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Apple's iPad Strategy
- Thread starter BigAppleNYC123
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I owned Apple stock before you did, apparently. I also sold it and invested in other stocks that have posted greater returns than Apple did in that time period.
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That is true, but it is also true Apple stock had a rough 2015 and 2016.
I think it's fair to say that most computers in general are used as consumption devices--so it stands to reason that the same would be true for iPad.
When you consider how many consumers are still perfectly content with a pre-air iPad--even iPad 2's--I think it's fair to say that Apple's strategy makes sense. The average consumer doesn't care about quad speakers, laminate displays or anti-reflective coatings. They don't even clean the damn things.
Apple has learned that iPads have a longer life cycle than other mobile oriented products. As such, the strategy makes sense. For those who want more performance, get a pro. You'll likely keep it for 3-4 years. The standard will also likely be kept that long, but by users who don't do anything demanding.
A mid tier device really doesn't make a ton of sense here. What will it save you, $100? Over the span of a 3-4 year device that's nothing.
When you consider how many consumers are still perfectly content with a pre-air iPad--even iPad 2's--I think it's fair to say that Apple's strategy makes sense. The average consumer doesn't care about quad speakers, laminate displays or anti-reflective coatings. They don't even clean the damn things.
Apple has learned that iPads have a longer life cycle than other mobile oriented products. As such, the strategy makes sense. For those who want more performance, get a pro. You'll likely keep it for 3-4 years. The standard will also likely be kept that long, but by users who don't do anything demanding.
A mid tier device really doesn't make a ton of sense here. What will it save you, $100? Over the span of a 3-4 year device that's nothing.
Not sure how to answer here... I use it for consumption - at work.
I have been using my iPad in the past primarily for content consumption, but my 9.7 Pro is rapidly taking over for both consumption and creation. When I move to 10.5 and iOS 11, I'm planning on making it my primary device for both - I travel a lot and I travel very very lightly, and iPad is the perfect ultralight device.
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I agree and disagree with your post.
I agree the iPad and laptop are primarily used for consumption, and the iPad has come along way where It can now be used more for productivity then just consumption alone. iOS 11 is a gateway for the iPads to continue to be productive in the field or for personal use. The Hardware sells itself, it's the productivity tools that someone needs to find where it fits in a category for their uses.
Where I disagree with you, is when you stated the average consumer doesn't care about the upgrades with quad speakers, laminate displays, etc. While the average consumer may not fully understand what a laminated display is or how a 120 HZ display completely operates, the consumer still looks for why they want the newest hardware and for what reasons. The quad speakers, Tru-Tone display, Apple Pencil support and upgraded camera are all selling points the consumer is looking for a justifying Cause why they should purchase a $650 iPad over their previous model. iPads have a long life and are well made, which is a usually a reason consumers don't upgrade on an annual basis with the iPad. Apple wants to make the newest features marketed heavily in order for the consumer to be tempted to upgrade.
The average Consumer will purchase an iPad based off new features that they do understand and Apple uses in marketing . The average Consumer likely doesn't care about how much RAM does it have, what are the Geekbench scores, P3 Color Gamut, etc.
Apple tried that already and they failed. Consumers are no longer willing to pay $499 for an iPad. Apple isn't willing to make a $399 iPad with great consumption features.
Let's look Apple's iPad sales data. The iPad Air (2013) was the last tablet from Apple that resulted in growth in units sold. The iPad mini 3, mini 4, and Air 2 resulted in lower units sold. It's not a coincidence Apple killed the Air and is killing the mini.
If you look at the big picture, content consumption is what's killing the iPad and Apple's margins. It's not an activity that encourages consumers to buy a new tablet every 24 months. Apple isn't stupid. They know their tablets are being used largely for content consumption at home. But that's exactly what's causing the stagnation of iPad sales.
Every year, phablets and tablets get better. iPad is under attack by iPhone and cheap tablets from Amazon. The growth of the Kindle and Fire tablets tells you consumers find these $80 tablets good enough for consumption use. Apple can't possibly fight in that space.
Apple's strategy for the iPad is to make it a productivity device. The market for a "consumption only" tablet has been ceded to phablets and cheap Android tablets.
The new iPad (2017) is $329 for the base 32GB wifi model. That's a great price for a more consumption oriented device, and it has great performance, a Retina display, and great apps (iOS is streets ahead of android when it comes to tablet form factor apps)
yep, its a nice consumption device, where you can get 2 for about the price of one pro.
