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Got a few questions about the iPad.

MykullMyerz

MykullMyerz

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 6, 2006
500
4
Washington, D.C.
Hey guys, I'm working on a project for my marketing class this semester and the product I was assigned is the iPad, so I just wanted to get you guys opinions on a few things.

What do you think are the iPads strengths and weaknesses? In other words, what things does it have that could help its success and what things is it lacking that could hinder its success.

What outside threats does Apple have? For example, other products, the economy, anything that could effect people wanting to purchase it.

What outside opportunities could Apple exploit to the iPads advatage? In other words, what does Apple have working in it's favor that could make people want to buy the iPad.

Any feedback, will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
MykullMyerz said:
What do you think are the iPads strengths and weaknesses? In other words, what things does it have that could help its success and what things is it lacking that could hinder its success.
Click to expand...

http://www.google.com/search?q=ipad...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

What outside threats does Apple have? For example, other products, the economy, anything that could effect people wanting to purchase it.
Click to expand...

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/875145/

What outside opportunities could Apple exploit to the iPads advatage? In other words, what does Apple have working in it's favor that could make people want to buy the iPad.
Click to expand...

The Apple logo.
 
+ Nice, big screen
+ App Store
+ Price
+ 3G

- Runs iPhone OS, not OS X (= very limited)
- No ports e.g. USB
- Basically just a big iPod Touch
- No multitasking

If Apple made iPad with OS X, it would be a lot better because now it's VERY limited. Almost all big brands have released their own tablet but I think iPad will be the most successful.
 
Hellhammer said:
+ Nice, big screen
+ App Store
+ Price
+ 3G

- Runs iPhone OS, not OS X (= very limited)
- No ports e.g. USB
- Basically just a big iPod Touch
- No multitasking

If Apple made iPad with OS X, it would be a lot better because now it's VERY limited. Almost all big brands have released their own tablet but I think iPad will be the most successful.
Click to expand...

I disagree. I think running full OS X would be a disadvantage and love that it runs iPhone OS. Makes developers make apps that rely on touch screen instead of having keyboard/mouse apps.
 
melman101 said:
I disagree. I think running full OS X would be a disadvantage and love that it runs iPhone OS. Makes developers make apps that rely on touch screen instead of having keyboard/mouse apps.
Click to expand...

Probably not full OS X but more OS X alike than iPhone OS, maybe something that could run both, iPhone apps and OS X apps. It just brings nothing new because it runs iPhone OS. No multitasking, app downloads limited to App Store etc. IMO it just feels stupid because iPad is capable of running lighter version of OS X...
 
I can't wait for the iPad to be released, if only to see different posts on here rather than the same repeated, tired arguments on both sides of the fence.
 
Hellhammer said:
Probably not full OS X but more OS X alike than iPhone OS, maybe something that could run both, iPhone apps and OS X apps. It just brings nothing new because it runs iPhone OS. No multitasking, app downloads limited to App Store etc. IMO it just feels stupid because iPad is capable of running lighter version of OS X...
Click to expand...

iPhone OS is a lighter version of OS X with a touch-designed UI toolkit instead of AppKit.
 
What strengths and weakness it has are very much the same as the iPhone. We have a beautiful, simple UI that is incredibly user and finger friendly. Anyone can pick up this device and they just know how to use it. Properly promoted, the iPad could be seen the next step in personal computing, lacking all the complexities many non-techy people struggle with currently with their home PCs. There are no viruses (yet), it rarely freezers or crashes and you'll never see a dll error text box appear at startup.

As for hindrances, I think the major one will be convincing people they require this device if they already have a computer and smart phone. Some people in the media have already said this is just a big iPhone. And how can you argue ... it is a large iPod Touch. However, the screen size difference that allows us to finally exploit true desktop-class functioning applications. Also, don't forget this is a closed system. You can't throw photoshop or just any application on this thing - it has to come through Apple's store, which has it's own benefits and negatives.

As for outside threats, there will be competition that will offer some bonus features such as cameras, USB ports, HDMI ports, full Windows 7 operating system (although some Youtube clips show how difficult a full OS is to navigate when it hasn't been designer primarily for fingers.)

What does Apple have working in it's favour? Brand recognition. Aside from people who are fervently anti-Apple, I think most people (even non-Macs) see Apple as reliable, cutting edge (which is debatable sometimes) and cool. The iPad also has iTunes and the App Store, which allows instant accessibility to media, applications and games in a scope beyond what other companies can yet offer. It also has the best customer care, in my and JD Power's opinion.

If you are collecting a list of what people will use it for: obviously web browsing and email, I will be using it to take down minutes during site meetings and to show the latest designer drawings in PDF that haven't come out yet, reading newspapers in the cafeteria, watching movies in bed or on the train, bringing it to show vacation photos to family gatherings rather than 300 4x6 prints, my own personal writing (which is itself a slow process and the flexibility of positions I can use the device in will compensate for a lack of hard keys), reading books and accessing my office Mac on the fly via Jaadu.
 
We already know much of the potential of the iPad through our experiences with the iPhone and iPod Touch. The four things I hope to see or improve on are...

1. Internet browsing. It is hard to read the full internet on an iPhone though it can be done. The larger screen will help I think and we will break away from limited mobile versions of the internet.

2. Interactive use of the internet. Meaning the ability to participate in this forum for example. Right now on the iPhone I am not going to write a response like this with one finger. If the virtual typepad allows me to touch type well enough then I will use it. My only interactive responses now are to Twitter and Facebook but with apps because the format encourages short responses.

3. The next level of reading beyond just text. That includes magazines, newspapers, text books, technical books, travel books, cook books, photography books, art books, etc., and the potential of interactivity with multimedia and links. This will bring all print media to digital in a more familiar form. I don't want to stop owning books or reading newspapers and magazines but I would enjoy the everywhere convenience of the familiar especially when traveling as much as I do.

4. Development of new super apps like iWorks has promised. This last may be the key to the iPad's success and right now probably the hardest to imagine. They say the iPad is not a computer, and granted our mindset to date for pads has been Windows, this could mark a paradigm shift in computing. A direct finger at the source is a more powerful extension tool of our mind and body than a keyboard, mouse or touchpad interpreter.
 
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