New iPad Garners 98% Satisfaction Rating, Tops 'Consumer Reports' Rankings

[MacRumors]

ChangeWave Research today released the results of a survey addressing users' experiences with the new iPad, finding that 98% of the professional and early-adopter consumer audience targeted by the firm rate themselves as either "very satisfied" (82%) or "somewhat satisfied" (16%) with the device. The number compares favorably to the already-strong 95% satisfaction rating (74% very/23% somewhat) for the iPad 2 in the weeks leading up to the new iPad's introduction.

Among the key features of the new iPad is obviously the Retina display, with 75% of respondents citing it as one of their favorite features. Other top features such as long battery life, LTE capability, and device speed registered in the 20-22% range. On the negative side, price was the biggest issue, with 26% of respondents noting device cost and 23% of respondents citing wireless data costs as their key dislikes. Other mentioned drawbacks such as size/weight and storage capacity all registered with under 10% of the surveyed customers.

Interestingly, ChangeWave also surveyed customers about any issues with heat on the new iPad, and was able to compare those results with ones obtained back in June 2010 regarding much-publicized antenna issues on the iPhone 4. The new survey found that 89% of users experienced no problems with heat on the new iPad, with none of the respondents who even experienced the problem citing it as a major one. This contrasts with the iPhone 4 antenna issue, where 35% of respondents reported at least some issues with antenna performance and 7% calling the issue a "very big" one.

ChangeWave's survey was conducted March 22-28 and included 200 owners of the new iPad. The sample size is a relatively small one, but the results should show at least a general perspective on how customers are viewing the device.

Meanwhile, influential ratings and reviews magazine Consumer Reports has released its new tablet ratings, giving the new iPad a "recommended" label and placing it atop the rankings among 9-12 inch models. The recommendation comes after the magazine noted some issues with heat on the new device, but ultimately feels that it "didn't find the temperatures to be cause for concern".

Notably, the Retina display on the new iPad has resulted in Consumer Reports recalibrating its expectations for tablet displays, with the new iPad garnering the only "excellent" rating among tablet displays, while other displays have in many cases been shifted downward to make room at the top.

As a result of the standout performance of the new iPad's screen, we have recalibrated our standard of excellence for tablet screens. The iPad alone now receives an excellent overall score for display quality. A number of current models, including the iPad 2 (which remains on sale and is a fine performer), that received excellent scores under the past standard will now be adjusted to receive very good scores overall. Likewise, some models that received good scores may also be adjusted downward, and some overall scores have changed slightly.

Perhaps the only "negative" of the new iPad cited by Consumer Reports is the observation that the Retina display can "magnify imperfections" in low-resolution web content, with the magazine suggesting that in some cases such content appears worse on the new iPad than on the lower-resolution iPad 2.

Article Link: New iPad Garners 98% Satisfaction Rating, Tops 'Consumer Reports' Rankings

 

[SBlue1]

of course people will complain about the price. every device i buy could be cheaper if you are asking me.

will people still buy it if they feel the price is matching what they get? yes.

 

[spiderman0616]

The new iPad is only the 3rd Apple product I've ever owned. So far, the media has ruined my buzz on all three product launches I've been through. They make a big deal out of the stupidest things, and then anyone that sees me using whatever the new thing is, instead of asking me if I like it or not, starts asking me about all the BS they've seen in the news.

Consumer Reports, CNET, Gizmodo, and all the rest of these tech "news" sites need to be taken to task for the crap that they post. I wish there was a way to outlaw click bait.

PS: Before anyone accuses me of being insecure and buying Apple stuff for the wrong reasons--I don't use Apple stuff because it looks cool. I just hate when people ask me stupid questions.

 

[FFArchitect]

I'll take a slightly warm iPad for the 3m pixels.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Now I suppose CR is great.

 

[wgr73]

The new iPad is only the 3rd Apple product I've ever owned. So far, the media has ruined my buzz on all three product launches I've been through. They make a big deal out of the stupidest things...

This is what happens when your on top of the game (apple dominating). If it didn't happen something would be wrong. Don't worry about the media, enjoy your apple product!

 

[davereynolds]

74% + 23% = 95%. Lol

 

[EmbraceNext]

74% + 23% = 95%. Lol

Dunno what you are laughing at. 82+16=98. Which is the NEW ipad. The 95 that you are laughing at is the old ipad.

 

[Ugg]

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is the extremely high level of quality control. I can't imagine what it must take to maintain such a high quality level while shipping millions of iDevices.

I watched a Top Gear episode last night where Jeremy, Richard and James all agreed that Lancia was probably the most influential car company around. There were the first to use any number of game changing technologies and won any number of races and awards, but the quality control was complete crap.

It goes to show that the best ideas in the world are meaningless if the customer doesn't get a flawless product.

 

[davereynolds]

Dunno what you are laughing at. 82+16=98. Which is the NEW ipad. The 95 that you are laughing at is the old ipad.

