Another bite out of the Apple.

The much-awaited next generation of must-have gadgetry was announced yesterday. Apple is now taking pre-orders for a tablet device that will (eventually) replace everything in your briefcase - perhaps even the person carrying it. But I don't want to analyze the technology or compare and contrast it to alternative devices - I want to talk about marketing.

With forethought and planning, Apple decided to name the device the iPad. Undoubtedly they will roll out a larger one and a smaller one... obviously the MaxiPad and the MiniPad. Of course the case it comes in will have little fold-out wings and the no-strings-attached service agreement will be standard. As we've come to expect from Apple it will be driven by a leak-proof security system. I'm sure the professional comedians on late night TV (whoever is left?), will come up with hundreds of more ways to joke about this latest addition to our technical hygene.

The point is, the Apple marketing gurus chose this name intentionally! They KNEW that the name would prompt a bit-stream of (refreshingly juvenile) humor related to the name. They knew it would be the focus of late night comedy routines, pundits, and amateur bloggers. They consciously decided that this added channel of chatter would feed into product curiosity and recognition - the old "it doesn't matter what they are saying as long as they are talking about us" approach. While it seems like a cheap trick or gimmick, it just might work. IMHO the Apple product line is so robust that the comedy will shortly be followed by cudos and accolades. They know that and are confident enough to risk the downside.

I never buy the first generation of anything (learned that lesson buying the first year model of the Ford Aerostar minivan), so I'll wait to invest until the price stabalizes and they add a camera for iChat. Just for the record, I'll still read books on my Kindle - I just like the unlit display. That being said, I'll patiently continue chuckling to myself while the comedy dies down and the techies and early-adopters weigh in. By the way, one undocumented feature of the iPad is that it automatically shuts down when in the presence of a little blue pill!