Why People Aren't Buying iPads Anymore

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Shane R

ApK and Faith -- you'd agree that the 'some' you're talking about, though perhaps vocal, is a pretty insignificant minority, right?

Given that I believe that in any large consumer group, there are fewer people who care passionately about a product than there are those who don't, I agree it's almost certainly a minority.

Given that Apple spends so much marketing money cultivating that minority, I cannot concede that that it is at all insignificant. Apple's efforts, combined with the fact that I regularly encounter people who, through conversing with them, seem to fit the category (and I don't mean just a snap judgment on my part, I mean talking about their needs, use cases and their understanding of available options) suggests to me that the minority is highly significant.

The point I'm putting forth here is that perhaps that assumed minority is BECOMING less significant, contributing to the apparent reduced sales of iPads.

ApK

[jersysman]

I don't see why one would need to justify their reasons for doing something (even if it is on a public forum). One buys something because at that time they feel that is best for THEM. Others might not see it that way, but after all, that is their opinion and not the opinion of the one who purchased the product.

[misling]

Choice of device is certainly very personal and very situational.

I'm an oddball in the phone world - I have what I call a 'dumb phone' - an old Samsung flip phone with a pay-as-you-go plan. It costs me exactly $100 a year, because that's how often I have to add minutes. I use up about 1/4 of a year's minutes in a year, usually. I hate talking on the phone, can you tell? I also hate texting. I've blocked it on my account. My vision isn't really good enough for it without carrying extra glasses.

I carry a wifi hotspot (Verizon jetpack, $50/month for 5Gb) and whichever tablet is my current favorite (Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8" right now) in my purse.

I do go into the Best Buy and stare at the Samsung phones every once in a while. They are pretty. But I always talk myself out of them. Given how little I use a phone AS a phone, what would I get that I don't already have with a flipphone, tablet and wifi hotspot? Nothing that I can see.

Those are own my peculiar best choices, because of what I personally prefer to do with my tablet and internet connection, and because of my vision problems. I wouldn't daresay those were good choices for anyone else, though.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by jersysman

I don't see why one would need to justify their reasons for doing something (even if it is on a public forum). One buys something because at that time they feel that is best for THEM. Others might not see it that way, but after all, that is their opinion and not the opinion of the one who purchased the product.

There is no need.

But I would have to question the intelligence of anyone who believes that, on a public forum, it isn't inevitable.

When on a public forum, everything is fair game, and responsible participants in public forums should expect that.

(But if Apple is a religion, or is being treated as such by anyone, perhaps this thread needs to be moved to P&R -- that way it won't disturb these delicate, high-strung individuals who take offense at fanboi, anti-fanboi, and fanboi-assumption remarks.)

[Shane R]

Originally Posted by ApK

...I agree it's almost certainly a minority.

Thanks. It's nails on a chalkboard to me seeing any group defined by it's most disagreeable members.

By the way, if I recall correctly, Apples marketing budget pales in comparison to other corps of it's size. Which brings me to:

Originally Posted by misling

I do go into the Best Buy and stare at the Samsung phones every once in a while. They are pretty.

I concur. And they market them like crazy. So much that Android equals Samsung to many consumers.

[faithbw]

Originally Posted by Shane R

ApK and Faith -- you'd agree that the 'some' you're talking about, though perhaps vocal, is a pretty insignificant minority, right? YapYaps enraged Apple fans too.

I can't agree to something I don't know. I do know that some people buy Apple products because they're Apple products. I know because I know them personally. If you ask them about what specs or features they love about their Apple products they'll give you blank stares because they really don't know or care. How many of these consumers make up Apple consumers, I don't know. I don't know if they're an insignificant minority or not. This doesn't take away from people who buy Apple products because they truly know that it meets their particular needs. To be honest, I think most people who buy gadgets, whether Android or Apple buy them for reasons other than specs or what they need. I don't think most people do a lot of research then make their purchases. Of course, I can't say this for certain since I'm basing this on what I've encountered in my life. Most people I encounter either buy for cost ("I wanted something that didn't cost a lot of money") or brand prestige ("I bough this iPhone/Samsung Galaxy S__ because it's so cool/good").

