Apple Sells Over 300,000 iPads on First Day

[NebulaClash]

It's not like people are going to "discover" this in the coming month. Most people on planet Earth already know about this.

Most people on Earth have no idea. They know about the iPad, but they don't understand it yet. All they are hearing is the misinformation being spread about the iPad.

From the tech news they hear the wrong ideas that it's just a big iPod Touch. From the mainstream media they hear nothing other than it's got buzz.

This is the device that is going to change computer metaphors. Ten years from now we will look back on this as a game changer.

 

[sishaw]

I think it was a pure master plan. As we all agree upon, at least most of us (because the netbook lovers will never say anything good about this), it's a new product placement. So, the 'faithful' buy it. They show it of during Easter when the whole family is together. Apple knew they had to get this in the hand of people to understand how this product fit their lifestyle, as there isn't anything comparable. Pure genius to use a holiday for it. Plus they can use this extra day to reset the stores back to 'normal'...

I would add that there are a slew of new, lightweight tablets with touch interfaces coming out in the next year or so, and Apple wanted to be early to market, rather than wait and get behind Dell, HP and others. There is no doubt that version 2 will have improvements, I'm sure the improvements are already on the drawing board.

However, Flash continues, and I suspect will continue, to be Jobs's White Whale.

 

[kas23]

My sister is a soccer mom. She buys everything Apple poops out. She checked out the iPad at Best Buy on Saturday intending to buy it...and walked out empty-handed. Didn't want it. A computer she can't multitask on. A computer her kids can't visit their favorite websites on? All deal breakers to a customer that Apple should have easily won over and didn't because of the moronic things they left out of this "game changing device".

Most parents would kill to make their kids quiet and happy. Unfortunately, most of the websites that do this, do so via Flash. That, Mr. Jobs, is a swing and a miss.

 

[mkrishnan]

Ask yourself: would you rather go on contract for 2-4 years paying for data and the product or just pay ONCE for just a product itself?

Do you understand what historical evidence means?

 

[blindzero]

This last line killed me.

Are analysts EVER right?

Imagine if you were allowed to off by a factor of 2 in your job.
Well at least in my job, I could sleep all day and only be off by a factor of 2. It's called guessing (without the educated part of it).

 

[MarcelV]

$500-$1000 to spend on a tablet that doesnt come with OS X where as a either a netbook can do either windows or a hackintosh, or a little more and get a macbook where it does everything right, makes me say to myself: why does this product exist, and why would anyone want it???

So this product isn't for you. That doesn't mean others don't see a use for it. Myself, working with a large group of developers (in a leading role), I am tired of working with my computer at night. I don't need to bring my work back home, and if I need to, my company provided laptop is perfect for that. What I want is a device that entertains me. Not a full fledged PC. I want casual games, watching videos (youtube, vimeo), play with my photos, home movies, watching occasional a movie, read news, social networking. Looks like most of that is perfect on the iPad. (heck the only thing missing is that it should be able to pour me a beer ) And no, I don't have one yet, I am waiting on the 3G version...

But stop reflecting what you need/want as the only golden rule of a product. Most people don't need a Ferrari, but you know what? There is a good market for it, and pretty profitable (outside of the recession influences).

Your arrogance just amazes me...

And Apple, can you guys just provide an iPad optimized iMovie? Looks like a great job was done with the iWorks suite. Now just release iLife...

 

[pdjudd]

Impressive numbers for such an expensive device, but otherwise, not really. I have never experienced such a media blitz for any other device. For God sakes, there were 4 difference stories running on CNN.com this weekend. Was this really news?

Yes. Apple products tend to make big news.

For an unknown comidity, I could see this picking up steam in the coming months. But, it's not. Everyone with an iPhone or an iPod Touch already know about this item. It's not like people are going to "discover" this in the coming month. Most people on planet Earth already know about this.

So? Do you have proof to back this up?

2nd, the price is too much. The average customer will compare these prices to netbooks and will be scared away. And remember, the iPhone didn't become super popular until it became subsidized (and affordable to the masses).

False. People were initially supposing this was going to be in the thousand dollar range. And subsidization != massive success either.

3rd, it offers no necessary function. The iPhone is a phone. Who doesn't have a cellphone? It's a necessity. Due the iPhone's phone part being a necessity, most people were/are able to easily justify it's purchase. Not so with the ipad, unless we see some drastic changes in the coming months.

Neither does the iPod touch by that logic. Are you suggesting that it is not popular?

 

[Cinematographer]

A computer she can't multitask on. A computer her kids can't visit their favorite websites on? All deal breakers to a customer that Apple should have easily won over and didn't because of the moronic things they left out of this "game changing device".

Reminds me of the people complaining about the fact Apple did dare to sell the original iMac without a floppy disc drive.

