An editorial on iPad sales and competition - Page 17

molman · 08-23-2011, 07:07 PM

I love reading these threads with their often unsubstantiated statements, articles from the popular tech press that have a distinct US centric echo, and the emotional attachment people seem to get for what are money making amoral companies. It's great stuff.

A few thoughts;

The current consumer tablet market is small. Looking at the units sold compared to the phone, PC or other tech markets shows the fledgling market that this is, so just as Amiga, Tandy, Commodore and a horde of others have come and gone in the PC arena, so too will this market evolve.

People tend to try and tease out Apples success in various ways, but the truth is that it is a little of all the elements people tend to mention. Strong brand and marketing, a well-designed and executed product, with a robust ecosystem to back it up, and a list that goes on.

The truth is that they (Apple) control the press so well. Add a feature, say iOS to include earthquake early warning system, that local handsets in Japan have had for years and they are being reported in nearly every publication across the web. The seeding of products to influencers, with preferential treatment to some publications, and a lockout policy for those who engage in unfavourable practises/reports all adds to the behind the scenes antics. They really own their brand and image in a way many other companies would love to. The lifestyle, premium, elite, emotional attachment they maintain whilst still being able to sell across many market segments is so interesting to watch, as are all the rabib forum posts out there.

Bringing it back to tablets, why is the iPad successfully where other tablets currently are not. I think as I alluded it is a combination of many things, but as others I find it unlikely that Apple will continue to dominate this product space (what I'd call a consumer tablet) with the same share in the future. Android tablets will continue to get better (with the Motorola/Google combo providing a new variable), Amazon is due to enter the market and has the services and brand to make a go of it, and Microsoft will potentially provide an interesting alternative in Win8 (and really has all the pieces if they can get their ducks in a row).

In the meantime we will have all the rhetoric that surrounds such things, with the pundits and their wobbly (or absent) data points, and oft US-centric market equals the world view of things.

tubemonkey · 08-23-2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harmon

Actually, I've given some thought to switching from an iphone to a dumbphone/ipod combo. Here in The Big City there are so many free wifi spots around that paying the ATT iphone surcharge seems a bit of an extravagance. Gotta run out the contract, though...

That's what I do. I won't get a smartphone as long as data plans are required. The money I save by not having to pay for a data plan is enough to buy a new 32GB iPod touch every year.

Dillinquent · 08-23-2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcreative

Impressive rant...

Of course it says more about the source of the rant than the device in question...

GreenMonkey · 08-23-2011, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

That's what I do. I won't get a smartphone as long as data plans are required. The money I save by not having to pay for a data plan is enough to buy a new 32GB iPod touch every year.

Dumbphone isn't needed - You can get a couple of decent Android smartphones on Virgin mobile. 300 min and unl. data/text for $35 a month (and for a little more, a lot more minutes). There's a few other options with less coverage or network speed (Tmobile, MetroPCS, etc) as well. Unless you live in the country or need crazy-spectacular coverage, Virgin or Metro works great.

tubemonkey · 08-23-2011, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

Dumbphone isn't needed - You can get a couple of decent Android smartphones on Virgin mobile. 300 min and unl. data/text for $35 a month (and for a little more, a lot more minutes). There's a few other options with less coverage or network speed (Tmobile, MetroPCS, etc) as well. Unless you live in the country or need crazy-spectacular coverage, Virgin or Metro works great.

I'm on a family plan with Verizon and its extensive coverage is needed by some family members.

If I had a smartphone, I'd turn the 3G radio off and use it mainly as an entertainment device. Most of the time, it would stay home because it's too big to carry comfortably in my pockets. Even as small as the iPod touch is, I still find it too large to carry; so it stays home.

RockdaMan · 08-23-2011, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

decent Android smartphones on Virgin mobile. 300 min and unl. data/text for $35 a month

I've eyed that.

But can I charge one of those 'decent Android smartphones' and then go 5 days without charging it?

"Sure, if you leave it turned off the entire time" is not a correct answer.

RockdaMan · 08-23-2011, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Even as small as the iPod touch is, I still find it too large to carry; so it stays home.

Mighty tiny pants there Mr. Monkey.

tubemonkey · 08-23-2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

Mighty tiny pants there Mr. Monkey.

Only have back pockets available and I hate carrying anything in them. I carry my keys, pocket knife and Clip+ in one front pocket. In the other, I carry my wallet and flip phone. No room left for a touch or a smartphone.

