The iPad Launched 14 Years Ago Today as Longest-Ever Wait for New Models Continues

[Nautilus007]

14 years ago, Jobs said that the iPad would usher the world to the post-PC era....
... and it failed miserably since people continue to use PCs and Macs more than ever.
All thanks to the awfully limited iPad OS.
It could have killed the traditional computer but they preferred to just sell both as incomplete devices.
Good job, Tim.

Couldn't agree more.
I would like to believe if Steve were still alive - the iPad would have evolved leaps and bounds from where it is today. Apple is intentionally gimping the product with the fear of it cannabilizing sales of its other product likes. The are milking consumers for as long as they can. I hope other companies continue to innovate.

 

[truthsteve]

and here we are constantly nudging Apple to make it more like the MacBook instead of just...buying a MacBook for some reason.

 

[FaustsHausUK]

I had no real interest in the iPad, but lacking better ideas, my ex-wife and family joined forces to get me the 64GB 3G model for a milestone birthday. I haven't been without an iPad since. When I started working from home full time, it overtook my iPhone and MacBook Pro usage significantly.

 

[kiranmk2]

The first iPad was a classic example of why not to buy a 1st gen Apple product. It was outdated within a quarter as the iPhone 4 launched with the same A4 chip, but with the additional gyro sensor, Facetime camera and twice the RAM. This last point meant that the iPad lost iOS support after only 3 versions (launched with iOS3 and was dropped with iOS6).

The iPad 2 then launched a year later with the first dual core chip (A5) and cameras as well as hefty weight and thickness reductions, becoming a model that was supported for years and actively useful for most of that time.....

 

[AlexESP]

Happy birthday! There is no higher contrast between perception in Macrumors and reality with a product than with the iPad.

The iPad basically generates the same revenue as the Mac, despite the former not having any significant update lately, and the later getting a revolution (chip and design). And a lot more units.

If the iPad hasn’t reached higher ceilings is not because it’s “limited”, but due to our phones becoming much more capable.

iPadOS must evolve in its own way. The majority of customers will prefer an iOS-based OS compared to macOS (specially given the tablet format). The terminal, sideloading, etc. are things most people actively don’t want to deal with, even for most professional use cases.

Sure, there will be niche cases, but we come back to SJ’s analogy: trucks, cars and bicycles.

 

[klasma]

The first iPad was a classic example of why not to buy a 1st gen Apple product. It was outdated within a quarter as the iPhone 4 launched with the same A4 chip, but with the additional gyro sensor, Facetime camera and twice the RAM. This last point meant that the iPad lost iOS support after only 3 versions (launched with iOS3 and was dropped with iOS6).

My father still used it for ten years. And the main reason to switch was that websites began to outgrow its available RAM.

 

[Entilzha]

14 years ago, Jobs said that the iPad would usher the world to the post-PC era....
... and it failed miserably since people continue to use PCs and Macs more than ever.
All thanks to the awfully limited iPad OS.
It could have killed the traditional computer but they preferred to just sell both as incomplete devices.
Good job, Tim.

Apple sells millions of iPads every year. Most people (outside of office environments, and even some IN those) likely use iPads or other tablets more than desktops/laptops for a majority of their stuff.

I know I use my personal iPad FAR more than I ever use my desktop machine or my MacBook when I had it.

But nice attempt at a dig there. 6/10.

 

[applefan8254]

They should let people activate and manage apple watch to iPad without an iPhone.

 

[Fuzzball84]

I think there is now a chance that we won't see the M2 iPad Air and M3 iPad Pro models until WWDC. Reason: the very recent earthquake in Taiwan may mean temporary shortages of M2 and M3 SoC's, not good timing especially now it appears Apple has finally resolved their OLED panel production issues for the new iPad Pro models.

When is it ever good timing... that situation has affected peoples lives and homes, jobs... Im sure an iPad can wait.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

14 years ago, Jobs said that the iPad would usher the world to the post-PC era....
... and it failed miserably since people continue to use PCs and Macs more than ever.
All thanks to the awfully limited iPad OS.
It could have killed the traditional computer but they preferred to just sell both as incomplete devices.
Good job, Tim.

Steve specifically said it was not going to “kill” traditional PCs.
In fact, during the all things digital 2010 conference, he specifically compared the iPad to a car, while the traditional PC is like a truck.
The vast majority of consumers can get by with a car, but there will always be those subset that absolutely need a truck.