Yeah, I'm thinking of getting that for my wife for her bday gift. She doesn't really have any need for a stylus, and keyboard but the larger display of the iPad (as opposed to the 2nd gen mini she's using) will help her.
Both for me; all creative (not for my day job). Drawing, blogging, writing and watching video content (some of that educational), all of it fun.
Once I get a good feel for Procreate, I'll start dabbling in Pages so I can begin to ween myself off of MS Word at home.
Once I get a good feel for Procreate, I'll start dabbling in Pages so I can begin to ween myself off of MS Word at home.
Agreed, so what’s Holding them Back From Implmenting Mouse Support ? That’s what keeping me from going all IPad for Productivity standpoint.
From Banking, to Taxes and Expense Tracking. Sales etc.
They may feel its not neccessary, and its a legacy device that's not needed for touch first products like the iPad.
Ipad pro 10.5 starts at $650 and will easily last 4 years. Ipad 9.7 has less features because Apple wants to provide a lower buy in point for consumers less willing to spend. Seems fair to me.
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Not really.
One problem with this poll is that it assumes that content consumption and work are two different things. They are not. There are a lot of professional people that spend a fair amount of productive work time consuming content:
Also, “Light Content Creation” is a big part of doing work and is very compatible with iPad:
For some people, the iPad has replaced a Laptop because most of their work activities away from the office are mainly content consumption and light content creation. For these folks, they prefer the iPad’s form factor and mobile OS for work when they are....you know....mobile. They save the heavy lifting for their desktop computer back at the Office.
PS - There are plenty of highly paid professionals that spend a huge part of their work day at client sites or engaged in “meet and deal” activities. These folks might spend less than 20% of their time working in the Office on a traditional computer. For some, if they are sitting in their office at their computer, they probably aren’t doing their job.
- Reading Emails and Messages
- Reading and Reviewing documents and PDFs
- Scheduling and Planning Event
- Reading Books and Professional Journals
- Web Research
Also, “Light Content Creation” is a big part of doing work and is very compatible with iPad:
- Responding to Emails and Messages
- Marking up and Annotating Documents and PDFs
- Taking Notes
- Drafting Memos and Outling Reports
- Simple Spreadsheets for “on the fly” business calculations
For some people, the iPad has replaced a Laptop because most of their work activities away from the office are mainly content consumption and light content creation. For these folks, they prefer the iPad’s form factor and mobile OS for work when they are....you know....mobile. They save the heavy lifting for their desktop computer back at the Office.
PS - There are plenty of highly paid professionals that spend a huge part of their work day at client sites or engaged in “meet and deal” activities. These folks might spend less than 20% of their time working in the Office on a traditional computer. For some, if they are sitting in their office at their computer, they probably aren’t doing their job.
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If you believe the rumors, the next ipad pro update should be a radical redesign with face ID, much faster speeds, no borders & no home button with a possible new apple pencil. I know plenty of artists who do use their ipad pros for content creation. I agree, i also know many people who would like to see some of the so called "pro" features like the smart keyboard & ability to use the apple pencil migrate to the non pro ipads. As an ipad mini user, I'd love to see an ipad mini pro as well. Probably won't happen, but it'd be the perfect portable digital sketchbook.
I am currently using an ipad mini 2 that is really on it's last breath. The screen is cracked and the home button doesn't work anymore. I am holding out for an ipad mini update that hopefully will come this March. But if it doesn't(which is highly likely)...i will upgrade to a new pro ipad when they are updated in June at the next WWDC like last year. Perhaps if the 10.5" will go completely bezel-less, it will be closer in size to a mini. Who knows.
I just hope my ipad mini 2 can survive until then! Lol
I am currently using an ipad mini 2 that is really on it's last breath. The screen is cracked and the home button doesn't work anymore. I am holding out for an ipad mini update that hopefully will come this March. But if it doesn't(which is highly likely)...i will upgrade to a new pro ipad when they are updated in June at the next WWDC like last year. Perhaps if the 10.5" will go completely bezel-less, it will be closer in size to a mini. Who knows.
I just hope my ipad mini 2 can survive until then! Lol
I would seriously ask why we care anymore...
Here’s the thing about this argument - it produces nothing. People who think “the iPad is just a consumption device” won’t be persuaded by a poll on a message board, or even (many) solid examples of people using it as a creation device (any base acknowledgment is followed by “well, it’s not REAL work...”).
