[burgerbrain]

It may seem more amazing to you, but I would argue that is only because you are not likely in a position to be amazed by the magnitude of the importance people like Edison and Turing had on this world.

This is forgivable, but please note that he was talking about contribution to society, not "wow factor".

[TetOn]

IMHO a computer that is usable within the hour by a one year old goes far beyond "wow factor" and well into contribution realm.

[vacri]

By 'usable', do you mean that your one year old child can browse the app store, find something they like, install it, and use it?

At a new location, can they identify the correct wireless network to use, and enter the password?

Or do they just use an easy subset of what the ipad offers? We don't go "Wow! the toy piano is easy enough for a toddler to use!" and gush over it, because we know the toddler isn't using the piano like some virtuoso.

[slowpoke]

The iPad isn't a computer, it's a toy. A kid quickly learning how to use a toy is neither new nor outstanding, and least of all a contribution to society.

[canes123456]

So was a mac...

[catfish]

Cost 600 bucks. How does that help civilization. Oh maybe a few well pampered hipster's children get access to it, but how does that work for the rest of the world that averages 2 bucks a day income levels?

[icebraining]

While I'm hardly an Apple apologist, I just wanted to remind that technology that is initially only available to the top-of-the-line models ends up on cheap models a few years from now, but only because its development was paid for by the relatively rich early adopters.

In Ghana, more than 60% of people have a mobile phone, but that wouldn't be possible if the development of the hardware (both for the actual devices and the network infrastructure) hadn't been made cheap by years of development paid by the rich countries.

[wizzard]

So if something doesn't help every single person in the world, rich or poor, it's not a contribution? Wow, you have some high standards.

[burgerbrain]

If we're comparing it to things as ubiquitous as computer technology itself and electric lighting, then I don't think it is unreasonable to point out that the relatively exclusive nature of the ipad puts it at a disadvantage in such a contest.

[mikeklaas]

Thomas Edison did not invent electric lighting.

[burgerbrain]

He made it ubiquitous.

[catfish]

Correct. And Yes.

If its not effective for all, forever, its just a blip on the time line. A thousand years from now we will remember Einstein.

Jobs? Not so much...

[burgerbrain]

I am not denying that Steve Jobs contributed to society. I'm talking magnitude of contribution.

[w0utert]

IMO You can't compare 'contribution to society' like that, as if you could make a 1-dimensional scale that rates people like the ones you mentioned. It's useless. In some ways Jobs contributions to society have definitely been bigger than Turing or Edison, in some other ways, they haven't. You can't average these things objectively.

[freyrs3]

Edison you could make case for.

Turing, not by a long shot. In 200 years we'll still be talking about Turing machines and decidability. I don't think you can say the same for any of Edisons or Job's ventures.

[lurker17]

In 200 years you think we'll have moved past the light bulb? Or AC electricity?

[tjmc]

AC electricity was Tesla. Edison killed an elephant trying to discredit it.

[jshen]

This is one of the most gratuitous and condescending replies I've seen on HN. You don't know anything about me, so why would you insult my intelligence?

Computers are very hard to use for people outside of our bubble. Changing that is a major contribution to society and far more than a "wow factor". Seeing disabled people use an iPad is an amazing site.

I'm not interested in ranking ligt bulbs vs iPads, it servers no real purpose. And I'm not particularly interested in having a discussion with an asshole, but I wanted to point out how absurd it is to call something that opens doors for so many people as merely a "wow factor". You are not likely in a position to understand much beyond your own narcissism.