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Will Apple, Inc. (AAPL) sell the iPad at a level that this past weekend's launch set in motion? That's a great question and is being bantered right this second on blogs and analysis websites worldwide. Even if the iPad -- which sold 300,000 units this weekend -- doesn't garner the expected sales to once again solidify Apple as a consumer electronics powerhouse, it won't matter.Steve Jobs' latest creation isn't trying to be a simplistic computer for those fed up with the complexity of technology. The iPad isn't trying to single-handedly create a tablet computer market that's failed over and over (although it just might). Apple, this time, is going for the jugular of the next generation: that is, turn all who will listen into Apple converts for life. Or, at least, as long as possible. The iPad isn't a computer; it's an iPad. Get it yet?
That being said, is the iPad really the product for three year-olds more than anyone? Steve Jobs is famous for belting out the Wayne Gretzy quote "I skate to where the puck will be, not to where it has been" -- and that could be taken as Jobs trying to recruit the next batch of Apple devotees with the iPad more than computing veterans (most of us, whether we realize it or not). Most of the world is trained on Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) software and change to anything Apple -- en masse -- will be virtually impossible. Of course, Apple's increasing PC market share shouldn't be taken lightly.
Apple's goal is not to make the best product, although that argument exists from iPods to iPhones to Macs and now iPads. From a purely technology perspective, Apple's iProducts can't do a zillion things at once like the competition. That is a strength; whether tech-geek purists believe it or not, it is. Apple's normal-consumer perception of its products is that "they just work." The term "work" is highly subjective, of course. Still, the iPad, with its glaring omissions, is setting up a younger generation to experience information flow without a series of folders, hard drive locations and multiple websites within a browser. I'm not so sure that the phrase "once Apple, always Apple" fits here, but it's Apple's main goal with the iPad release -- one that will fill the coffers in Cupertino for quite some time.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-05-2010 @ 5:39PM
mattack said...
Over 300,000 the first day, not "this weekend". (Unless you're being really nitpicky and *any* amount over 300,000 counts.)
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/04/05ipad.html
4-05-2010 @ 7:05PM
thedude said...
You have to remember that a large bracket of Apples recent growth is due to their allowing Windows to boot on Apple computers and where would the iPod be if they didn't allow for the use on Windows computers.
Now what if MS were to decide that iTunes could no longer be used on Windows? They would get sued by Apple.
Apple currently is allowed to do things that MS would get sued for doing. Apple controls every aspect of their computing experience. If Apple were to grow to a point where they had even 12-15% of the market instead of >5% they would find themselves subject to the lawsuits that MS constantly deals with. Apple has great disdain for Adobe Flash - if they had a greater distribution it is near certain that they would get sued for anti competitive monopolistic policies. They would no longer be able to force people to use their browser or even their OS.
Apple is a niche product. Their demand for control would be lost if they were larger.
Personally I have been using tablet computers for years. Mostly Panasonic Toughbooks and now HP Touchsmart as well. It's not surprising the tablet hasn't really become widely accepted as they aren't really pushed by manufacturers. With Windows 7 having better support for multi touch computing you will see a growth in this market. Although the Windows versions will be fully functional computers not just underpowered oversized phoneless phones.
As for the iPad I believe that first years sales were estimated to exceed 5 million. Fortunately for MS Apple set the bar very low and producing a more capable tablet for less money should be no problem for the rest of the market.
Apple has their die hard user group who will buy Apple no matter what. They may briefly entice a few million customers from the MS camps but when those iPad batteries start failing and the memory is all maxed out and Windows machines are released that are far cheaper and more functional with user swappable batteries and SSD's. Apple will then again be relegated to the FORGOTTEN file. I know hundreds of people who have never even seen or are aware of Apple computers and are only familiar with Apple for the iPod.
Will the iPad change computing ? NO ! It isn't even the first of it's type, just the best advertised most hyped iteration in what is the natural progression of computing.
Now if the MS Courier turns out to be more than vaporware, THAT could change computing, but I feel that a product so cool will never make it to distribution.