Introduction

The original iPad’s debut seemed like a grand experiment. It was an impressive new device, but would people actually buy it? Microsoft had sold PC/tablet hybrids for years without much traction. But when customers did buy the iPad—in massive, unexpected numbers—I honestly had a hard time figuring out why. Don’t get me wrong—I love the iPad and use it every day, but I’m also a nerd who writes about technology for a living. I wondered why Apple has sold more than 100 million iPads to date. And then I realized the secret to the iPad’s ongoing success.

The iPad is the first real spontaneous device. It’s not as bulky as a laptop, and it doesn’t need to be anchored in one room of the house the way a desktop computer usually is. The iPad ...

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