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All iPads Disappointed again
- Thread starter Derude
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I can't imagine the outcry if Apple was still on the iPad 4 or Air 1. Good point.
Again, virtually meaningless data.
It's like saying, "Let's compare Tesla sales to Ford's"
Agreed. Sales numbers mean little, while usage numbers carry much more weight. People who quote sales numbers rarely include the number of those sold devices which were returned, sold or gifted due to buyer remorse.
I don't think Tesla has a problem with selling less volume given their cars cost 3-4x what most fords cost.
But they aren't trying to compete with Ford. Likewise, Apple has never tried to compete with low end Android manufacturers. There's no profit there.
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Additionally, sales =/= profit.
What you fail to realize is that Apple (and most tech hardware companies) are 3-4 years ahead of where their current products are. Yes, they can put that fingerprint reader in the display, and they can remove the bezels, and they can make the battery last 20 hours all in a super thin device. But such a device would cost you $5k this year. So companies like Apple will plan to release such a device when the costs come down, which will be in 2-3 years.
Technology is very expensive when it is first invented. It takes several years to come down in price. Perhaps you would be happier if Apple released a higher line iPad version for $5k, and then gradually decreased the price over the next 3-4 years until it is $500. That sort of thing has been done before. I can remember in 1998 when Philips released the first Plasma television flat screen and they were selling a 42" for $11k. 5 years later that television was $1k.
Technology is very expensive when it is first invented. It takes several years to come down in price. Perhaps you would be happier if Apple released a higher line iPad version for $5k, and then gradually decreased the price over the next 3-4 years until it is $500. That sort of thing has been done before. I can remember in 1998 when Philips released the first Plasma television flat screen and they were selling a 42" for $11k. 5 years later that television was $1k.
That's a good point, but correct me if I'm wrong im not on expert but isn't that what mass producing a technology does is bring down the price ?
The iPhone is Apple's baby. The iPad line won't get anything spectacular before the iPhone gets it. For example, the bezel-less design, and the Touch ID in the display are both iPhone 2017 rumors. If Apple released an iPad Pro with those features, it would crush the expectation of this year's iPhone since it would all but confirm it.
On the other side, the iPad Pro 9.7" got the true tone display while none of other devices got it. With the 10.5" rumor though, it's setting the stage for a potentially new redesign. It's not confirmed since we haven't seen the front, but we'll see shortly (hopefully).
On the other side, the iPad Pro 9.7" got the true tone display while none of other devices got it. With the 10.5" rumor though, it's setting the stage for a potentially new redesign. It's not confirmed since we haven't seen the front, but we'll see shortly (hopefully).
Your first 'mistake' is thinking the 10.5 will be a game-changer.
As far as releasing major updates every 3-4 years, don't think that will happen either.
Yes, Apple needs to extend the iPad if they want to position it as a PC/laptop replacement.
Price is also reduced by perfecting the manufacturing process. I remember seeing a 250MB hard drive from the 70's which was larger than a Mac mini and cost hundreds of dollars. Now we can buy an 8GB flash drive for a few dollars.
Don't remind me - I remember hauling disc packs (and card decks, paper tape, and mag tapes) around (I started working in S/W in 1971).
Correct. Ultimately Apple is most concerned about $. That is the purpose of their company. Several princes behind that purpose.
Answer: No. I don't.
But then again, I'm an odd bird. I don't get "so disappointed" over rumors. I prefer to wait to see what ACTUALLY gets announced and delivered and form my opinion at THAT point. WWDC is about a week away. There is no deadline that I need to meet that requires me to be disappointed today. Like I said, I'm odd.
Yes, that is correct, but it takes time for that to happen. You can't just suddenly put a new product into production and expect it to come out perfect. Often times with these types of products you will hear them discuss yield rate and such, meaning that a certain percentage of the product does not pass quality control. For new products, that percentage is very high, which adds to the increased cost. After some time and practice, and tinkering with the manufacturing process, they will eventually perfect the process and then the cost comes down. Also, sometimes the raw materials needed for a new technology are not readily available, as was the case with lithium for batteries a few years back. As those materials are mined or harvested in larger quantities, the price comes down.
Ya, good point never thought of it that way.. I think I'm just gonna lay off all the rumours, the hype just makes me disappointed in the end.
Just think of all the steps that led up to this 'disappointment':
- An analyst (Kuo) publishes a speculative report, based on supply chain, about new iPads - including one with a 10.5 inch screen and reduced bezels.
- Macrumors writes a story about it, adding in their own speculation.
- Commenters start talking about it.
- Somebody says "nearly bezel-less" - this then becomes "bezel-less".
- Another person does a rendering of a 10.5" screen in the case of a current iPad Pro - adding to the "Bezel-less"
- Speculation grows, mixing in rumors (again, not facts) about a "bezel-less" iPhone with no home button, etc.
- Later, case renderings are leaked (because case manufactures have never been wrong, right?), and renders are done again showing minimal bezels.
So, what is Kuo's track record so far on this particular rumor?
- Correct:
- Low Cost iPad 9.7" (released Spring)
- Incorrect:
- New iPad Pros released in the Spring
- Remains to be seen:
- New iPad Pro 12"
- New iPad Pro 10.5"
- Release WWDC (having since changed from the original spring prediction)
In the end, following rumors can be fun, but everything needs to be taken from an entertainment view point and should not be taken seriously. At BEST it should only influence a buying decision if it's within 2 weeks of a rumor (because you can, usually, afford to wait two weeks and see if anything happens) - otherwise buy what you want when you want it.
I have a real problem with people like Kuo. When they're right, they steal the thunder from Apple's announcements because it's already been splashed all over the news sites. When they're wrong, people blame Apple for not producing and there's no consequence for the analyst.
Just don't take it seriously - people come out with rumors, supply chain guesses, leaked components, wishlists, renderings, and video about how THEY would do the next iOS and others take this as gospel and expect Apple to live up to this benchmark.
In the end, it's not official until Apple announces it. Until then, it's somebody's guess or wish and has no basis in Apple's reality.
None of what you described is a game changer. Having absolutely no bezel wouldn't even make the iPad a game changer. It would still be used exactly the same way as the current iPads.
I was hoping for a new design with minimal bezel because it would look really nice, but the only "game changing" features I'm hoping for are software based.
Kuo never predicted new iPad Pros would be released in the spring. He predicted "three new iPads to be launched in 2017."
It's this kind of twisting of Kuo's words that turn "narrow bezel design" into "it's going to be bezel-less!"
You're right - it was in the same article though, was it Barclays that said it?
It's also the same kind of twisting that associates "the death of the Mini" with Kuo's predictions.
Regardless, if it's not directly from Apple, don't stake money on it.
im confused, you said you don't want minor performance update, but rather a major update every 4-5 years. yes, that is exactly what apple is doing, look at iPads 4/5 years back, they have larger bezels. and since we are getting a major update every 4-5 years, why not get some minor performance upgrade within the gap? makes me feel you are not buying an iPad, but rather the name of "update" itself.
The reason behind saying that is because iPad sales have plummeted, instead of spending money on constantly making small upgrades and releasing device use he money for research and development