The tablet market is 100 million units smaller. What happened?

[Narcaz]

Well, with iOS 10, A5 devices will most definitely be left behind and maybe even A6 and A6X devices will also be left behind, with iOS going all 64 bit soon, that should greatly improve the lowest common denominator for apps

Those devices don't explode suddenly if they don't get another ios update. Developers will continue to support both ios versions for a while. The potential installation base is too big. Maybe some people will upgrade immediatly, but i guess it will be a rather slow process.

MBPs are still arguably the best laptops available. MBP's are not gaming machines, but they are good for 3d graphics, video editing and other highend tasks.

What are you talking about? Of course they are not gaming machines, but they arent even using Intels latest technology. Its the same processor architecture from 2013. And the M370x is a Cap Verde chip from 2012. Slower than the competition. A GM206 chip would have included HDMI 2.0 as well as a HEVC decoder, but no. On the desktop side the mac mini, Mac Pro look even worse.

 

[Jessica Lares]

I don't even think phablets are to blame. The iPad came at a time when we all started engaging more with our smartphones - Social media, mobile photography, shopping, music streaming, casual gaming, that all took off on the phone, and weren't that much better on a tablet for a lot of people. And while we have stuff like the iPad Pro and Surface now, we also still have traditional laptops and Chromebooks that are more affordable, have the standard interfaces, and don't come in separate parts.

Of course computer sales now are also not as great, and I think that's another reason why people aren't upgrading. If your tablet breaks, you're just going to go dust off the laptop or use your phone. Your two-year upgrade is up in another three months, and so the money you have to spend on these things is just going to go there - Your 2008/09/10 laptops are still perfectly fine and support the latest operating systems and software. But again, it's not because the phone is bigger, it's just that they've become the main thing in people's lives. We'd still be seeing this decline if we were still stuck at 4 inches max across all platforms.

 

[rowspaxe]

What are you talking about? Of course they are not gaming machines, but they arent even using Intels latest technology. Its the same processor architecture from 2013. And the M370x is a Cap Verde chip from 2012. Slower than the competition. A GM206 chip would have included HDMI 2.0 as well as a HEVC decoder, but no. On the desktop side the mac mini, Mac Pro look even worse.

Googled this a bit--you have a point, esp on the gpu issue

 

[businezguy]

So you think retail prices will fall significantly. So the price of the Pro 9.7 will go down to $500?

I would love that but don't think it will happen.

I think that Apple raised the price of the iPad pro because the iPad air 2 was being sold by places like Best Buy for only $350. Now when Best Buy discounts the iPad Pro for $150, and it's priced at $450, it'll seem like a good deal. I'd expect to see those types of discounts over the next month or so.

Over the long run, it depends on what Apple does. If they make a commitment to the iPad that includes a major increase in iOS capabilities, and developers offer desktop level software, the iPad could increase in price. I don't see Tim Cook having that foresight or discipline to do that so I'd say iPad demand will continue to deteriorate and the retail price will come down.

 

[Osty]

Maybe people woke up and decided they don't need change their device just because some marketing executive says they should.

MBPs are still arguably the best laptops available. MBP's are not gaming machines, but they are good for 3d graphics, video editing and other highend tasks.

You can argue any point you like, doesn't make it right. MBPs are fine machines but equal or better is readily available and at a better price too.

I'm writing this post on a Thinkpad with a Skylake i7 processor. Sure it doesn't look as nice, but the keyboard is better, it has built in 4G, a fingerprint reader and spill proof chassis.

As always, what's best for me is not best for you.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Steve Jobs died.

I'm not saying that to be provocative or trotting it out. He made the iPad market out of nothing. He caught the public's imagination and swept us away. If he had not died, I believe that the iPad would have seen much greater sales and would have dominated the tablet market. The reason is because he would have had the vision to see in which direction to take the iPad. It felt like the iPad stagnated for years after October 2011. The biggest misfire has been in software. I think Jobs would have made the iPad much more capable than it currently is by giving it a custom OS. In addition, he would have made great tv deals, which would have boosted iPad adoption even more.

I still hope that the iPad will blossom, but it's sure taking an age. It's so sad that its obvious potential is not being utilised by Apple.

 

[bob24]

I think that Apple raised the price of the iPad pro because the iPad air 2 was being sold by places like Best Buy for only $350. Now when Best Buy discounts the iPad Pro for $150, and it's priced at $450, it'll seem like a good deal. I'd expect to see those types of discounts over the next month or so.

That kind of policy would annoy me as a customer though, and I don't think I would be the only one. One think I have liked about Apple products is the clear pricing and the fact that aside from few exceptions the price is the same no matter where and when you buy it. This certainty and the fact that it helps protect resell value is also good for Apple in the way that it is pushing a number of people to constantly upgrade to the latest products.