Elementary school math:
74+23=97, not 95.

 

[TMay]

98% is for "new" iPad; 95% is for previous iPad 2

LOL WRT UR RDG CMPRHSN

Makes me wonder what the 2%'s gripe is.

"I attribute any math errors to the use of a CR approved calculator"

 

[Drunken Master]

But, but, I thought it was piping hot, and it didn't know how to charge a battery, and the wi-fi sucks, and, and...

 

[fz750]

LOL WRT UR RDG CMPRHSN

Makes me wonder what the 2%'s gripe is.

The users who actually remembered that flash is STILL not supported...?!

Still amazes me that people continually forget this..

 

[RalfTheDog]

My favorite feature is that corner that gets hot. I use it to iron shirts when I travel. I never have been able to use it to light the BBQ grill, that is just a myth.

 

[nastebu]

The users who actually remembered that flash is STILL not supported...?!

Still amazes me that people continually forget this..

But everyone *has* forgotten it because, apparently, they don't care. Even the 2% don't mention flash or it would have shown up on the survey as a complaint.

 

[FloatingBones]

Now I suppose CR is great.

CR got a Reality Check from the response to their survey: 0% of the respondents had a "very big problem" with the iPad's heat. They have the journalistic integrity to report on what their users are actually saying in their survey. That's not great; I would expect nothing less from the magazine.

It's too bad they didn't have a "You are just trolling for publicity to even ask this silly question" option for the heating issues question on their survey. Now, that would have been great.

The users who actually remembered that flash is STILL not supported...?! Still amazes me that people continually forget this..

Perhaps that is because Flash IS supported -- through apps in the App Store. Look up machinarium. The description doesn't say it, but this is a Flash-based game. As Adobe noted in their blog last fall, it was [briefly] the #1 iPad game in the App Store. It's currently #152 on the list.

With Adobe's latest tools, any Flash developer can package their apps to be distributed to Android, Apple, and RIM app stores. MS will also have an app store for Windows 8; I'm sure Flash apps will be distributed the same way.

Few seem to be bothered that the iPad web browser is Flash-free. Large businesses have gotten the message to update to a Flash-free experience; I've seen several large commercial sites recently ditch their behemoth Flash apps.

From a methodology perspective and a journalistic integrity perspective, yes...they are.
1) They stood by their original assessment of "antennagate" and never wavered from it, regardless of the hype produced by Apple.

CR gave the iPhone 4 a very high numeric rating but didn't recommend the product. IMHO, that wasn't a sign of journalistic integrity; it was a sign of journalistic schizophrenia.

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

Now I suppose CR is great.

From a methodology perspective and a journalistic integrity perspective, yes...they are.

1) They stood by their original assessment of "antennagate" and never wavered from it, regardless of the hype produced by Apple.
2) They have effectively downgraded all other tablet computers relative to the superlative user experience of the iPad 3. This is almost unheard of it most review publications...you never see contextual rating changes like this. I admire the integrity this shows.

Whether you agree or disagree with their findings is up to the individual reader. But I have no issue with their methodology.

 

[Steveo13]

I feel like every little problem an Apple product has is blown totally out of proportion. For instance the iPhone 4 antenna issue and the new iPad heat issue. I was hearing about this iPad heat issue everywhere like is was a HUGE problem, however after looking at the data, it seems like such a very very small amount of people. I, myself have not experienced any issue with the new iPad.

 

[joelvega125]

Wirelessly posted

Owned...

 

[TheOrioles33]

They make a big deal out of the stupidest things, and then anyone that sees me using whatever the new thing is, instead of asking me if I like it or not, starts asking me about all the BS they've seen in the news.

OMG! You are so right! Now people ask me if my new iPad gets hot! **** already!

 

[Kevin Paquet]

The users who actually remembered that flash is STILL not supported...?!

Still amazes me that people continually forget this..

Looks more like 98% of users who don't care about flash at all.

 

[alhedges]

An 82% "very satisfied" result is good, particularly given the increase from last year.

But I don't think that the 16% "somewhat satisfied" result is something to brag about. "Somewhat satisfied" is not really a good result for a company like Apple.

 

[nick_elt]

Wirelessly posted

The users who actually remembered that flash is STILL not supported...?!

Still amazes me that people continually forget this..

But everyone *has* forgotten it because, apparently, they don't care. Even the 2% don't mention flash or it would have shown up on the survey as a complaint.

Well its from ipad owners. Some ppl like me wont buy it because lack of flash

 

[MH01]

Bet you that is if they sampled 200 MR users, that % would be significantly lower!

There lies the problem is surveys, most people would know know if they had a iPad that had a battery issue, yellow screen tint or overheating, unless they just upgraded from an Ipad 2 or had another to compare against.

The heat survey is kinda silly, had they got 200 people to play games and then give feedback, cool. Geez mine is cold as.... as long as I surf the web or give the GPU a light work out.

 

[eric/]

That is very impressive. Wow.