Quote:
Originally Posted by jocampo
I wish I can use an iPad as working device, but I can't. 1st, need to run Microsoft Os, because I'm MS-SQL dba, which client runs on Microsoft only, of course.
2nd, I need to access my company's network via VPN. I can't do that with an iPad.
I also need a good keboard, so I can type fast enough via Office Communicator or write emails in Outlook. On screen keyboard is not good enough.
So, as DBA, the iPad won't fulfill my needs and I'm sure there are a lot of people like me out there on same situation. But my laptop does the job and very well, because it allows me to do everything I mentioned above and more.
I mentioned in another post that iPads are not for content creation work or jobs. So I started to visualize netbooks and PCs as a "niche" for people like me, maybe, who besides browsing and reading emails, need much more features than tablets can provide today. Unless that drastically change in 2012 with some kind of hybrid device, who knows.
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Tablets have existed for a long time before the iPad. It just so happens that they had short battery life, cost a lot more than the iPad and are somewhat more ungainly. My 8.9" Fujitsu with Core 2 running Windows Vista Professional was $1500. I've seen several tablets that cost more than $2000.
The OS was another big issue. Native XP is a headache to use with a tablet. XP Tablet Edition works okay but still isn't ideal. Vista improved tablet support considerably and I believe Windows 7 featured even more improvements. Unfortunately, the Atom is too slow to make for a smooth tablet experience and still consumes too much power compared to ARM-based processors found in the iPad and Android tablets.
I do believe the market was already prepared for more consumer-oriented tablets at the time the iPad was released. Apple just happened to be the first to come out with one that was user-friendly, easy on the pocket, had excellent battery life and good developer support. Sure, a lot of people might think $500 is expensive but if you had looked at the options before the iPad, it's an absolute steal. Apple was even willing to take lower profit margins for the iPad compared to their other products and looking at the iPad's current market share, that gamble has paid off big time.
I'm still waiting for that perfect Windows x86 slate (maybe with Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge CULV) but for most folks, the iPad is familiar and it meets their needs. I believe Android has a good chance of surpassing the iOS's tablet install base but it will take a while before that happens. In the meantime, buyers will opt for the iPad because it's what they already know.