An editorial on iPad sales and competition

[Graham]

Originally Posted by ficbot

A smaller form factor, plus the lack of need for a power brick is a huge benefit for me. And since I really can go all day without charging it, it's easy to use. ... <snip for space> ... twiddling their thumbs for five MORE minutes while Windows booted up.

Given that modern netbooks now have upwards of 10 hours battery life and wake up from asleep in seconds (my old Samsung netbook does it in 4 seconds), would they now work for you in the classroom?

They're heavier, but not noticeably longer or wider, than a 10" tablet, but you do get the added benefit of the keyboard, full suite of software, wider range of input and output options (including to projectors) and clamshell protection.

Graham

[petermillard]

Originally Posted by jocampo

I wish I can use an iPad as working device, but I can't.... I mentioned in another post that iPads are not for content creation work or jobs...

Due respect and all, but just because you can't use an iPad for work (and your reasoning in your post above explains why that is, very clearly) it doesn't follow that other people can't use it for work, content creation or jobs; I do - but then my work (carpenter) and and yours are, clearly, totally different; the only time I get to sit at a desk is when I'm making one

cheers, Pete

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by stonetools

The Ipad is not , and was never intended to be a laptop replacement.
You really have to understand that point, because if it wasn't intended to be a laptop replacement, then it is silly saying that it is not as capable as a laptop.

That is true.

However, the iPad changed the PC market for ever.

More and more people, who don't really use the iPad as a content creator, moved to the tablet device and abandoned the laptop and PC arena.

With better battery life, no need for antivirus, portable but big enough for browsing and emails, there is no need for netbooks unless you're in the IT industry or use a Microsoft's software for your job.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by petermillard

Due respect and all, but just because you can't use an iPad for work (and your reasoning in your post above explains why that is, very clearly) it doesn't follow that other people can't use it for work, content creation or jobs; I do - but then my work (carpenter) and and yours are, clearly, totally different; the only time I get to sit at a desk is when I'm making one

cheers, Pete

That is not what I said.

The iPad is not the panacea. Lot of people can use it without the need for a netbook or laptop, but has not "killed" the laptop existence for good. It just changed the market (see my previous post)

However, I do like the product. I have two of them! But cannot certainly replace a laptop for certain market and users.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by jocampo

With better battery life, no need for antivirus, portable but big enough for browsing and emails, there is no need for netbooks unless you're in the IT industry or use a Microsoft's software for your job.

I can think of many jobs outside the IT industry where people would like to be able to connect their work device quickly to an available printer or network, or plug in a DVD drive, external storage or a USB key.

Each job's appropriate portable device is somewhere on that tablet to full laptop scale, which is why I foresee a swing back towards netbooks once the market settles down and the initial rush to tablets is over.

Graham

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by stonetools

THis is not surprising. Indeed, IPad detractors originally noted that "it 's just a big Ipod touch". What detractors failed to realize that this was just what consumers wanted-a device that was as easy to use and intuitive as the Ipod touch, but with a great screen that they could use to surf the web, play games, watch video,and do visual stuff with.

Yes, I never understood why that was meant to be such a horrible put down.
It is a really big iPod Touch, and that is just what I wanted. It runs all the same apps, but with a much better screen.

[ilovejedd]

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.

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.

[petermillard]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

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.

Have to agree - though I feel that "just happened to be..." is a little disingenuous; timing counts for a lot, and I don't believe for a second that there was anything left to chance about the iPad launch. Tablets prior to iPad were mostly Tablet PCs, or oversized PDAs; I honestly can't remember what I paid for my Compaq TC1000 (the early one with the skanky Transmeta Crusoe processor) or for the string of truly poisonus WinCE things I tried prior to that, but it was far, far in excess of a top of the line iPad 1. Even just before launch iPad was widely touted as likely to be in the $800-$1000 range, and I can't be the only person who went from 'I want one' to "I'm buying one" when that $499 slide dropped down in the keynote - was it (really only) 18 months ago??

iPads obviously aren't for everyone, but if they work for you, they tend to work well.

Cheers, Pete

[stonetools]

Originally Posted by Graham

I can think of many jobs outside the IT industry where people would like to be able to connect their work device quickly to an available printer or network, or plug in a DVD drive, external storage or a USB key.

Each job's appropriate portable device is somewhere on that tablet to full laptop scale, which is why I foresee a swing back towards netbooks once the market settles down and the initial rush to tablets is over.

