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Tablet Manufacturers Reevaluating Pricing Options in Light of iPad Announcement?

Eidorian said:
Apple is just going the route of making a toaster and hoping people will be upsold from the base model. Which is standard Apple procedure. The only thing going for the iPad is only capacity though. Are there any differences between the 16 GB and 64 GB models short of how much memory is soldered onto the board and the density of it?
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Let me counter with this question: Is there any difference between a netbook with a 40GB drive and one with an 80GB drive? For some people, that's a huge difference, for others, it's not. If you ask me, 40GB drive is barely enough to allow for the OS and maybe one or two apps. 80GB at least lets me load a couple of movies as well.

The 64GB is double that of the current highest capacity iPhone/iPod Touch. That seems a lot when you consider that the average app is only a few Megabytes compared to the 100+ MB most Windows applications now run. To some extent, that 64GB feels more like 640GB by comparison.
 
Vulpinemac said:
Let me counter with this question: Is there any difference between a netbook with a 40GB drive and one with an 80GB drive? For some people, that's a huge difference, for others, it's not. If you ask me, 40GB drive is barely enough to allow for the OS and maybe one or two apps. 80GB at least lets me load a couple of movies as well.
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There are many, many more hardware variations of netbooks even within a single manufacturer. The 32 GB and 64 GB only have onboard capacity as an upsell and nothing more.

I think my point overall is just because you give technology to the masses doesn't mean everyone becomes a wizard.
 
Eidorian said:
The iPad is Apple's ultimate trolling tool. They get to play Dell for race to the bottom on tablet hardware and they get to back Adobe even further into a corner.
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Bzzt. Dell sells its slim-margin junk, cuts Microsoft its check, and counts the pennies left over. That's it. It's all over for that sale. The customer might not even buy another Dell to replace it (read: no more pennies).

Apple may sell the iPad at a reduced margin compared to its other products but leverages that sale into a never-ending content revenue stream. And that sale will almost surely turn into the sale of another Apple device to replace it.

Dell could only wish for such a setup.
 
LagunaSol said:
Bzzt. Dell sells its slim-margin junk, cuts Microsoft its check, and counts the pennies left over. That's it. It's all over for that sale. The customer might not even buy another Dell to replace it (read: no more pennies).

Apple may sell the iPad at a reduced margin compared to its other products but leverages that sale into a never-ending content revenue stream. And that sale will almost surely turn into the sale of another Apple device to replace it.

Dell could only wish for such a setup.
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Rather predictable but do you have anything new to add?
 
Eidorian said:
I don't foam at the mouth. Overwhelming isn't what I'm looking for.
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Perhaps you would like to counter my argument regarding iPad pricing (which was in direct response to your argument regarding iPad pricing), rather that just throwing out tired insults? Isn't that the point of a discussion forum?
 
LagunaSol said:
Perhaps you would like to counter my argument regarding iPad pricing (which was in direct response to your argument regarding iPad pricing), rather that just throwing out tired insults? Isn't that the point of a discussion forum?
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It was already done earlier in the thread and in touched on in several others. :D

I know you've made up your mind and you posted about it earlier in this thread. Was it necessary to do it again?
 
Eidorian said:
I know you've made up your mind and you posted about it earlier in this thread. Was it necessary to do it again?
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About as unnecessary (and irrelevant) as your "Dell's race to the bottom" comparison, if you really understand how Apple plans to profit from this new device (which obviously you should as its been discussed so thoroughly in this thread, right?).

It's clear that neither you nor anyone else here walks the "non-repetitive debate" walk (Mr. Laptop On a Stick).

Ultimately all this forum debate is completely meaningless. The marketplace will decide (not a few hundred forum commenters), and the iPad will either shine or fade to obscurity. Heck, why are we having this discussion at all?
 
Eidorian said:
There are many, many more hardware variations of netbooks even within a single manufacturer. The 32 GB and 64 GB only have onboard capacity as an upsell and nothing more.

I think my point overall is just because you give technology to the masses doesn't mean everyone becomes a wizard.
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Ok, new question: if you give a netbook to the masses and they can't use it, is it worth the price you paid for it? On the other hand, if you gave an iPad to those same masses and they can use it, was it worth the extra investment?
 
LagunaSol said:
Heck, why are we having this discussion at all?
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I'm not sure really. I can't really tell why you reply sometimes. It's only a matter of when if AidenShaw posts. Otherwise if someone else gets a glimpse of the big picture and it's not Apple's SOP you feel it necessary to point out how superior Apple's model is regardless. It seems rather unnecessary and redundant.

The iPad is a door jam. Apple is trolling all of us literally. It's in the title and opening post of this thread. Apple played the entire market for fools on rumors of expensive hardware. I don't really understand how making a comparison to Dell and other vendors in their race to the bottom hurts you so much. Apple just did it. The content stores and application repositories aren't chump change either.

Not to mention they get to sucker punch their old friend Adobe. Everyone seemed to get caught up on how magical and revolutionary Apple's compromise was to completely miss out on how disruptive and destructive it really is.

I'm not showing all my cards either. I still have plenty more observations to talk about.
 
Eidorian said:
Go on...

