iPad...failure? Or just the beginning of an era?

[TheStu]

Well it only sold 300,000 at launch, according to Apple. Far below estimates.

I think all those companies that rushed to provide content/access for it will be disappointed.

If you are referring to Gene Munster's estimate of 750,000 units on the first day, well that guy is a bit of an idiot. Unless you are referring to something else, in which case, could you provide a link?

 

[Phobic9]

Well it only sold 300,000 at launch, according to Apple. Far below estimates.

I think all those companies that rushed to provide content/access for it will be disappointed.

Well people are starting to complain on how some of the apps were half-baked and how some of the prices for the "HD" apps are ridiculous. Of course it's too soon to tell on both of these events but it'll be interesting to see how people adapt.

 

[TheWart]

Well it only sold 300,000 at launch, according to Apple. Far below estimates.

I think all those companies that rushed to provide content/access for it will be disappointed.

lol

Estimates were actually at 300,000 before Munster came in with his ridiculous estimate. He originally estimated 250-300,000, but bumped it up on Saturday....should have left it well enough alone haha.

The original iPhone sold 270,000 in its first weekend (remember yesterday was Easter Sunday) and the 3G version isn't even out yet. Saying those companies are disappointed is laughable given the device has been out like 72 hours and sold 30% of the amount of all tablets shipped in 2009.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Munster needs to take a freaking statistic class instead of sending people to Apple stores and guessing. A lot of other stuff hes pretty accurate, but this last sales volume prediction was pretty lame. And I have to give it to Apple for releasing sales figures. they arent obligated to, and it was pretty cool that they did. Google has never released N1 sales figures IIRC.

I just plugged in my iPad for the first time, have been using it since Saturday with the original charge.

My favorite apps so far are the eTrade, Netflix, ABC TVs app, and the Marvel comic app is just amazing, I haven't picked up a comic book in a decade or longer, its just amazing.

 

[Fingolfin269]

lol

Estimates were actually at 300,000 before Munster came in with his ridiculous estimate. He originally estimated 250-300,000, but bumped it up on Saturday....should have left it well enough alone haha.

The original iPhone sold 270,000 in its first weekend (remember yesterday was Easter Sunday) and the 3G version isn't even out yet. Saying those companies are disappointed is laughable given the device has been out like 72 hours and sold 30% of the amount of all tablets shipped in 2009.

Yeah but how many of those original iPhones were pre-sold? 0, right? How many of the iPad 300K were pre-sold? How many were 'sold' to retailers such as Best Buy and included in the 300K total? What was the actual sell-thru % at the retail outlets on Sat? How much stock is still sitting on the shelves? Why can I still walk into Best Buy and pick one up at my local store when we know that wouldn't have been possible with the iPhone launch?

I'm sure they put a hefty chunk of these into consumer's hands. The real question here is, what defines success? If these numbers were referring to sales of the JooJoo then our heads would explode. But are these numbers really what Apple was expecting?

And btw, I'm of the opinion, right or wrong, that comparing the sales of the iPad to total 2009 tablet sales as being a bit misleading. You have rabid Apple fans who will buy a new Apple product no matter what... and tablet sales are so low that if even a small % of rabid Apple fans bought an iPad it would still be an impressive statistic but would actually tell you nothing of what to expect for the market in the future. That's why understanding the true nature of the sales data is what is important here. Are we in for a new era? Or did we see a bunch of Apple fans buy up the iPads? Time will tell. It's pretty exciting really.

 

[boshuter]

I got to play with an iPad last night when a friend brought his over to show it off.......... I can see this thing collecting dust as soon as it's limitations really start to get on your nerves.

Everyone is talking about it's success as being nothing but numbers sold, that will tell if it's a success for Apple. What about the people who bought the thing? I think to be a success it should be something they are happy about spending that kind of cash for, and not just for the first few days or weeks, I mean after 6 months when the new wears off and the limitations really start to show. How many people would have paid $500+ for an iPad if they had gotten the chance to try one out for a week before they bought it?

