Emotive language though it may be, I don't think it's all that far from the truth. The iPad most definitely is a general purpose electronic computer. It can run any software that's loaded onto it.
Except that it can't, really, because it is loaded with software that prevents the user from doing some of the things they should reasonably expect to be able to do. Regardless of whether it comes from Apple, I would certainly be happy to call software that prevents me from using a computer that I own in a manner in which it is otherwise capable 'malware.'
I don't want to pirate software or content, but I do want to be able to use the equipment that was sold to me and that I now own in any way that I see fit. Merriam-Webster defines Malware as 'software designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning'; a definition which I think is entirely appropriate here.
Except that it can't, really, because it is loaded with software that prevents the user from doing some of the things they should reasonably expect to be able to do. Regardless of whether it comes from Apple, I would certainly be happy to call software that prevents me from using a computer that I own in a manner in which it is otherwise capable 'malware.'
I don't want to pirate software or content, but I do want to be able to use the equipment that was sold to me and that I now own in any way that I see fit. Merriam-Webster defines Malware as 'software designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning'; a definition which I think is entirely appropriate here.