I think one of the great things that will happen due to the iPad is a renewed focus on making technology easier to use. That’s always been a goal, especially with Apple, but I run into people all the time who get confused by the Finder, and application windows, and anything related to networking. The iPad does a great job of hiding so much of that stuff that, really, normal people shouldn’t have to worry about.
An exchange with a friend this morning about friendlier Linksys wireless routers made me envision the following scenario, as Linksys helps someone set it up.
It’s super easy. All you need to do is attach this cable, open a Web browser…
a Web browser…
the big E there at the bottom…
okay…
now type in “10.1.0.1”…
no, don’t type the quote marks… now specify an encryption type…
well, it stands for Wireless Encryption Protocol, but that’s not important, you don’t want that one anyway…
because we had to put in in for legacy reasons…
no, not the Tom Cruise movie…
oh just buy a fucking AirPort already and ask your kid to set it up.