We're at the top and still trying to figure out what to do with it. It's disturbing that Apple is taking such a gamble to "let the marketplace decide" when they've already done so much in infrastructure. I'll go as far as to say that even Apple doesn't have much confidence in the product.
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I couldn't agree with you more. The whole tablet thing is a gray area and I don't think Apple or anyone else knows at this point where it will go. Should it be more like a laptop or should it be, in Apple's case, more like a larger better version of the iPod touch? I believe the consumers and software developers will eventually determine the focus and whether it is successful or not. The foundation for a better mouse trap is in place. Now, if we can only figure out what direction to take. Will I buy one? Yep.:)
 
Trek2100 said:
I couldn't agree with you more. The whole tablet thing is a gray area and I don't think Apple or anyone else knows at this point where it will go. Should it be more like a laptop or should it be, in Apple's case, more like a larger better version of the iPod touch? I believe the consumers and software developers will eventually determine the focus and whether it is successful or not. The foundation for a better mouse trap is in place. Now, if we can only figure out what direction to take. Will I buy one? Yep.:)
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It looked like a gray area even back at CES. Even in a few days some things have changed but it doesn't mean everyone is convinced.

The iPad is a blank slate. Some people want a device and others want full x86. The iPad is also a compromise between various groups to meet its price points. Notebooks are getting close to desktop performance. Something a little smaller and portable does look like the future of "notebooks/slates". Then again we have even smaller devices in smartphones.

Are you going to remember to take your iPad or your iPhone on the road? Maybe the iPad might stay at home since it's not going to be in your pocket. (Figuratively)

I believe the iPad is an interim product but it's a necessary step. It builds upon the iPhone but it still feels like a gamble. It's really strange to be honest.
 
Eidorian said:
Are you going to remember to take your iPad or your iPhone on the road? Maybe the iPad might stay at home since it's not going to be in your pocket. (Figuratively)

I believe the iPad is an interim product but it's a necessary step. It builds upon the iPhone but it still feels like a gamble. It's really strange to be honest.
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Currently when I travel my iphone and my 17" MBP go with me. The iPad would be a real weight saver and perfect for use in my room. I'm supposed to go to Las Vegas for the CA world conference in May. The iPad will be perfect.:D
 
Trek2100 said:
Currently when I travel my iphone and my 17" MBP go with me. The iPad would be a real weight saver and perfect for use in my room. I'm supposed to go to Las Vegas for the CA world conference in May. The iPad will be perfect.:D
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If you can get one by then.
 
I will be waiting for the next revision

The ipad will be successful, just not right away, like the iphone first started. Iphone 2G + OS 1.0 were pathetic, absolutely pathetic and I laughed at it from my Nokia N95. Now, 2 years later with the 3GS and OS3.0 and the app store, I'm not laughing any more because I bought one. Similar to the iphone, the first ipad revision is lacking many things, but they will be added over time, in both hardware (camera, more space, miniDP), and software, like some sort of limited multitasking, maybe in form of more Apple apps that can run in the background concurrently like mail and ipod app, and a solution to the flash problem, along with an even lower price, or at least more memory for the same price. Most importantly, we will see tons of ipad apps that take advantage of the bigger touch screen, which are the key to make it a compelling device. So when I buy it 1-2 years down the road, it'll have fully matured with tons of apps.
 
cvaldes said:
No way.

If I'm going out (dinner, date, whatever), I just need my keys, wallet and phone. There is no way I'd schlepp the iPad around; it doesn't fit in a pocket.
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What? You mean it would look bad to take my iPad with me on "dates, dinners, whatever", to read my emails, surf the net, read e-books, play games and listen to music, work on Pages? Ooooooooh... why didn't I think about that before...?!?
 
iPad not a substitute

Lets just remember that the iPad isn't a substitute for a computer.
In saying that you can't really even compare the two.
The iPad imho is just like a big iPod Touch or iPhone.

iPad:
  • No Flash
  • No Camera
  • No Muilt tasking

iPhone:
  • No Flash
  • Yes it has a Camera
  • No Muilt Tasking

Mac:
  • Flash
  • Camera
  • Muilt Tasking (Well Duh)

I personally think Apple could of done better. But hey, I'm sure they make the first one a ****** release so they can make it one better next time.
 
Peace #84

My friend, you are a poet and a visionary. You 'get' this thing and I'm pleased to say I get it too and completely share your views. "the focus is you" - genius, but also obvious, why everyone else can't see it I don't know it's so simple

RobBookPro #131
"I think a lot of you are trying to make this thing a laptop."

so true, so little they understand. You would think from the blind naysayers on here that they lived their lives as ISVs running VisualStudio and SQL server right on their $400 netbooks. They don't, you can't, netbooks are not proper computers.

Neither is the iPad, it doesn't set out to be. It is a consumer electronics device the enables an individual's digital life. There will be many copy cat devices, Dell, HP, Asus and they all WILL SELL. There will remain a professional need for 'proper' computers, powerful laptops and desktops are here to stay.

My guess is that 3-5 years from now netbooks will be non existent and joe public will be living his digital life on some form of tablet. One thing he will not be using is this extraordinarily awful brick
 
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