Anyone think Ipad is going down?

[thesmoth]

If thesmoth's very restricted hypothetical comes true, it won't 'absolutely trash iPad sales' because most people don't care about what version of iOS is on iPad and most people have no clue what processor is in the iPad. Most people aren't making a decision between iPad OR honeycomb, they're making a decision 'iPad or not'. While honeycomb is a hypothetical alternative, it's not going to be on most people's radar at all, and if it is, it won't be because of Retina displays or the processor inside. People don't value the things thesmoth thinks they should; oh well.

Fortunately, he's covered his bases to save face, because if people continue to buy iPads, it's because they're 'uneducated buyers' who have 'no reason' to actually get an iPad, unlike those of us who are 'tech savvy'.

Well if someone were to educate themselves, they would see my points to be 100% correct. You are also 100% correct that no one really educates themselves, and they'll just buy the iPad because apple makes it, and won't even know what version of iOS is on it.

 

[Carouser]

Well if someone were to educate themselves, they would see my points to be 100% correct. You are also 100% correct that no one really educates themselves, and they'll just buy the iPad because apple makes it, and won't even know what version of iOS is on it.

Because I am super-duper-educated I do see that you are 100% correct. In a world where all those things come together and no other considerations matter (such as the criteria you listed actually being irrelevant to consumer behavior) then your state of affairs would come to pass. As you say, your scenario is very unlikely. That is also 100% correct.

However, I didn't say that people will 'just buy the iPad because Apple makes it'; I assume that they have reasons for buying what they do, and that those reasons are other than the ones you think are important.

 

[Maaz]

Apple has sold millions of iPads during the last year mainly because there is was no real competition. With all the new Android and WebOS based tablets coming out Apple had better pull a rabbit out of their collective ass or they will get left behind.

These new tablets may not appeal to the hardcore Apple FanBoys but they will to everyone else. The new Motorola Zoom blows the iPad away in features and functionality !!! I hate to say it but Apple
is falling behind quickly. The same can be said for the iPhone, all the new 4" Android smart phones are getting nicer and nicer !

Yeah I doubt people are going to be paying $800 for a Xoom when they can buy an ipad for $500.

 

[sishaw]

Look at the terms and ask yourself. How can for example Kindle sell a book for $9.99 and give Apple 30%. I would venture to say there would be nothing left for Amazon.

Not to mention the authors and publishers, who also expect to be paid for their work. I agree, for content-producers, 30% is simply not sustainable. Apple needs to tailor its cut for each industry.

 

[Piggie]

Yeah I doubt people are going to be paying $800 for a Xoom when they can buy an ipad for $500.

So why would people pay say $800 for a Mac when they can pay $500 for a PC?

If money is the only reason?

In the same way, would you pay more for a car with a better engine, a better CD player and has more controls on the dashboard?

I think it's all about balance.
Not every Apple buyer is a brainless sheep. I think that's disrespectful to people in general. I'm sure many people, not just tech nerds are able to see that something may have better features than some other product.

Whilst there may be a few who don't think and just buy anything with an Apple logo, I'm not convinced it's the majority.

 

[iphone1105]

If thesmoth's very restricted hypothetical comes true, it won't 'absolutely trash iPad sales' because most people don't care about what version of iOS is on iPad and most people have no clue what processor is in the iPad. Most people aren't making a decision between iPad OR honeycomb, they're making a decision 'iPad or not'. While honeycomb is a hypothetical alternative, it's not going to be on most people's radar at all, and if it is, it won't be because of Retina displays or the processor inside. People don't value the things thesmoth thinks they should; oh well.

Fortunately, he's covered his bases to save face, because if people continue to buy iPads, it's because they're 'uneducated buyers' who have 'no reason' to actually get an iPad, unlike those of us who are 'tech savvy'.

Spot on....

 

[mcdj]

show me a tablet that:

- I can understand how to use from the second I pick it up

- doesn't look like a pinata full of icons and clocks burst open over it.

- has an app store with 100s of thousands of apps to choose from

and I'll show you a tablet that might have a chance at taking the iPad down.

 

[yodaxl7]

Amazon kindle takes 30 percent from publishers, too. I think apple could charge less to apps like kindle, since they are a middle man, too. However, I think apple could create iPeriodical app that centralizes all of these like ibooks. Or they can add a tab next to the pdf.

We should not rush to judgement based on rumors. Once, apple announces the next iPad, then we can speculate how well it do.

However, apple has more polished apps, since developers have been making apps for it about a year now. iPhone seem to get time exclusives with apps before they are available on other platforms.

I do think iPad 2 will be the best tablet this year and iPad 3 the next year. After that, it should be really interesting. I think iPad 3 will have quad core. It is hard to imagine what that will be like. itune in the cloud, free mobileme, etc. iPhone working through the iPad. Who knows.

Android tablets look the same and slightly different specs or have stupid gimmicks like 3D. They don't have apps that can take advantage of those specs.

Apple has the best ecosystem!!

 

[wordoflife]

Most people who want a tablet are going to look immediately at the iPad ... because it's Apple

Kind of like what people do with MP3 players. Most people get iPods.

The more tech - inclined might actually look into what exactly they are getting.

 

[AppleScruff1]

show me a tablet that:

- I can understand how to use from the second I pick it up

- doesn't look like a pinata full of icons and clocks burst open over it.

- has an app store with 100s of thousands of apps to choose from

and I'll show you a tablet that might have a chance at taking the iPad down.

Why doesn't an iPad with 3 screens full of icons look like a pinata too?

 

[torbjoern]

This far, the iPad appears to me as nothing but a useless luxury toy for rich kids. I know there are exceptions, but these are... exceptions.

 

[maflynn]

This far, the iPad appears to me as nothing but a useless luxury toy for rich kids. I know there are exceptions, but these are... exceptions.

Do you have any evidence for this? It appears that this is more your opinion. Since in your signature line you have a 13" MBA ultimate, we could make the same accusation.

While I will say that the iPad is not a device that people need, but its not a useless luxury for rich kids. I'm neither a kid, nor am I rich. I have found the iPad to be quite useful, in a number of ways that would pretty much bore people but let me suffice to say its a really useful tool.

 

[Kebabselector]

luxury toy for rich kids.

According to the person with a Macbook Air 13" Ultimate

 

[andiwm2003]

im just meaning to say, i think apple could be doing way better with the ipad. i think all their rules, guidelines, limitations and wtvr the f-k is only going to hurt it in the long run.

apple has a long history in creating creat products and platforms but then being too high price oriented or being too limiting and controlling. (their web service that eventually became mobile me, the mac os in general, firewire, the newton, their gaming console, the high price strategy for portable macs in the past, the lack of a midsized expandable mac, certain file formats, the lack of commitment to their office suite, the entire server market).

This has cost them market leadership several times and the iOS platform seems to be endangered by the same pattern.

with apps being generally quite cheap and content being for the most part platform independent (as long as you don't buy into iBooks and DRM'ed movies) users can now switch platforms quite easily compared to OS X where you would need to repurchase $500 software pakets.

 

[SaMaster14]

I'm not a fan of the Android Tablets that much, but thats just matter of opinion.


I actually really really like the Blackberry Playbook (its just too small for me!)
But, I would probably keep an iPad over the Playbook... to me the iPad is totally different device (more computer-ish) the PB is more of an 'amplification of the Blackberry phone.' I just wish the PB OS was on BB smart phones... that would be perfect for me (along with an iPad).