You do realize that this image could end up biting Apple in the butt? In 3 years time the iPad will be where the iPhone is now: Loosing some (not all) of its marketshare to the knockoffs.
Unless Apple has a new iToy (I.e not an MP3 player, phone or tablet) ready for say 3-4 years from now, they wont get any bigger than they now are.
More likely scenario: in three years time both the iPhone and the iPad will be where the iPod is.
With the iPod, Apple started with a high end, expensive device. People still bought it in droves. Later Apple varied it and introduced cheaper, smaller models. There are no effective competitors.
As the device matures and the Market for mp3 players is saturated, Apple takes it in a new direction and adds iOS and apps. They sell fewer, but most of those sold are mow iPod Touches.
With iPhone, Apple again started with the high-end. They haven't even begun to produce differentiated models.
With iPad, Apple has hit a sweet spot really early on -- the competition is in shambles and has no-where to go. Where are the competitive knock-offs at
any price, let alone cheaper prices?
In three years, Apple is going to:
A) have three more years of experience with these devices (and who is matching the maturity of their devices today) -- particularly as Apple products are often the bench mark and define their respective industries/markets.
B) have a fully operational data centre online for three years
C) have even more and better control of components and supply chain
D) have even more high profile shops in more countries
E) have even more sales in China and India
F) have even more experience at designing and producing their own unique SoCs for their devices while competitors have to make do with all the same off-the-shelf power-hungry parts, and same off-the-shelf half-baked operating systems.
G) still remain unconcerned about its marketshare, having been making HALF the revenue and profits of the ENTIRE industry already!
Really,
no-one even three years ago predicated the success of the iPhone or the existence of the iPad. What makes you think that three years is going to be more favourable to Apple competitors than to Apple?
Anyway, I wouldn't count out the possibility of new "iToys", but don't forget the MacBook Air, either. This redesigned, second gen model has been flying off the shelves the last few months. Lion is about to be released and MacBook Pros are getting refreshed. Apple never has stood still, why would they start standing still for the next three years!