Terry Lucy

The iPad isn’t just a PC, it’s the ultimate personal computer

On this week’s episode of The Bro Show, we talked at some length about whether it’s right to categorise the iPad as a personal computer. 

Shawn Blanc brought up the Wikipedia definition of a PC, which is as follows:

“A personal computer (PC) is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator.”

We came to some sort on consensus on the podcast that the iPad definitely fits the definition of a PC, though as Shawn Blanc tweeted, some are not convinced:

“It seems that those arguing against the iPad being called a PC are really trying to say that an iPad could not replace their PC usage.”

I put to those arguing that the iPad couldn’t replace the PC usage that what they are doing on the PC is not personal and perhaps the mistake we are making here is that the whole definition of a PC in the first place is, in fact, wrong. 

What’s personal about working on a spreadsheet? Writing some code? There is absolutely nothing personal about the PC I use for nine hours a day at work — it’s a processing machine. That definition of personal computer above is one of the most robotic definitions I have ever read, thinking about it. It doesn’t make any sense on a personal level. 

So here’s my definition of a personal computer:

A Personal Computer (PC) is a device that one can interact with seamlessly. A device that can store memories, media, books, TV and film for the user to consume on-demand. A device that the user can create and share their own content from. A personal computer is a device that is easy to use for anyone. 

The definition of a personal computer sounds like it hasn’t changed since the eighties. Though I was born in 1988, I can tell you that in the last ten years alone the personal computer has completely changed beyond all recognition. 

When Apple released the iPad, I would argue that it actually released the first, truly personal, computer.