In the MMO genre, this divide is called "themepark vs sandbox".  A game like World of Warcraft is a themepark - you're given a lot of direction in terms of where you're supposed to go and what you're supposed to do.  EVE Online is a sandbox - you do whatever you want and you get fewer roadsigns that say "go this way" or "beating this means you win".<p>Current computers are sandboxes - you can do with them whatever you want, run arbitrary code, create your own workflow, and operate without rules.  The iPad is a themepark - it has specific programs that do specific things, and then it's got little roped off paths between them.  For many users (the proverbial Mom), a well-developed theme park is more attractive, because all they really wanted to do anyhow is ride the roller-coaster or the Ferris wheel.  People like the average Hacker News reader (or even the average reddit or digg reader) can't stand the roped off paths, but for Mom, those laid out sidewalks are a relief.