Graham

Maybe. But Apple isn't standing still. Ios5 will bring wireless syncing and ICloud services to Ios devices later this year.
I suspect once that happens, the lack of USB ports and SD cards will become much less of an issue. And there are already apps for wireless printing from Ios devices.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by stonetools

Maybe. But Apple isn't standing still. Ios5 will bring wireless syncing and ICloud services to Ios devices later this year.
I suspect once that happens, the lack of USB ports and SD cards will become much less of an issue. And there are already apps for wireless printing from Ios devices.

The point is that nobody is standing still. Netbook design is moving forward as well, and some of the key reasons why there was a shift to tablets are no longer there.

For any job you need to evaluate against the current technology. What was true 18 months ago may not necessarily be true today, and the landscape will shift further as we reach for the gadgets of tomorrow.

Graham

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by HarryT

As I reported earlier in the thread, the iPad has been extremely successful in the business sector.

Little less than a month ago:

Apple’s latest earnings call earlier this week, “Today 86 percent of the Fortune 500 are deploying or testing iPad within their enterprises, up from 75 percent last quarter. We are also seeing strong adoption internationally with 47 percent of Global 500 companies testing or deploying iPad.

http://allthingsd.com/20110721/ipad-...in-enterprise/

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by Graham

I can think of many jobs outside the IT industry where people would like to be able to connect their work device quickly to an available printer or network, or plug in a DVD drive, external storage or a USB key.

Each job's appropriate portable device is somewhere on that tablet to full laptop scale, which is why I foresee a swing back towards netbooks once the market settles down and the initial rush to tablets is over.

Graham

It depends on what the iPad turns out to be...accessory or replacement.

If it is replacement...then the iPad will evolve to care for those needs you mention above. When it came out people couldn't watch videos or play many games for lack of Flash. Things evolved and now they can.

I'd just remind people that USB ports are going to go away. CD/DVD drives too. We don't know what will replace them, or how long away that is...but it is coming. Just as the day that 3.5" floppies went away came and went...

Printer connectivity software is evolving too. Both Google and Apple are pushing the envelope on that.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by petermillard

Have to agree - though I feel that "just happened to be..." is a little disingenuous; timing counts for a lot, and I don't believe for a second that there was anything left to chance about the iPad launch.

Well said. Putting together what I've read in this thread:

They just happened to have good timing, a solid product, great marketing and loyal (some would say mindless) followers with money to burn.


Or its that they are a very well run company with a lot of talented engineers and executives.

[ficbot]

Originally Posted by Graham

Given that modern netbooks now have upwards of 10 hours battery life and wake up from asleep in seconds (my old Samsung netbook does it in 4 seconds), would they now work for you in the classroom?

Perhaps, but I already have an iPad, so why bother?

Another issue for me is that our school has just invested in the 'smartboard' architecture, and the administration is viewing the iPad, as one its uses, being a mini-smartboard for classrooms which are not equipped with the full board. And I have over the course of using my iPad, developed teaching strategies that rely on the touch screen. Rather than trying to shoehorn myself into using a heavier, clunkier mini laptop, why can I not continue using a tablet?

As others have said: just because *you* may not see a use for it, it doesn't mean others are not quite happy with theirs. Why does this have to be an either/or thing with one side 'winning' and everyone else submitting to their will? I do not do the sort of document creation with my iPad that requires a laptop and keyboard. If I do need a laptop and keyboard, I prefer to work on a full-size computer. USB is not an issue for me as I can transfer files using the dropbox app. I can display media, files and ebooks to my students. I can edit them and annotate them myself. I can run a music class using all of my MP3s and video.

I have tried doing this in the past with other devices and they were clunkier, less efficient and less useful. I have now found a great device. If someone else had beaten Apple to it, that would have been fine. But they did not beat Apple to it. So I bought the Apple one, and I am happy. It works great. I can cross-load apps I already have for other devices. It would make no sense at all for me to jump ship for some ideological reason and have to re-invest in learning curve, app purchases etc. Why will consumers not buy non-Apple tablets? Either because they don't really need a tablet anyway, or because other manufacturers have gotten there too late!

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by ficbot

If someone else had beaten Apple to it, that would have been fine. But they did not beat Apple to it. So I bought the Apple one, and I am happy...It would make no sense at all for me to jump ship for some ideological reason

Well said. Have some karma.