RockdaMan · 08-23-2011, 11:05 PM

Funny:

OtterBooks · 08-23-2011, 11:31 PM

I'm the only person I know who had a smartphone and gave it up to go back to dumbphone. I had an epiphany one day as I sat at my desk running updates on my phone's apps and fine-tuning the interface, and within arms reach were my desktop, thinkpad and kindle. The Kindle doesn't quite fit among them but still.. I realized I was heading towards having a digital feedbag strapped to my face like a horse. A robot horse, I presume. I just decided enough.

It reminded me of this: Portlandia, Technology Loop (stupid ending but beginning is amusing).

RockdaMan · 08-23-2011, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

I'm the only person I know who had a smartphone and gave it up to go back to dumbphone.

"raises hand"

I had a Blackberry.

molman · 08-24-2011, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

It reminded me of this: Portlandia, Technology Loop (stupid ending but beginning is amusing).

Sadly too true in many ways.

afa · 08-24-2011, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molman

I love reading these threads with their often unsubstantiated statements, articles from the popular tech press that have a distinct US centric echo, and the emotional attachment people seem to get for what are money making amoral companies. It's great stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

I had an epiphany one day as I sat at my desk running updates on my phone's apps and fine-tuning the interface, and within arms reach were my desktop, thinkpad and kindle. The Kindle doesn't quite fit among them but still.. I realized I was heading towards having a digital feedbag strapped to my face like a horse. A robot horse, I presume. I just decided enough.

Karma for the two of you...

pdurrant · 08-24-2011, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

They are better and cheaper. So that is not working. What these companies need to do is market better.

I've seen tablets with a better hardware spec. I've seen cheaper tablets. I haven't seen any that are both. (Well, except the firesale HP Touchpad!)

OtterBooks · 08-24-2011, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molman

I love reading these threads with their often unsubstantiated statements, articles from the popular tech press that have a distinct US centric echo, and the emotional attachment people seem to get for what are money making amoral companies. It's great stuff.

It really is great stuff. If it weren't for those things, forums like these would be super boring.

08-23-2011, 07:07 PM	#241
molman Evangelist Posts: 436 Karma: 538958 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	I love reading these threads with their often unsubstantiated statements, articles from the popular tech press that have a distinct US centric echo, and the emotional attachment people seem to get for what are money making amoral companies. It's great stuff. A few thoughts; The current consumer tablet market is small. Looking at the units sold compared to the phone, PC or other tech markets shows the fledgling market that this is, so just as Amiga, Tandy, Commodore and a horde of others have come and gone in the PC arena, so too will this market evolve. People tend to try and tease out Apples success in various ways, but the truth is that it is a little of all the elements people tend to mention. Strong brand and marketing, a well-designed and executed product, with a robust ecosystem to back it up, and a list that goes on. The truth is that they (Apple) control the press so well. Add a feature, say iOS to include earthquake early warning system, that local handsets in Japan have had for years and they are being reported in nearly every publication across the web. The seeding of products to influencers, with preferential treatment to some publications, and a lockout policy for those who engage in unfavourable practises/reports all adds to the behind the scenes antics. They really own their brand and image in a way many other companies would love to. The lifestyle, premium, elite, emotional attachment they maintain whilst still being able to sell across many market segments is so interesting to watch, as are all the rabib forum posts out there. Bringing it back to tablets, why is the iPad successfully where other tablets currently are not. I think as I alluded it is a combination of many things, but as others I find it unlikely that Apple will continue to dominate this product space (what I'd call a consumer tablet) with the same share in the future. Android tablets will continue to get better (with the Motorola/Google combo providing a new variable), Amazon is due to enter the market and has the services and brand to make a go of it, and Microsoft will potentially provide an interesting alternative in Win8 (and really has all the pieces if they can get their ducks in a row). In the meantime we will have all the rhetoric that surrounds such things, with the pundits and their wobbly (or absent) data points, and oft US-centric market equals the world view of things. Last edited by molman; 08-23-2011 at 07:12 PM.

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08-23-2011, 11:05 PM	#249
RockdaMan Banned Posts: 1,644 Karma: 213512 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: On the other side of over there Device: Pandigital Novel, Kindle G1 (broken), iPod Touch	Funny:

08-23-2011, 11:31 PM	#250
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	I'm the only person I know who had a smartphone and gave it up to go back to dumbphone. I had an epiphany one day as I sat at my desk running updates on my phone's apps and fine-tuning the interface, and within arms reach were my desktop, thinkpad and kindle. The Kindle doesn't quite fit among them but still.. I realized I was heading towards having a digital feedbag strapped to my face like a horse. A robot horse, I presume. I just decided enough. It reminded me of this: Portlandia, Technology Loop (stupid ending but beginning is amusing).