iPad Seen as 'Weakest Link' in Stagnating Tablet Market

[coolspot18]

Apple usually nails it on the head, as far as what users want. But i'm starting to wonder if people are feeling as though iOS is too limited??

Same arguments, too expensive, too limited, etc. All the while Android is getting better.

Hopefully Apple releases multi-tasking for iOS ... this should drive new sales as old units won't have enough RAM to properly multi-task.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Everyone who wants an iPad has one, and as they are getting more powerful, there is less of a need to upgrade them. And anyone who doesn't want to spend $500 on an iPad, already has a Kindle or Android tablet, so they aren't in the Apple market. I had the original iPad and the original iPad mini.

I probably won't buy another tablet until Apple comes out with a 15" retina tablet device which I can use iOS when I want to (when holding it) then when I drop it on a kickstand, with my BT mouse/keyboard, I can run full Mac OS.

That's the only thing that excites me. Or, take the new MacBook. IF that screen could swivel and turn into an iPad with touch when I want it, and a computer when I need it, I'm all in there.

Same here. I have been advocating a 27" iPad (OK over the top), but a larger size iPad which can run both is it!

People consume content with iPads and tablets and work with MBPs etc.

Long ditched desktop models as I like to take my stuff with me.

So, in my ideal world, I'd have a large iPad onto which I could hook up a keyboard and a monitor, but when just watching a movie etc. take the iPad itself only.

Oh, and make it so I can receive phone calls on it, so I don't have to get out of bed

 

[redscull]

Apple needs to really make the leap to an iPad that can run OS X and iOS.

That's practically what the new MacBook is. Because really all you're saying is that you want the lightest, most portable version of OSX possible. I could see the next year MacBook getting a touch screen specifically so it could toggle into iOS mode, and then you have it. Apple's answer (albeit very late) to the Surface Pro.

But the thing is, that results in a crappy tablet for those (few?) people who actually want a tablet purely for the tablet functions. No matter how thin and light it is with a fancy new keyboard, it could still be moreso without. So either the true tablet market isn't worth serving at all, or it needs a true tablet. A hybrid would always serve that market poorly.

 

[62tele]

With phablet sized smartphones like the iPhone 6plus canabalizing iPad sales, and the surface pro eating the iPad for lunch, Apple needs to really make the leap to an iPad that can run OS X and iOS. They need to address the need for iPads to be more productive for creative types. The iPhone 6 is a huge success, but people that buy the iPhone 6 plus in particular are choosing not to buy new iPads. I think an iPad that can run OS X and iOS will re energize iPad sales. Creative types would buy them up. Of course these new iPads would then canabalize the MacBook market...but I think Apple needs to address this growing trend that the surface pro is filling. Eventually they will have to. Just like they had to eventually make larger iPhones after saying they wouldn't for years.

In what way is the "surface pro eating the iPad for lunch"? What numbers support this? How many iPad users are there compared to surface pro users?"

"Creative Types" as your refer to them already use the iPad. Have you any idea how many music artists alone use the iPad for creating music or as a scratchpad for songwriting?
Surface Pro is playing catch up to iPad in the artist community. So far it's claim to fame is that it is full function computer for Windows users in a tablet form.

 

[cdm283813]

i think ios on the ipad needs to be more robust than on its phone counterpart. be it split screen multitasking or what, i'm not sure, but it needs more.

I had a bunch of scenarios on what Apple can do with the existing iPad but decided to shut my mouth. After seeing them release a $1300 Netbook with one port and a "unproven" Gold Apple Watch between $10,000 to $17,000 I lost all hope for anything that truly makes sense. I'm just waiting for Cook/Ivy to screw up the iPhone next. I always believed that it was too early to release a 5.5" iPhone and that people would have loved the 1080p display and optical image stabilization in the 4.7" model. Their iPad sales would be healthy right now if you only had a 4.7" iPhone on the market.

 

[Nausicaa]

The iPad is a fine device, but it's pretty stagnant at this point. I had a gen 1 and didn't upgrade until the Air. While the Air is a lot faster and nicer, it doesn't pretty much the same **** for me, just with 90% fewer crashes to home screen.

Apple needs to consider ways to develop the product into something more. The Surface Pro has a lot of problems, but the direction MS is going with it is something Apple should take note of. I like the speculation in this thread that the new MacBook is a precursor to the iPad Pro, which could run OSX. They need to work on making the OS touch friendly though, and also the ability to run iOS apps. OSX display scaling is already far superior to Windows, so I don't foresee as many issues with 3rd party software. Plus, developers for Apple devices seem more willing to update their UIs in line with Apple's new products.