I'm not an Apple hater, my last 3 laptops have all been Apples and my current one is a Macbook Air. I use it on my lap all the time and I can guarantee if someone gave me an iPad, within a week of having it, the MBA would be back on my lap and the iPad would be either under a pile of stuff under the coffee table, or for sale to some lucky Apple guy on the forum.

 

[sourceninja]

I personally get pissed off at my phone because it's not a computer and I want it to be. So I'm sure a ipad will piss me off even more as it's larger and again I think it should be like a computer.

 

[umrigar]

I think it's funny how "rabid Apple fans" means people will spend $500 and up on something they don't want or need.

As opposed to "rabid Apple haters" who predict the doom of Apple year in and year out, and dis every product they release, no matter how good.

When the iPod was released, it was more expensive and limited than most MP3 players on the market. Yet it overtook them, not because people were "rabid" to buy them, but due to many factors (coolness among them) and the fact that they were, overall, better - easier to use, perhaps.

If they sucked, they'd be like AppleTV - which isn't blowing away other media players. Where are the "rabid Apple fans" who should be setting records with them?

I love how people predict failure before a product has even had a week of availability.

 

[umrigar]

I personally get pissed off at my phone because it's not a computer and I want it to be. So I'm sure a ipad will piss me off even more as it's larger and again I think it should be like a computer.

well, technically speaking, it's a computer.
just not a computer that most people are used to.

it's got CPU, display, input device, memory, and runs an operating system.
ergo, COMPUTER.

 

[sourceninja]

well, technically speaking, it's a computer.
just not a computer that most people are used to.

it's got CPU, display, input device, memory, and runs an operating system.
ergo, COMPUTER.

Technically, but it's no where near as functional as a "computer". It's a neat toy, but that's about where it sits for me without a huge laundry list of stuff.

(Free development, multitasking, terminal, blah blah you know the drill). Basically, I want a touch screen slightly underpowered macbook.

 

[umrigar]

Hmmm.
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/the-guardian-apple-probably-already-top-tablet-supplier/

The Guardian's Charles Arthur sees Apple's swift entry, re-design and eventual dominance of these markets as a pattern. The iPod introduced a hard drive-based music player to the small market and eventually took over.

Yes, the mobile phone market was huge when the iPhone was released, but the smartphone subset wasn't. Apple introduced multi-touch and apps and is working towards dominance.

Now, Charles sees the same thing happening with the iPad. I think he's spot on with this. I also think the iPad's rise to prominence will be much slower than the other devices experienced. When the iPhone was introduced, people were eager for an alternative. Existing phones were clunky, often unreliable and a hassle. Users wanted an opportunity to ditch them.

Likewise, early digital music players left a lot to be desired. I had a Rio that I used for lack of other options.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Hmmm.
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/06/the-guardian-apple-probably-already-top-tablet-supplier/

The Guardian's Charles Arthur sees Apple's swift entry, re-design and eventual dominance of these markets as a pattern. The iPod introduced a hard drive-based music player to the small market and eventually took over.

Yes, the mobile phone market was huge when the iPhone was released, but the smartphone subset wasn't. Apple introduced multi-touch and apps and is working towards dominance.

Now, Charles sees the same thing happening with the iPad. I think he's spot on with this. I also think the iPad's rise to prominence will be much slower than the other devices experienced. When the iPhone was introduced, people were eager for an alternative. Existing phones were clunky, often unreliable and a hassle. Users wanted an opportunity to ditch them.

Likewise, early digital music players left a lot to be desired. I had a Rio that I used for lack of other options.

The differences between this and the iPhone market are obvious however. People were already using phones en masse. Most phones sucked. Then the iPhone came in and barreled over the competition by providing something the cell phone market wanted. Domination ensued.

Now we have the iPad. It is an alternative to the tablet market. I don't know anyone with a tablet.

**EDIT** I take that back, I do know one person with an iPad.

 

[FeuerFrei]

Well it only sold 300,000 at launch, according to Apple. Far below estimates.

I think all those companies that rushed to provide content/access for it will be disappointed.

If you are referring to Gene Munster's estimate of 750,000 units on the first day, well that guy is a bit of an idiot. Unless you are referring to something else, in which case, could you provide a link?