 

[kas23]

Most people on Earth have no idea. They know about the iPad, but they don't understand it yet. All they are hearing is the misinformation being spread about the iPad.

From the tech news they hear the wrong ideas that it's just a big iPod Touch. From the mainstream media they hear nothing other than it's got buzz.

This is the device that is going to change computer metaphors. Ten years from now we will look back on this as a game changer.

Besides from being bigger, how is this different than the Touch? Please list the ways. That's like saying a 13 inch MBP is totally different than a 17 inch MBP. Could they offer a different experience? Sure, but they're the same device.

 

[mcrain]

I did not go to the store and I have no plans to buy an iPad, but I'm terrified that the second I get my hands on one, I'll love it.

My old laptop died, and I am making do with a giant, heavy PC that does everything I need it to. But, it would be so nice to have a second machine that I could grab and use for internet, emails, simple stuff.

I'd also love to let my son use it (flash would be nice for many of the gaming sites, but I'm sure there are plenty of child development game apps).

Anyway, I'm trying to avoid anyone or any place that has an iPad.

Half of the more "mature" friends I know have ended up with iPhones or similar phones after having played with some early adopters phone. My father, in his 70s had to get a new phone after playing with my 2G iPhone.

I have no idea if the iPad will cause that type of reaction, but it sounds like the people who have them like them, and the people they show them to like them as well. The iPhone was like a snowball rolling down a hill. It just grew and grew. I think the iPad sales will grow, but probably not in the same way.

 

[DrMaturin]

Canada

LOL, Steve Jobs seems to think there is nothing outside of USA's borders.

/written from my Nokia E71 in Canada

Well, to be fair, the Syracuse Apple store sold a bunch of Ipads to Canadians. I'll bet the Buffalo store did as well, not to mention other stores near the border. So Canadians can buy it if you're willing to make the drive .

 

[kallisti]

+1
$500-$1000 to spend on a tablet that doesnt come with OS X where as a either a netbook can do either windows or a hackintosh, or a little more and get a macbook where it does everything right, makes me say to myself: why does this product exist, and why would anyone want it???

I have a MacBook and a MacPro. I now have an iPad. The iPad just replaced the MacBook for everything except presentations. For "serious" work I'll be using the MacPro. For light use when I'm at home (i.e. browsing, reading, games, etc.) the iPad offers a better experience than the MacBook. When lounging at home (couch, bed, chair) where I'm not sitting in front of a table/desk I hate using a laptop. The form factor gets in the way. iPad is much more convenient and enjoyable to use. Not to mention I can't really read a book with either the laptop or the desktop.

Anything that I can't do on the iPad I wouldn't be doing on a laptop either. Photo editing and content creation is what my MacPro is for.

 

[gnasher729]

But I can't stress enough how many people are misreading the iPad. It is NOT a netbook competitor. Anyone in the market for a netbook can enjoy an iPad, but the iPad is not meant for them, and they won't get the concept.

Two years ago many people bought computers that could do a lot more than these people actually needed, but did it in an overly complex way. They were not happy because they paid a lot of money, and the computer didn't do the few things they needed very well. And then came netbooks. They are not as powerful as "full" computers. They still do a lot more than people actually need, still in an overly complex way, but at least they are a lot cheaper. That's why many people buy them, because the additional power that a full laptop or desktop has doesn't help them, and the netbook is cheaper. It is also smaller, which is nice. Of course I said "many people", not "all people".

So those people who are in the _proper_ market for a netbook (small, cheap, not _too_ powerful but can do everything) are not touched by the iPad. All those who went for netbooks because they never needed _all_ the things a computer and a netbook meant they spent less for things they don't need, they will be very well served by an iPad.

 

[NebulaClash]

Besides from being bigger, how is this different than the Touch? Please list the ways. That's like saying a 13 inch MBP is totally different than a 17 inch MBP. Could they offer a different experience? Sure, but they're the same device.

Try swimming laps in your bathtub. Now try it in a swimming pool. Size changes the game completely. It allows you to do things you never could before, or could only in a cramped manner.

 

[kas23]

Reminds me of the people complaining about the fact Apple did dare to sell the original iMac without a floppy disc drive.

That's totally different. Apple replaced a hardware component with an improved one. How is no multitasking good? Seems to be going in the opposite direction of progress. The real reason there is no multitasking is that Apple has to castrate functions so it doesn't cannibalize the MacBook.

 

[Small White Car]

American ignorance.... U.S. only launch is a "launch into the world"... ?

Googling the phrase "Welcome a baby into the world" gets 47 million hits.

Clearly it's a pretty well used phrase.

Now, if you want to go around and tell those 47 milllion people that "babies are only born in one country so you're wrong!" then be my guest.

But until you do that you can't critisize someone for taking a common 'baby' saying and applying it to technology. There is some precedent there, after all.