I don't think people on this board do that but I really don't think people on this board represent typical consumers. Additionally, even if you buy the "cool" product, it's not a big deal and it's not wrong. A cool iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S__ will work fine and do just about everything those consumers need their gadgets to do. So in the end, everyone wins right? It's all good.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by jersysman

I don't see why one would need to justify their reasons for doing something (even if it is on a public forum).

No need at all. No need to post at all. No need to ever visit these forums.
But if you do choose to post, you NEED to expect discussion and conflicting opinions in response. And if what you choose to post contains factual errors, or incorrect assumptions, or errors in logic, you NEED to expect to be told so. If you disagree with what folks say in response to your post you have several choices on what to do about it, among them:

1. Nothing. Just put your opinion out there and let others say what they will.

2. Engage in the discussion. Ask questions back, argue your position, defend your opinions, change people's minds through brilliant prose! Maybe even reflect and change your own mind. Teach, learn, laugh, whatever you like.

3. Get defensive, and post about how they are your opinions and how you don't have to have reasons or logic or justification, and go on talking about how you don't want to talk about it.

Personally, I think #3 is annoying and stupid and makes for a poor discussion community.

If you just want to put your opinions out with out comment or justification, start a blog. This is a discussion forum.

[Shane R]

Originally Posted by ApK

No need at all. No need to post at all. No need to ever visit these forums.
But if you do choose to post, you NEED to expect discussion and conflicting opinions in response. And if what you choose to post contains factual errors, or incorrect assumptions, or errors in logic, you NEED to expect to be told so. If you disagree with what folks say in response to your post you have several choices on what to do about it, among them:

1. Nothing. Just put your opinion out there and let others say what they will.

2. Engage in the discussion. Ask questions back, argue your position, defend your opinions, whatever you like.

3. Get defensive, and post about how they are your opinions and how you don't have to have reasons or logic or justification, and go on talking about how you don't want to talk about it.

Personally, I think #3 is annoying and stupid and makes for a poor discussion community.

If you just want to put your opinions out with out comment or justification, start a blog. This is a discussion forum.

If this is leading back to Josie's comment, I think some context is warranted. She posted her opinions -- was challenged -- and posted a reply. Then she was challenged again.

Unfortunately, if you're not an aficionado, someone who is can press you so far that you'll end up not being able to really defend your position. That's an expertise issue, not a 'lack of desire to debate' issue.

To put it another way - if I tell you that I like the way an iPhone works versus an Android, you could ask me why. That's a legitimate request. I could give you a few reasons, and any Android fan worth his salt would then tell me that I could acquire a different launcher and additional software to make it work the way I want. I'll point out a hole in that argument (it's unstable). They'll reply with their own (what version of Android were you using?). Then I'll reply (an older one - my camera software stopped working on the new one). Then they'll respond (did you invert the transflux capacitor on the second notification light?).

And on, ad nauseum. It really does become an endless rabbit hole after a while. And all because I said that I liked the way my phone worked.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Shane R

Thanks. It's nails on a chalkboard to me seeing any group defined by it's most disagreeable members.

Seems like a non sequitur. I've never seen a large group that wasn't defined by some minority. From a student council to voting shareholders, to members of congress. Even an absolute democracy is usually directed by a plurality of some minority, not a majority.
So this minority may indeed define Apple.

By the way, if I recall correctly, Apples marketing budget pales in comparison to other corps of it's size.

Still big enough to effectively craft whatever message or image they wanted. And that's what's more relevant to this discussion: Showing the cool young Mac dude next to the Stodgy PC guy, with what was actually being said being of questionable value, while other companies were talking about price and features and usability and speed.

Note, their ad campaigns have changed since then. They are now talking about functionality and empowerment and showcasing the uses of the devices....and sales are apparently falling. Interesting that. Could it be that they have stopped resonating with the defining minority of their customer base?

I concur. And they market them like crazy. So much that Android equals Samsung to many consumers.

And not just in phones, but in tablets and phablets (ug...did I just say that?) as well, perhaps splitting some tablet brand recognition with Amazon Fire and Google Nexus.
And that's another sign that it may indeed be competition from those Android brands that is causing the falling sales.