Not only that, but asking what the “primary” purpose of the device isn’t useful either. If you say you’re going to spend 60% consuming and 40% creating (which, to be honest, is a high percentage for even a dedicated work machine, depending on your definitions of consume vs. create), then the response is “okay, so you view it as a consumption device”... which is not necessarily true because it ignores the 40% creation.
This is NOT black and white, and trying to define it as such only tries to justify an anti-iPad opinion.
Here’s the thing about this argument - it produces nothing. People who think “the iPad is just a consumption device” won’t be persuaded by a poll on a message board, or even (many) solid examples of people using it as a creation device (any base acknowledgment is followed by “well, it’s not REAL work...”).
Not only that, but asking what the “primary” purpose of the device isn’t useful either. If you say you’re going to spend 60% consuming and 40% creating (which, to be honest, is a high percentage for even a dedicated work machine, depending on your definitions of consume vs. create), then the response is “okay, so you view it as a consumption device”... which is not necessarily true because it ignores the 40% creation.
This is NOT black and white, and trying to define it as such only tries to justify an anti-iPad opinion.
This is about as scientific as Kim Kardashian asking pointless questions on her Snapchat. Small sampling, bias, public perception. You find what you seek out. I find a lot of people that run their entire business on ipad. I find others that do art and content creation on theirs. Or run their YouTube channels. Ya know what else there’s no shortage of? People getting their panties in a twist at the very idea of an ipad being called a “laptop replacement” so therefore they have to write a million paragraph post about why they’re wrong and how “the ipad cant do real work”. While they get responses from people saying otherwise.
And its the same cycle over and over again. A tool is only as useful as the person using it and for whatever their needs are. Which do you think is more useful to who. Is a calculator going to make me a more useful person than sir issac newton with nothing but a pencil and paper?
It just amazes me that these conversations about “what do we call the ipad? I don’t know. We should debate this for 10 pages” are still going on all these years. Shows how little vision have for products and the future. Don’t call it anything. Call it something you use and go from there. People are so hung up on defining a certain device into a category that they don’t see beyond their own use cases.
And its the same cycle over and over again. A tool is only as useful as the person using it and for whatever their needs are. Which do you think is more useful to who. Is a calculator going to make me a more useful person than sir issac newton with nothing but a pencil and paper?
It just amazes me that these conversations about “what do we call the ipad? I don’t know. We should debate this for 10 pages” are still going on all these years. Shows how little vision have for products and the future. Don’t call it anything. Call it something you use and go from there. People are so hung up on defining a certain device into a category that they don’t see beyond their own use cases.
Can we just post this as a response to every thread like this and be done with it.
iPad and iPad Pro are also excellent for looking at X-rays and showing patients up close. Modern digital X-rays even old school film ones just set the iPad to an all white page. And now telemedicine is taking off it’s gonna be a bigger help. It’s also noT so expensive or awkward as handing someone a laptop and we can put the iPad inside a soft rubber protective case.
Either you are wrong or you are right and they are doing a horrible job at it.
1. Horrible background process support / horrible app utilization of shaky background refresh capabilities
2. No mouse support
3. Still lacking file system even with Files app
4. Horrible file transfer to and from capabilities
These reasons is why I still haven’t replaced my IPad Air 1 even though it is horribly slow and will probably buy a low weight 2 in 1 in 2018 when the Qualcomm laptops come out and more quad core 13 inch laptops are made.
Or... it's horrible for YOU - doesn't mean your opinion is universal.
So basically you want cheap tablet that you can replace in one to two years.
Nobody told you to replace iPads in one to two years. Many here are still using old iPads (iPad 2, 3, 4, Air) for consumption device, and they do the job. I still use my mini 2.
If you want cheap tablet that you can replace in one to two years, get the Amazon Kindle Fire.
Nobody told you to replace iPads in one to two years. Many here are still using old iPads (iPad 2, 3, 4, Air) for consumption device, and they do the job. I still use my mini 2.
If you want cheap tablet that you can replace in one to two years, get the Amazon Kindle Fire.
iPhone didn't become the best selling smartphone until 4-5 years after launch.
iOS 11 was the first real attempt by Apple to make iPad a productivity device. You have to give Apple time to improve the ecosystem.
Mouse support isn't coming given Apple has already bet on Pencil.