And he was absolutely right, for the majority of the general public, the iPad fulfills all of the needs that a traditional computer used to.
Especially those who are, shall we say, more tech illiterate.
The iPad is literally the perfect device for those types of people.

And you can see this in the sales numbers, Apple sells at least double the amount of iPads then they do Macintosh computers, because that’s all most people need.

 

[VisceralRealist]

Ah, the iPad.

The substitute parent that's raising a generation.

 

[DarthDon]

Battery was the 10 hrs too. 14 yrs ago 🤣.

 

[Tuck_]

I remember being disappointed that the UI was basically just a scaled up iPhone.

14 years later, it's a bit better but still severely lacking.

 

[satchmo]

Visual artists around the world disagree with you

I agree the iPad/Pencil has made it affordable and easy to illustrate and sketch out ideas on a display.

My iPad Air is always attached to a Folio style keyboard and pencil. I have the best of both worlds and haven't needed a MacBook.

For Apple users, this combo was long overdue previously having to use a Windows 2-in-1 laptop or expensive Cintiq tablets to use a stylus.

One wonders had Apple chosen a more unified OS approach (like Microsoft did), and touch enabled MacBooks if we'd be further or behind where we are today.

Do I wish iPadOS was better? Sure, but it handles 80% of my needs. The other 20% is handled on a desktop Mac mini.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

No, it failed because it was nothing more than a glorified phone without a SIM card. There's almost no reason to buy it if you've got a smartphone.

It's also essentially a crippled laptop.. it really doesn't do anything exceptionally well.

The iPad absolutely did not fail. What is up with these comments.
Even with the majority of iPad sold costing a fraction of what a Mac does, even with absolutely no new iPads released in 2023… It’s still generated almost $8 billion of profit in holiday quarter 2023.
For those keeping up, that’s about what the Mac generated that quarter as well, and that had brand new models released in October.

Most companies wish that their “failure” generated $8 billion of profit in a quarter without even being updated in a year

 

[MNWildFan]

The only people waiting patiently are Apple’s shareholders and YouTubers. As it currently stands all existing models more than fulfil their role incredibly well.

I agree; heck, I've had my 6th gen Mini for a few years now, and I'm more than happy with it still

Would really need some super compelling changes to the next generation of it for me to upgrade, otherwise, I'll stay put with it

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

They should let people activate and manage apple watch to iPad without an iPhone.

Now this I absolutely agree with.

 

[jclardy]

I turned off stage manager on my 11" iPad Pro and went back to the "old" multitasking style...I like it way better.

 

[jkmoses]

That's my whole point. Could've been the definitive computer if it didn't run a crippled OS.

I suspect they would rather sell a $2000-3000 laptop than a $700 iPad. The Desktop/Laptop market isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I think people forget that MOST consumers can do everything they want/need to do on an iPad or an old laptop/desktop.

 

[sunapple]

I like that iPad remains a personal device that seems to fit some people really well.

Personally I’m still an iPad critic despite owning one and also buying the first gen at launch. Made a whole thread about it eight years ago and still can’t disagree.

I grab my MacBook for ergonomics. Maybe more so than software features. Still think features should be more similar on both platforms though.

 

[groove-agent]

18 months to wait doesn't seem bad when you consider the wait on the Mac Pro from late 2013 to 2019 (~ 6 years), or the Mac mini between late 2014 to 2018 (~4 years), or the Macbook between mid 2010 - 2015 (~5 years).

 

[Harry Haller]

The only people waiting patiently are Apple’s shareholders and YouTubers. As it currently stands all existing models more than fulfil their role incredibly well.

Yep.
My ‘18 12.9 is still fabulous.
The OS has gotten better over the years,
but looking forward to more improvements to file system, Siri and windowing.

 

[one more]

It would be a good day to announce the new models then!

 

[newyorksole]

I don’t think many are waiting. Heck, the 2018 iPad Pro 12.9 is still kicking ass. That shows how good these things are.

my 2018 12.9” is still working FLAWLESSLY, but it’s going on 6 six years lol it’s time IMO.

to me, that’s plenty of time passed to warrant an upgrade. I get a new iPhone every year. don’t think it’s necessary for really anything else.

there’s so much new tech in the new Pros and this one coming to take advantage of. I understand holding onto what ya got though.

 

[outlawarth]

To all the iPad skeptical keyboard warriors: tell my commercial airline pilot friend to bring a clunky laptop into a busy cockpit. See if he agrees with you that iPad is a just a toy.