 

[bludodge]

Who cares what THEY say

Real life experience is what matters. Not what theses guys are saying that have not even used the iPad. For me I didn't even open my laptop this weekend, so for me the iPad meets my needs perfectly.

 

[NebulaClash]

That's totally different. Apple replaced a hardware component with an improved one. How is no multitasking good? Seems to be going in the opposite direction of progress. The real reason there is no multitasking is that Apple has to castrate functions so it doesn't cannibalize the MacBook.

No it isn't, and it already does multitasking. 3rd-party multitasking seems to be coming in version 4.0 of the software.

 

[Small White Car]

That's totally different. Apple replaced a hardware component with an improved one. How is no multitasking good? Seems to be going in the opposite direction of progress. The real reason there is no multitasking is that Apple has to castrate functions so it doesn't cannibalize the MacBook.

And the reason Microsoft's next mobile OS doesn't have multitasking is because Microsoft doesn't want to cannibalize the MacBook either, right?

Is that the theory?

 

[cvaldes]

This last line killed me.

Are analysts EVER right?

It depends on the analyst. There's a research investment analysis group called StarMine that rates analysts against their predictions. It's a bell curve distribution, only the top 10% of analysts earn five stars.

Sadly, MacRumors tends to ignore Apple star analysts such as Brian Marshall (who was uncharacteristically off on his iPad launch weekend sales forecast) or Andy Hargreaves. Marshall's overall history is pretty good.

Like many other Apple-following media outlets, MacRumors focuses on certain analysts who just so happen to make wildly spectacular and highly inaccurate predictions: Gene Munster (Piper Jaffray) and Shaw Wu (Kaufman Bros.). They also quote market research firms with incredibly poor track records as well: Gartner and Enderle.

If you are going to read about Apple in the news, please keep a close eye on the analysts that these people are quoting. Most of the time, these media outlets are quoting people with horrific track records.

 

[gwangung]

Again, another example of the hive mind. If I don't love an Apple product, I must HATE it. There's no middle ground with you people. I own a MBP, a huge iMac, 2 ipods, and a Touch. I'd hardly classify myself as an Apple Hater. I'm just unimaginative enough to know that the iFad is nothing more than a toy in its current form.

Fixed that for you.

May not be good enough for your uses. Aint gonna be the same for others.

Will there be enough of the others? We'll see, but I'm not stupid enough to think my needs are the same as the rest of the world's.

 

[kas23]

Try swimming laps in your bathtub. Now try it in a swimming pool. Size changes the game completely. It allows you to do things you never could before, or could only in a cramped manner.

That's a bit unreasonable comparison. Come on...just list the difference besides size (which I'll gladly give you).

 

[wallinbl]

My sister is a soccer mom. She buys everything Apple poops out. She checked out the iPad at Best Buy on Saturday intending to buy it...and walked out empty-handed. Didn't want it. A computer she can't multitask on. A computer her kids can't visit their favorite websites on? All deal breakers to a customer that Apple should have easily won over and didn't because of the moronic things they left out of this "game changing device".

Sounds like the 10 times I've gone to look at netbooks. I have to run Windows, which is piggish on gimped hardware. I have to deal with boot up times and short battery life. I have to deal with a trackpad so damn small I can barely use it. I have to deal with apps designed for larger screens, leaving less room in the usable window because of huge ass toolbars (or hide the toolbars and make the apps hard to use because the developer meant for you to use the toolbar). I have to deal with having virus scan. I have to manually copy any music and videos and ebooks over. I have to carry a somewhat bulky device that needs to be flipped open to use. I keep wanting a netbook, then I try using one and realize why I don't want it. The iPad does the things I'd like with less hassle than a netbook. Multitasking and Flash are annoyances, sure, but nothing like the hassle of a netbook.

But, see, it's different for everyone. That's why different products are able to exist. You make your choices and I'll make mine. We can both be happy. Maybe I should visit the Acer forums and crap on all their netbooks since they don't suit me personally.

 

[bludodge]

When I did my arbitrary sales analysis on Saturday, I figured around 300,000-400,000 were probably sold from pre-orders through to Saturday.

And, is 300,000 a failure? Is this a device no one wants? I'm sure they will sell well over 1,000,000 by year's end and I'll be one of those purchases.

It looks fantastic. This is a game changer indeed. Wonder if Ballmer is crapping himself yet? The MS boys must be redoing their entire tablet now.

300,000 in one day, 3G not even out yet (which will really make this unit shine). I doubt it will take till the end of the year to sell a million..........

 

[kas23]

No it isn't, and it already does multitasking. 3rd-party multitasking seems to be coming in version 4.0 of the software.

That's only a rumor. One that I would love to happen, but nobody really knows what Apple is going to do next.