I think there are newer iPads just around the corner. This feels like a new entry into the bottom dollar market, but I'm sure there will be a new Pro model soon, but with fanfare.
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New 2017 iPad : thoughts on it ?
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Thanks for the detailed response! I'll probably end up picking up one of these at some point in the future. I'm not going to be a first day buyer, and I'll see what refurbished iPads become available, but while I'm not in the target market for the iPhone SE I'm pretty sure I'm in the target market for this iPad given my usage. It'll definitely be interesting to see what happens when the iPad Pro is updated and if a 10.5" one is released.
Apple went from having very curated product lines to kind of muddying the waters with the MacBooks (MBA, MB, MBP) and (perhaps to a lesser extent?) the iPad. I think they may be trying to re-develop that more curated line now, with clearer target markets for each product.
Thanks again for your input.
Yes i think that too. I have a feeling that Thursday or Friday we will see the invitations for the 4 April event
This x1000. This iPad isn't the enthusiast iPad. This is the MacBook Air of the iPad lineup. It's what you get when you want into the ecosystem as cheaply and efficiently as possible or are going to be purchaseing them by the pallet load to handout to 7th graders or hourly employees. You don't care about the vanity of laminated screens or how thick the damn thing is when you just need a tablet iOS device to get the job done.
This is Apple's push against Chrome Books in schools and cheap Windows 2-in-1s in business. If a consumer happens to buy one instead of a cheap Android tablet or finally updates their 5 year old iPad because of the awesome price, that's just a bonus.
The other factor here is the possibility of repair at an affordable price. Schools and businesses can purchase repair agreements with Apple. One of the reasons schools have pushed back on the iPad is how much it costs to repair/replace one when a clumsy pre-teen inevitably drops and shatters the display glass. That repair on an iPad with a laminated display requires replacing the glass, digitizer and display. On a non laminated iPad, just the glass+digitizer get replaced and costs significantly less.
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I wouldn't make to much out of today's ipad non event. I think we will soon see all new pro model's (with the addition of a mini pro)
Simple thoughts.
#1. New iPad Oros won't be shown till June as I stated last month.
#2. A Launch iPad Pro 9.7 is/was an amazing investment for a good 2-3 year cycle.
#3. The Cheap IPad 9.7 that was released for $329 is a Kids Learning Tablet Nothing more. Pro devices will continue to increase in features and cost. $1,000 is the the Bare minimum for a Pencil and a Keyboard and anything but base 32GB.
#4. What was released on 3/21/17 Uncermoniulsy was filler that they don't have time to cover in the June Keynote.
#5. Apple will Likey Ditch the 9.7" Pro in June in Favor on the 10.5" which is the same footprint as the 9.7" is just less Bezelez. This does 3 things.
A. Kill the resale value of 9.7" Pro models
B. Make 9.7" Pro models look like cheap dated Kids tablets
C. Create hype and excitement for the new 10.5" hotness
As I stated last Month If and only IF the new 10.5" iPad Pro has an OLED Display I will sell my 9.7" Pro and get one. On if OLED.
Here's a Link Word is Apple is or will partner with LG for the same or better 10.5" OLED Displays they already exists. The Dell Venue 10 was slept on and abandoned. Which is why Android on Tablets is dead to me at least.
Seems fine for an entry level iPad at a cheap price. Not what I am looking for personally, but I am sure many will be happy with it.
So many people complaining about this iPad.
It's a GOOD THING that Apple is reaching towards the lower end market. I have friends whose sole complaint against Apple is "it's too expensive". When you're struggling with a limited budget, Apple's price points have historically kept you away from their products. They seem to be trying to lower prices and as a result more people will be able to join us as Apple users.
You can finally buy a regular size iPad with reasonable storage capacity (16GB was just too small, 32 is a good starting point finally) for well under $350. This is a GOOD THING. If you feel this iPad is lacking and you have the money, the iPad Pro is probably for you.
I doubt Apple could have hit the $329 price point using the Air 2's design.
It's a GOOD THING that Apple is reaching towards the lower end market. I have friends whose sole complaint against Apple is "it's too expensive". When you're struggling with a limited budget, Apple's price points have historically kept you away from their products. They seem to be trying to lower prices and as a result more people will be able to join us as Apple users.
You can finally buy a regular size iPad with reasonable storage capacity (16GB was just too small, 32 is a good starting point finally) for well under $350. This is a GOOD THING. If you feel this iPad is lacking and you have the money, the iPad Pro is probably for you.
I doubt Apple could have hit the $329 price point using the Air 2's design.
I don't care about any of the stuff you find to be shortcomings. The better battery life, more robust build, better entry level storage and lower price are all things aimed at increasing my use of the product. It'll run apps 99% the same as a Pro without the pencil.. I could care less about showing it off. Besides I go to the gym so the extra weight won't kill me.