 

[The Game 161]

Steve Jobs died.

I'm not saying that to be provocative or trotting it out. He made the iPad market out of nothing. He caught the public's imagination and swept us away. If he had not died, I believe that the iPad would have seen much greater sales and would have dominated the tablet market. The reason is because he would have had the vision to see in which direction to take the iPad. It felt like the iPad stagnated for years after October 2011. The biggest misfire has been in software. I think Jobs would have made the iPad much more capable than it currently is by giving it a custom OS. In addition, he would have made great tv deals, which would have boosted iPad adoption even more.

I still hope that the iPad will blossom, but it's sure taking an age. It's so sad that its obvious potential is not being utilised by Apple.

Has nothing to do with jobs

People don't understand why they need to upgrade their tablets every year as there's no need to. What an iPad does is enough for most people. People use it for certain things and that's enough for them. The average user just uses it for browsing and watching stuff

 

[rui no onna]

People don't understand why they need to upgrade their tablets every year as there's no need to. What an iPad does is enough for most people. People use it for certain things and that's enough for them. The average user just uses it for browsing and watching stuff

I've got coworkers who only replaced 10 to 15-year old computers recently. Even the iPad 2 on iOS 9 probably feels quite fast in comparison.

 

[CE3]

Has nothing to do with jobs

People don't understand why they need to upgrade their tablets every year as there's no need to.

It's the same story with desktops and laptops. The market is oversaturated with computers and gadgets, they've become the norm, and we're not as easily impressed by latest and greatest anymore. Also, the tech isn't currently advancing with the great leaps it did from one model to the next a few years back. Smartphone sales will have their era of decline too (and then people can declare it a post-smartphone era). But most of these devices be around, in one form or another, for many years to come.

@Benjamin Frost Apple did see greater sales and plenty of innovation with the iPad since Steve and the iPad 2. And while tablet sales may be in decline, the iPad still dominates the tablet market.

 

[The Game 161]

I've got coworkers who only replaced 10 to 15-year old computers recently. Even the iPad 2 on iOS 9 probably feels quite fast in comparison.

Yeah, it's only phones where people tend to feel the need to upgrade all the time as it's something they use a lot more. If a tablet or laptop works well why upgrade?

My 2015 MacBook Pro won't be upgraded for at least 5-6 years if not more if it still works ok

 

[theluggage]

Why do you differentiate "detachable" the way that you do...

I think the Surface Pro is the "edge case" between tablets with detachable "keyboard covers" and clamshell laptops with detachable (or flippable) screens. I'd suggest that a good threshold is whether it is 'semi rigid' or relies on some sort of 'kickstand' mechanism.

However, I think that might be a sideshow to the real distinction, which is the OS & applications: a lot of detachables run 'full fat' OSs designed for desktop/laptop use (i.e. Windows) and, hence, can run 'regular' software. The Surface Pro is definitely in that category.

Yeah, it's only phones where people tend to feel the need to upgrade all the time as it's something they use a lot more.

Plus, the traditional 'bundled' phone contract encourages people to upgrade every 18 months - 2 years. I expect the breakage/loss/theft rate is high with phones.

I suspect the Smartphone market will be the next to tail off, though.

The problem with tablets is that while they're useful, they're also quite limited and best for media consumption and quick note-taking - or a few 'niche' activities that really benefit from touch/stylus.

 

[The Game 161]

I think the Surface Pro is the "edge case" between tablets with detachable "keyboard covers" and clamshell laptops with detachable (or flippable) screens. I'd suggest that a good threshold is whether it is 'semi rigid' or relies on some sort of 'kickstand' mechanism.

However, I think that might be a sideshow to the real distinction, which is the OS & applications: a lot of detachables run 'full fat' OSs designed for desktop/laptop use (i.e. Windows) and, hence, can run 'regular' software. The Surface Pro is definitely in that category.



Plus, the traditional 'bundled' phone contract encourages people to upgrade every 18 months - 2 years. I expect the breakage/loss/theft rate is high with phones.

I suspect the Smartphone market will be the next to tail off, though.

The problem with tablets is that while they're useful, they're also quite limited and best for media consumption and quick note-taking - or a few 'niche' activities that really benefit from touch/stylus.

I Think with phones it will come to a point where how much better can they make them? What can be added that will make people upgrade? Each year there will be less and less ideas how to make it worth to upgrade all the time.

 

[pika2000]

What happened?
What happened was probably that consultants made some BS assumptions and projection, and reality is catching up.