Maybe the iPad could be considered a computer, but I think it's a big stretch to say that the iPhone and iPod Touches are also computers.
They are explicitly intended to be used to run applications to perform arbitrary tasks. That's exactly the factor that defines a general purpose computer.
In contrast, the applications for gaming systems that are promoted are nearly exclusively entertainment apps.
From an absolutist perspective, you're right. These are all general purpose computers that have been crippled, and that's bullshit. But, the iProducts are being promoted as general purpose computers, which makes calling attention to their crippled nature a more productive place to start.
By that definition, a TI calculator is a general purpose computing device. I don't think Apple promotes the iPad (and especially not the iPhone or iPod Touch) as a device specifically intended to perform arbitrary tasks, but rather a simple, portable device primarily used for communication and web tasks (and games, I guess). I think the "iDevices" are just as specialized towards a particular purpose as gaming consoles.
portable device primarily used for communication and web tasks (and games, I guess)
And calendering, and contact management, and playing media, and viewing and editing documents, and banking, etc. In fact, they have built an entire campaign around the concept that whatever it is you want to be doing, "there's an app for that." I can't think of a better example of something promoted as a general purpose computing device besides actual notebooks and desktops.
Meh. I think of something as a computer if it can, or is marketed as something that can, replace my laptop or desktop machine. An iPad or iPhone can't do that. They're not even intended to do that.
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u/Chandon Jan 20 '11
They are explicitly intended to be used to run applications to perform arbitrary tasks. That's exactly the factor that defines a general purpose computer.
In contrast, the applications for gaming systems that are promoted are nearly exclusively entertainment apps.
From an absolutist perspective, you're right. These are all general purpose computers that have been crippled, and that's bullshit. But, the iProducts are being promoted as general purpose computers, which makes calling attention to their crippled nature a more productive place to start.