Are iPads and iPhones necessary?

[GirlNextDoor15]

Hi. In the era of globalisation, technology become more and more advanced. We can often see people with iPads and iPhones. In fact, even children have iPads and iPhones which is very common and it is sometimes, astonishingly unnecessary. However, there are also a lot of reasons too on why iPads and iPhones are necessary to humans. Therefore, in this debate, we will be debating about iPads and iPhones whether they are necessary or not necessary.

[Mathew]

Originally, I didn't see the point in iPads at all. I thought they were just a mix of both a computer and a phone... and well.. in esscence they are, but I still find them extremely appealing. iPhones - they're just another type of phone that people seem to covet for some reason. Admittedly, they're a good device with good intentions, but I hate the complete idiots who say how amazing it is, left, right and centre. It's a phone!

Generally, yes they are necessary or else technology as a whole has no hope at all of progress. Tablet computers and touch-screen devices were practically unheard of some... 20 years ago? Apple have made them mainstream, and it's vital that their success continues for technology to progress at the rate it already has been.

[Recursion]

I think your debate is void now, you honed in on two specific products, what you should have done was talk about them generally, because people will now be biased, as above:

Originally, I didn't see the point in iPads at all. [...] iPhones - they're just another type of phone that people seem..

[GirlNextDoor15]

Originally, I didn't see the point in iPads at all. I thought they were just a mix of both a computer and a phone... and well.. in esscence they are, but I still find them extremely appealing. iPhones - they're just another type of phone that people seem to covet for some reason. Admittedly, they're a good device with good intentions, but I hate the complete idiots who say how amazing it is, left, right and centre. It's a phone!

Generally, yes they are necessary or else technology as a whole has no hope at all of progress. Tablet computers and touch-screen devices were practically unheard of some... 20 years ago? Apple have made them mainstream, and it's vital that their success continues for technology to progress at the rate it already has been.

No, I don't think it's necessary. It is not necessary because I see kids walking around with their iPad/iPhone. It just breaks my heart to see that. I don't think iPad and iPhone are necessary. They are just nonsensical rubbish that technology has created. I'm not sure about iPad but iPhone is not even a bit appealing to me. The primary functions of phones are supposed to be communicating with other people and receiving calls. With all those apps rubbish, it's unnecessary. Plus, the price for one iPhone is not cheap and it's basically, wasting our money. However, it is convenient for us but when we judge it using the advantages and the disadvantages, I think there are more disadvantages than advantages.

---------- Post added 02-06-2011 at 05:05 PM ----------

I think your debate is void now, you honed in on two specific products, what you should have done was talk about them generally, because people will now be biased, as above:

Oh, well. I wish I could talk about each product generally but I don't know much about it. So, I thought I'll just leave it for you all to debate with. But, I think you could consider both products as the products of such technology. Those products are mainly about entertainment and communication.

[iBlueBox]

To answer your question.

It depends on the user of the product.

[cocaine]

people have jobs. people earn income. people spend income on products they like. nothing except neccessities are actually neccessary, clearly.

[tylermunjkt]

Well, its not really necessary. They are supposed to look 'Cool' and attract the person to it. It's no different to a normal phone. You can only download apps and play them. The Ipad is just another board game (If you get me) Its like another 'cool' phone but square.

Really, they are just for people who think they need to look 'Cool'

[Conservative,]

My stand is this:

iPods in general are the most advanced music & app orientated device in the world. The competition is nowhere near apple on apps and music is cheap on iTunes. However...

iPhones are just iPods with a phone +£200. I like them but I think they're overrated. The apps are way ahead of the competition but other than that it's just a phone. I think they have a use as the apps can be very helpful (maps, info etc.) and entertaining. People need them to communicate and the apps are an extra that they want to have. What's so wrong about that.

iPads however are just an enlarged iPod Touch with 3G internet. I don't see the point of that.

[AgnesIO]

My thoughts..

This question is ridiculous. iProducts (looking at iPhones and iPads) are just a form of mobile smartphones and tablet computers. So if you ask a question on them, you should ask are smart phones and tablet computers necessary. And if you ask that question, I would question why you have put the two together when one is a phone and one is a tablet.

Tablet Computers are not NECESSARY, however they are just another form of computer (albeit they are in early development). Now if you look at that, I would say they are not necessary, however a computer is. A computer is obviously necessary in todays world, however a tablet is just an ultra-mobile form of a computer - so, in someways you could say they are necessary as computers, however are not vital as we already have laptops, desktops, all-in-ones, netbooks and others.

Smartphones are not necessary. Although many people would struggle to get by with their mobile phones, a smartphone is just a gadget - which is not necessary. I do love my Motorola Milestone (a smartphone based on the Android operating system), but I don't require it to live - like I do with food and water. So no, obviously it is not necessary. Although you could say the same about computers, if you stopped the use of computers now the current gadget-controlled world would be screwed.

[lol]

No, iPads and iPhones are not necessary to function in every day activities. I'm under the assumption that everybody on this forum has a couple of friends (in real life), and I'm willing to bet that a fair share of these comrades do not have an iPad nor an iPhone. Yet they seem to be co-existing peacefully with those who do own the products. We can also assume that there is at least one human in third world countries who lack either an iPad or iPhone, whether it be due to product shortages, a lack of income, or just a simple distaste for Apple products.

Total iPad sales have been predicted to be more than 54 million by the year 2017. The human population is projected to hit seven billion by 2012, so that will leave approximately 6,946,000,000 people on earth who don't have iPads. Percentage-wise, that's 99.23% of humanity that will lack these products. The gist of my argument is that, the idea of an iPad, let alone an iPhone, being necessarily to sustain human life is absurd.

Sources
http://blogs.forbes.com/greatspecula...f-tablet-land/

http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/popwnote.html