriers like AT&T and Verizon. Plus, paying for your laptop’s 3G service can be expensive, but I think prices will come down over time.

So, I think the iPad is beginning the trend of Internet-enabled computers. The iPad’s usefulness drop about 50% without an Internet connection. Same with any other laptop.

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1. Why I’m Not Buying an iPad
2. iPad Introduces the Fourth Screen
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