I don't buy tablets anymore because they become obsolete very fast (2/3 years).
They cost a lot for just 2/3 years of usage, and then having to buy a new one. Too much money.
It's a sign to me that the 'Air' name is being phased out.
Think about it, we had MacBook and MacBook Pro. But then, it was MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
For a while, it was just Air and Pro. So the iPad line naturally followed this.
Now that were back to plain MacBook and MacBook Pro - with no sign of a new MacBook Air..
It's looking like we'll go back to simply iPad , iPad Pro. Reflecting the same as the Mac the Air is discontinued. Which I think depends on the MacBook reaching a set sales target internally before a price drop puts it into the reach of many as a true entry level line should.
But I do wonder if Mac pricing has gone up so high to deliberately make us consider an iPad as a laptop replacement? I'm in that situation now. Eventually, longer than I'd like, I'll have £1400 saved for a new computer. But I'm wondering if I want to sink that sort of money into a new Mac. I thought £1,000 was a lot for my old Pro! For my needs, it's hard to justify the MB at £1249. I'd be more comfortable spending iPad money with maybe £200 worth of accessories.
The real question is will we see a new Mini? I hope so. I think it's a great size. Wish it had more up to date processor though.
Think about it, we had MacBook and MacBook Pro. But then, it was MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
For a while, it was just Air and Pro. So the iPad line naturally followed this.
Now that were back to plain MacBook and MacBook Pro - with no sign of a new MacBook Air..
It's looking like we'll go back to simply iPad , iPad Pro. Reflecting the same as the Mac the Air is discontinued. Which I think depends on the MacBook reaching a set sales target internally before a price drop puts it into the reach of many as a true entry level line should.
But I do wonder if Mac pricing has gone up so high to deliberately make us consider an iPad as a laptop replacement? I'm in that situation now. Eventually, longer than I'd like, I'll have £1400 saved for a new computer. But I'm wondering if I want to sink that sort of money into a new Mac. I thought £1,000 was a lot for my old Pro! For my needs, it's hard to justify the MB at £1249. I'd be more comfortable spending iPad money with maybe £200 worth of accessories.
The real question is will we see a new Mini? I hope so. I think it's a great size. Wish it had more up to date processor though.
Only in the bizarro world of Apple do customers complain when a company produces a less expensive version of their products.
*Less expensive and less up to date in some aspects.Only in the bizarro world of Apple do customers complain when a company produces a less expensive version of their products.
Fair enough. But it still doesn't make it any less bizarre. It's not like Apple discontinued the more up-to-date models in announcing this new one.
But SE is the exact same chip as the 6s (1.8 GHz) while the 2017 iPad is 1.85GHz. Who knows, it might be both.
-Well you could've been in "the lower end" of the ecosystem with a Mini,in theory, long by now.
-Again, I think $299 would be a better price psychologically as a value offering. Is/was $70 extra that much of a hinderance to people getting one in the past, and is dropping the price by less then 20% really going to open an untapped value market that can suddenly afford one now? Not significantly in my opinion.
-The Air was 32 gb base for the past 6 months.
-And Apple surely could've done the Air 2 for that price. Now, they wouldn't be making as much money per unit of course.
-That said, given the economies of scale and how many they've produced in the past 3.5 years, the cost per unit to manufacture has likely come down a fair bit since release, so continuing to pump them out as is, doesn't cost as much to Apple as it once did.
-That said, they are using Air and other Apple parts bin parts cobbled together so this one can see that same cost and r&d savings too.
-Also, maybe the IPad Pro next gen will have a different screen tech that will move away from the full laminated to something better, so the low end one can't have the Air 2 screen tech either,since the process will be abandoned by Foxconn and Apple.
-True but some would prefer a larger device.
-Yes, $299 is a better price point but likely not achievable with a nicer, more expensive screen while keeping Apple's desired markup. I expect retailers have to make profit, too, so Apple's likely getting less than $329 per unit. Even the current gen 4" A8 iPod Touch 32GB retails for $249.
-Untapped value market? I dunno about that but I reckon corporate would probably like the price tag on these new models. And given the iPad Air 2 gets snapped up quickly when there are $50-100 off sales, I reckon yes, for some the $399 acts as a barrier (could either be financial or psychological). The original iPad mini was released at $329 and that was a huge hit even with the availability of the iPad 2 at $399. For some, it was the size, but for many, it was the price point.
The only difference in the display is the lamination, which I think is an expensive process for the price they are selling it. But I do not think the display of this is like Air 1. It might just be an Air 2 display that isn't laminated?
I might be wrong though, but putting an iPad Air 1 display in there is a big step back.
I might be wrong though, but putting an iPad Air 1 display in there is a big step back.