[Shane R]

Originally Posted by ApK

They are now talking about functionality and empowerment and showcasing the uses of the devices....

You're talking about those "your verse" iPad ads? Are they still running them?
I can't remember the last time I saw one.

The iPhone fitness ad and the Macbook sticker ad are the last two Apple ads I remember seeing.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Shane R

If this is leading back to Josie's comment, I think some context is warranted.

Her post was a recent example, sure, but she is by no means the first, only or worst offender in terms of the attitude that I disapprove of, which it seemed Jersysman was defending.

To put it another way - if I tell you that I like the way an iPhone works versus an Android, you could ask me why. That's a legitimate request. I could give you a few reasons, and any Android fan worth his salt would then tell me that I could acquire a different launcher and additional software to make it work the way I want. I'll point out a hole in that argument (it's unstable). They'll reply with their own (what version of Android were you using?). Then I'll reply (an older one - my camera software stopped working on the new one). Then they'll respond (did you invert the transflux capacitor on the second notification light?).

And on, ad nauseum. It really does become an endless rabbit hole after a while. And all because I said that I liked the way my phone worked.

I do hear that. I've looked down that rabbit hole on so many geek forums recently, I've actually considered running stock firmware on all my devices, and just relying on manufacturer support.

But's it's rarely that bad here. We have a good group. There'll be some back and forth like that, with people on both sides pointing out what's impractical or unreasonable or besides the point, and we usually wind up with a thread where people can actually learn about the issue by reading it. Maybe even the participants will learn that, hey, now that I know I can take care of that one niggling issue, next time I might make a different buying decision!

I'm a perfect example. I bought that old Macbook Pro I mentioned earlier, only because I learned some things in a thread here that dispelled some of my misconceptions.

ApK

[jersysman]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

There is no need.

But I would have to question the intelligence of anyone who believes that, on a public forum, it isn't inevitable.

When on a public forum, everything is fair game, and responsible participants in public forums should expect that.

(But if Apple is a religion, or is being treated as such by anyone, perhaps this thread needs to be moved to P&R -- that way it won't disturb these delicate, high-strung individuals who take offense at fanboi, anti-fanboi, and fanboi-assumption remarks.)

Why do you assume that they are delicate or high-strung? Perhaps they don't like seeing things they like constantly being questioned.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Shane R

You're talking about those "your verse" iPad ads? Are they still running them?
I can't remember the last time I saw one.

Actually, no, I had this one in mind:

I like that ad.

The iPhone fitness ad

OMG! You mean this one:

Honest to goodness, until this moment I didn't realize that was an Apple ad!
I thought it was some Android brand, maybe Samsung!
Guess I never paid attention all the way to the end. I wonder if that says more about me or about the ad....?

ApK

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Shane R

If this is leading back to Josie's comment, I think some context is warranted. She posted her opinions -- was challenged -- and posted a reply. Then she was challenged again.

Unfortunately, if you're not an aficionado, someone who is can press you so far that you'll end up not being able to really defend your position. That's an expertise issue, not a 'lack of desire to debate' issue.

To put it another way - if I tell you that I like the way an iPhone works versus an Android, you could ask me why. That's a legitimate request. I could give you a few reasons, and any Android fan worth his salt would then tell me that I could acquire a different launcher and additional software to make it work the way I want. I'll point out a hole in that argument (it's unstable). They'll reply with their own (what version of Android were you using?). Then I'll reply (an older one - my camera software stopped working on the new one). Then they'll respond (did you invert the transflux capacitor on the second notification light?).

And on, ad nauseum. It really does become an endless rabbit hole after a while. And all because I said that I liked the way my phone worked.

Thank you Shane for putting my case more elequently than I could.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

I have an iPad 1, and it still does what I want, so why would I upgrade?

If your first generation is still doing what you want, then there's absolutely no reason whatsoever to upgrade. For myself, I found that some of the vendors stopped offering upgrades for some of the apps that were compatible with the iPad 1, and other apps I wanted were not compatible with the older operating system. But my wife, who isn't as app-happy as I am, still uses it and is quite pleased with it.