Yes, that was one estimate and another estimate of 500,000 or so. I read the estimates in the WSJ paper (Saturday?) so I don't have a link. It listed 2 or 3 estimates from different sources. The lowest was closest, IIRC.

Well it only sold 300,000 at launch, according to Apple. Far below estimates.

I think all those companies that rushed to provide content/access for it will be disappointed.

lol

Estimates were actually at 300,000 before Munster came in with his ridiculous estimate. He originally estimated 250-300,000, but bumped it up on Saturday....should have left it well enough alone haha.

The original iPhone sold 270,000 in its first weekend (remember yesterday was Easter Sunday) and the 3G version isn't even out yet. Saying those companies are disappointed is laughable given the device has been out like 72 hours and sold 30% of the amount of all tablets shipped in 2009.

I was expecting weaker-than-anticipated demand before any estimates/numbers existed, and the launch figures seemed to bear that out. Also I said the companies 'WILL' be disappointed, not 'ARE.' It wasn't simply launch numbers that cause me to prophesy that, though it kind of looks that way from what I posted.

 

[Emulex]

dude tablet pc's suck balls. everyone that i've ever used. so unless someone pulls an o/s out of their arse with apps that are very much touch centric - moot point.

 

[Tsavo]

This thing needs a parallel port, RS-232 interface and a PS/2 port in order to be useful.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Yes, that was one estimate and another estimate of 500,000 or so. I read the estimates in the WSJ paper (Saturday?) so I don't have a link. It listed 2 or 3 estimates from different sources. The lowest was closest, IIRC.



I was expecting weaker-than-anticipated demand before any estimates/numbers existed, and the launch figures seemed to bear that out. Also I said the companies 'WILL' be disappointed, not 'ARE.' It wasn't simply launch numbers that cause me to prophesy that, though it kind of looks that way from what I posted.

So exactly what are you saying?

What do you mean by companies being disappointed?

Isnt the iPad marketed to consumers?

What kind of volume do you consider to be a success or a failure?

What kind of time frame?


http://labs.chitika.com/ipad/

 

[zephyrprime]

The iPod introduced a hard drive-based music player to the small market and eventually took over.

Just for the record, it wasn't the first though. In 1998, Compaq's engineers made the first hard-drive-based MP3 player and licensed it to a Korean company (Hango) that didn't do much with it.

 

[TheWart]

Courtesy of the OS4.0 event, we get to find out that Apple has sold 450,000 so far. Pretty impressive given the 3G model isn't even out yet. The 1,000,000 units in 70 days set by the Nexus One and original iPhone definitely looks attainable at this point.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Courtesy of the OS4.0 event, we get to find out that Apple has sold 450,000 so far. Pretty impressive given the 3G model isn't even out yet. The 1,000,000 units in 70 days set by the Nexus One and original iPhone definitely looks attainable at this point.

Iirc, it's the Droid, the N1 hasn't sold that well

 

[TheWart]

Iirc, it's the Droid, the UNT hasn't sold that well

ahhh ok. I can never remember what Android phone it is. I do know that whatever it was beat the iPhone 2G by like 4 days or so.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Only matching 45% of the 2009 tablet market in week? You fail Apple!!

150,000 non-preorder sales does seem to point to decent demand.

 

[QueBert]

Only matching 45% of the 2009 tablet market in week? You fail Apple!!

150,000 non-preorder sales does seem to point to decent demand.

less than a week, no B&M stores were open Easter, so basically they sold a shit ton of them on Saturday alone.

 

[Pliablemoose]

See sig

 

[intogamer]

I tried the iPad instore today and the thing is awesome. I would spend the extra $200 for the iPad over a netbook. I think Apple isn't really pushing the iPad marketing full scale yet. They'll probably do so in with the iPhone 4.0 OS release and/or 2nd gen release. Android (Windows Mobile 7 in fall) is getting Apple on the defensive side of the game.

 

[Emulex]

why not - spent $200 on a kindle. $666 (shipped) for an ipad 3G isn't that bad. i still use my $199 dell mini 9 osx. it is nice to not have to deal with security issues after battling them endless (JRE, Adobe reader! Flash) endlessly. apple is doing a good thing steering away from those ancient problematic extensions.