 

[mojolicious]

1) iPads appear to be pretty resilient beasts

2) improvements are small and incremental

3) 1+2 above mean low replacement rate

4) Everyone who wants and who can afford an iPad has one

5) Non Apple tablets have come on in leaps and bounds over the last couple of years, at all price points

6) Despite all the above, iPad sales are still growing year on year

7) There's not really a story here

 

[MasterRyu2011]

The tablet is not a must-have item like the smartphone. It's a nice to have, but I can see many people going through generations and not upgrading much. The psychology of buying a smartphone is different compared to a tablet. Many buy phones because they feel the need to upgrade and take advantage of the $200 reduced upfront cost. With tablets, for the most part you have to fork over the full $500 or whatever; You don't have carriers extending the cost over two years, at least not iPads.

So when you have to pay the retail cost of the device, you think twice whether you really need to get the most "premium" tablet. I can see many iPhone owners just resorting to less expensive, and equally capable devices like the Nexii, Kindle Fires, and Dell Windows tablets.

 

[psingh01]

i'm still on the iPad 3. this is what happens when you make a great product. they don't have to be replaced as often!

 

[Narcaz]

The fact that only the 6Plus has got the Copy/Cut buttons tells everyone how much Apple cares about iOS for tablets. It is somehow ironic to offer top notch hardware with software that doesn't make use of it. Tablet optimized OS? Why is there so much empty space? Why are so many Apple apps just blown up versions of their iPhone counterpart? What about new features like Multi User Support and Splitscreen? Instead of buying two devices, i am probably switching to a 6S plus when my carrier contract is expiring. Also the bad experience with iOS 8 on my rMini 2 contributed a lot to this decision.

 

[2457282]

Apple usually nails it on the head, as far as what users want. But i'm starting to wonder if people are feeling as though iOS is too limited?? I personally don't thing so, but I also don't feel like an iPad replaces my computer.

They were wrong about it replacing a computer. It doesn't. And it won't if it runs ios.

if they release the rumored ipad pro and add true multi tasking (several windows running at the same time) and a keyboard cover, then it could replace the computer. This is what Microsoft is betting on.

What apple did with the ipad air I think complicates things however. Because to release a 12" ipad would directly compete with the 12" air. There are already plenty of keyboard covers out there so the only two differences would be the touchscreen and the multitasking.

I can't even guess what Apple has in mind, but I do hope that they resolve this soon as this is a problem IMO (the lack of clarity in terms of how these devices could live side by side).

 

[indieshack]

Mouse and 3D screen

The iPad has Bluetooth keyboard support, it now needs iOS to support mouse input for productivity use, or Android/Microsoft is going to eat its lunch. Also, would like to see 3D displays - there are already (albeit low grade) Android 3D screens. This could be a huge differentiator.

 

[TommyA6]

Doesn't help that Apple gimped the iPad mini 3.

Doesn't help that Apple still charges $500 for a 16GB tablet.

Doesn't help that Apple keeps iPad 2 and above updated.

Doesn't help that the iPad is built to last.

Doesn't help that the market is way over saturated with iPads.

Doesn't help that the core design and function has remained the same since introduction.

Doesn't help that Apple released a 5.5" iPhone.

Doesn't help that the iPad does not replace a computer.

Doesn't help that the iPad has become boring.

Did I miss anything?

Nope, pretty much covered it all

 

[62tele]

They were wrong about it replacing a computer. It doesn't. And it won't if it runs ios.

The iPad is a computer. Jobs did not say the tablet would replace the "computer." He spoke of the post-pc era which is exactly what we're in. People are doing an enormous amount of computing on their phones and tablets. Things which they would have previously done on a desktop or a laptop.
Jobs likened the desktop to a truck, needed for heavy lifting and said many people don't need a truck. He was right. The iPad does replace a computer for some folks. If I didn't do home recording (and use Logic) I could get by without a laptop or desktop.
BTW, Microsoft has lost a ton of cachet, not to mention users, because they were unprepared for the mobile, post-pc market. They are still playing catch up and may never attain any foothold in the smartphone market.

 

[Taipan]

Who actually believes that Windows 10 will deliver a consistent experience from a 5" phone up to a 30" PC?

 

[kas23]

This is directly related to people keeping their ipads longer. Tons of people are still using the ipad 2 with no desire to upgrade.

