Se ye a en ere ee eee Techtonic Shifts CAN THE IPAD PASS THE ‘MOM TEST’? 17'S BEEN A FEW WEEKS SINCE APPLE'S iPad went on sale, and while plenty of reviewers are raving over the new device, others aren’t so sure, Critics complain that it lacks basic functions like a camera, that its backlit screen is hard to read outside, and that its operating eystem dosen't allow users to multitask yet. At $500 and up, with 1no phone or keyboard, some see it fll: ing into a strange nether-niche, with little or no added value over a netbook (ora smart phone. Since its April 3 debut, Apple hae sold more than 450,000 iPads. But for the device to be @ full-blown success, it will need to appeal far beyond the early-adopter demographic. To get a read on how the iPad will appeal to mainstream consumers, headed to an Apple store on the first day of sales with a certified non-techie: my mom. I wanted to find out whether Steve Jobs's latest creation could pass the “mom test.” ‘My mom, a physical therapist in her ‘mid-50s, cares little about electronic sgadgets. For her, computers are strict- ly a means to an end. She uses a slow first-generation MacBook, with a bro- en optical drive, primarily for basic ‘word processing, e-mail, and Web browsing. Despite repeated attempts, ve never gotten her to see the utility BY IAN YARETT the display reorient automatically as she tured it sideways, her grimace tumed into a grin. She was excited. She wanted one—immediately. She marveled at the iPad's bright, easy-to-read display, its inviting in- terface, and ite overall look and fea. “Adorable,” she said. She told me it reminded her of a “clipboard with a computer in it,” something she could ‘carry around in her bag and use to ac- ‘cose e-mail and Web sites on the go. The iPad “failings” that critics cite didn’t faze'my mom at all: she valued the device for what it represented in form and function, and since she’s not a techie, she came to it with no expectation that it should have a camera just because smart phones do, or that it should allow multitask ing because netbooks do, “My re- sponse to it was mostly visceral,” she says. "Ijust love it” ‘My mom's reaction lends support to the emerging CW about the iPad: it’s great for consuming media but less useful for content producers who do hard-core writing Web design, or video editing. Like a lot of people her age or older, my mom is more of a SCOPE digital consumer than a producer. And within afew minutes of putting one in her hands it was obvious that the iPad could become her primary computing device. Equipped with one, she'd need to use her aging laptop only occasion- ally, mostly for transferring content that’s not already in the “cloud’—like music from CDs—to her iPad. ‘While the iPad passed the mom test with high marks, what does that mean for Apple's business model? Some point out that ifthe iPad suits users’ needs too well, it may cannibalize sales of fully equipped PCs. But Apple will probably still come out ahead, since any sales dip willbe offset by the consistent revenue stream it will get from selling apps and other content to ‘Pad users. Despite the price tag_my mom probably would have bought an iPad on day one ifthe store weren't already sold out. But even though the visit resulted in no sale, it was still a mile- stone: this was the fret time I've ever seen my mother disappointed to leave fan electronics store. If that doesn’t ‘speak well for the iPed’s potential, I don’t know what does ‘of an iPod, and thankfully, she’s not on | Facebook. She politely listens when I | frequently blabber on about exciting | new technologies—but for the most | part she couldn't care less. She wasn't peyched about our trip to the Apple store—it took some persua- sion to get her into the ear. But her de- ‘meanor changed once she started play ing with the iPad. As she tried out ite e-mailand Web browsing, and watched