That, or their iPad 2, which seemed like a great idea at the time, is sitting somewhere collecting dust and people see no desire to upgrade.

 

[iBug2]

Definitely does for me too. But it's not a full replacement is all I'm saying.

It's not supposed to be a full replacement. Even a laptop does not fully replace a desktop, still.

 

[heeloliver]

This is directly related to people keeping their ipads longer. Tons of people are still using the ipad 2 with no desire to upgrade.

I agree with this but the decline of sales is due to many other factors.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

I bought ~10 RCA Android tablets over Christmas for $45 a peace at Target out of a giant bin to use as remotes for home automation. Not sure how this helps Google in any way shape or form as the increase in marketshare definitely doesn't benefit them. Then again, I sill have iPad Airs/Minis that are several years old yet I still buy media and apps on them.

 

[patseguin]

Weakest link? The iPad is by far the best tablet on the market. I agree with other posters that the results are skewed by the fact that many iPad owners stay with older generation devices. My Dad still has an iPad 2 and my brother even still uses is original iPad. I might be the exception to the rule as I've owned every iPad with the exception of the 4th gen. I even upgraded from the Air to the Air 2. I do find it hard to envision anything the Air 3 could offer that would compel me to upgrade. Perhaps if it had force touch, an updated CPU, and 1 more killer feature it would be attractive. I think the iPads are such well designed devices that sales numbers are a result of the fact that many users are happy with older generations. MS and Android tablets are such that they need frequent upgrades.

 

[elgrecomac]

Apple usually nails it on the head, as far as what users want. But i'm starting to wonder if people are feeling as though iOS is too limited?? I personally don't thing so, but I also don't feel like an iPad replaces my computer.

But MS surface 3 does....who'd a guessed that one?

 

[cdm283813]

i'm still on the iPad 3. this is what happens when you make a great product. they don't have to be replaced as often!

If you think about it that's why so many Android devices sale. In order to get the latest update it's quicker just to replace the device.
And sadly I have a Note 4 still running Kitkat. But because the S6 Edge is so sexy I now want that phone instead. Samsung does it on purpose and they might have suckered me in again. I can only blame myself.
If Samsung releases a tablet with that Edge it would be to hard to pass up.

 

[ShootingStarPho]

iPads as Readers & Basic Internet Communication Tools Have Long Shelf Lives

This is directly related to people keeping their ipads longer. Tons of people are still using the ipad 2 with no desire to upgrade.

This is undeniably true. On a university campus and in the research , I see a wide array of iPads being used from the iPad (first generation) all the way to the iPad Air 2.

If you use the iPad for pdf reading (research articles, books, etc), basic emailing, Internet useage, social media, and so on for casual users, the immediate appeal of a newer, sleeker iPad is not immediately obvious to most consumers.

In addition to this, the iPhone 6 Plus is essentially a single hand/large pocket version of an iPad Air, making the iPad seem like a luxury.

 

[musika]

It's so cut and dry simple that it blows my mind that the media and analysts keep spewing this garbage. I don't expect much from either group, but this crap again and again is just sad and pathetic.

You might be right, but I'm not sure really. As someone who uses an iPad for the majority of his personal computing, aside from heavy design and music work, I hear a lot of people around me and online saying that they simply don't really have a use for their iPads.

I worry that the focus on the new MacBook will only enforce the idea that iPads are not the future.

I think that Apple definitely has to get their marketing message to a more clear state before people will really appreciate and embrace the form factor.

 

[avanpelt]

i'm still on the iPad 3. this is what happens when you make a great product. they don't have to be replaced as often!

I also have an iPad third-gen. I hesitate to call it a "great product", though. It is woefully underpowered considering it has to drive a ton more pixels than the iPad 2 did. Since I put iOS 7 on it (and continuing with iOS 8), the third-gen iPad hardware has struggled so badly that when I'm scrolling through web pages in Safari, it looks like I'm using a $99 Android tablet as opposed to the iPad I paid almost $700 for.

That purchase left a bad taste in my mouth. I know the iPad models since have not been shown the door by Apple as quickly as the third-gen iPad was. However, over the last year or so, I've just used it to stream Netflix and the like because doing anything else with it can be frustrating.

I've decided that when I need to do anything productive, I'll use my iPhone 6 and my MacBook Pro. Since I don't seem to have any use for an iPad beyond consuming media at this point, I don't expect to upgrade it anytime soon, if ever.