New 2017 iPad : thoughts on it ?

[sevoneone]

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.

I believe that is a major factor that led to the development of this iPad. iPad sales have been flat for years, not necessarily because consumers are frustrated at the lifespan. People that are not as tech inclined as most users on this forum are not sensitive to things like how smooth the GUI of their iPad 'feels,' they just care that it does what they need it to do. Look at the iPad 2, it really was a viable option for a lot people until a little over a year ago. I'm sure we all know someone that held onto a 16GB iPad 2 for 5 years. If diminished user experience alone isn't convincing consumers to buy new iPads, they have to do something to make the choice more appealing.

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.

The Air 1 and Air 2 displays are virtually identical with the exception of the latter being the laminated design with an anti-reflective coating. The differences to the actual display panels is very slight. If you take an Air 2 display, separate it and nix the anti-reflective coating, you pretty much have an Air 1 display. You might be thinking about the wide gamut display in the 9.7" iPad Pro, which is the biggest advancement in iPad display tech since the original Retina display in the iPad 3.

 

[Cloudsurfer]

I'm actually pretty excited about the new iPad. All I'd use it for is Home automation and some browsing, so the 329$ price point is just awesome. It may not be the greatest but it's good enough.

 

[Appleaker]

No lamination screen, no anti reflective..so thats why is a thicker ipad
I think nobody for personal use will chose this instead of the ipad pro 9.7" just for a 270$ difference
. Too many compromises, yes maybe there are a lot of people who are not using the camera, or speakers or pencil smart keyboard, but not all of one at once. Inferior screen,inferior portability,no genuine accesories like pencil keyboard,a 2 years gen old chip

If that bothers you then it's not for you. But 8/10 iPad buyers do not want to spend a lot and $270 is a massive difference.
The whole point is that this iPad is supposed to compromise on certain things in order to achieve a price that is accessible and attractive to most buyers. This is a great product that is perfect for the tablet market, tech enthusiasts may see the downsides but most people won't.

 

[s2mikey]

Wow - Ill simply keep using my workhorse Air 1. It just keeps getting the job done for me. Nothing to see here.

 

[oldmacs]

Unusable for what? My old iPad 2 was quite usable up to and including iOS 7. With 8 it became slightly annoying unless I turned off some of the new features, and with 9 I threw in the towel and gave it to my kid. That's still way under $100/year of comfortable ownership with current operating systems every year. Try getting that out of a similarly priced laptop.

As much as I love my iPad 2, the 2008 Compaq that cost about half as much as my 2011 iPad 2 is wayyyy more useful than the iPad and can run the latest version of Windows.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

This is very clearly a play to upgrade the iPad 2, 3, 4 and iPad mini, 2, and 3 owners. Somewhere around 200M of these devices have been sold, and I'm guessing maybe a quarter of them have upgraded. My mom has an iPad 2, my girlfriend has iPad 3, and I have iPad mini 2. This device would be perfect for my mom and gf.

It's also a play at all the budget conscious people who have been waiting for the right time to jump on.

For Air/Air 2 owners and "top-of-the-liners" something will be coming for you shortly.

 

[Dave245]

No April event more likely to be later in the year I think https://9to5mac.com/2017/03/23/opinion-ipad-event-10-5-inch-ipad/

 

[rui no onna]

This is very clearly a play to upgrade the iPad 2, 3, 4 and iPad mini, 2, and 3 owners. Somewhere around 200M of these devices have been sold, and I'm guessing maybe a quarter of them have upgraded. It's also a play at all the budget conscious people who have been waiting for the right time to jump on.

For Air/Air 2 owners and "top-of-the-liners" something will be coming for you shortly.

The 2017 iPad is actually a pretty solid upgrade from the first iPad Air especially if one only has the entry level 16GB model. Recall original iPad Air WiFi-only pricing:
16GB $499
32GB $599
64GB $699
128GB $799

Display is the same so it's not like that's gonna be a downgrade. CPU is ~2x as fast, GPU is ~3x as fast, entry level storage is double at 32GB all for just $329 or $170 less than the iPad Air 16GB upon release. Moreso if getting the 128GB model. So yep, definitely better than the original Air.

Really, the only place the new iPad falls short of the Air 2 is the screen which for $70 less MSRP is understandable. Hmm, do wonder if/when we start seeing sales on the 2017 iPad. With discounts, it might go for $279-299.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

No April event more likely to be later in the year I think https://9to5mac.com/2017/03/23/opinion-ipad-event-10-5-inch-ipad/

Yeah, this article makes sense. I was thinking/hoping we might see it by WWDC at the latest, but I dunno.

 

[Coolpher]

Not the point. Apple is choosing a cheap iPhone 5C approach with this iPad. Apparently, they didn't learn their lesson. The iPad Air 2 with an 9X for $399 is a better option, but they clearly want to make the iPad Pro more appealing, instead of doing the real work and fixing the software.

The iPad Air 2 is A8X not A9X just so u know

 

[rui no onna]

Not the point. Apple is choosing a cheap iPhone 5C approach with this iPad. Apparently, they didn't learn their lesson. The iPad Air 2 with an 9X for $399 is a better option, but they clearly want to make the iPad Pro more appealing, instead of doing the real work and fixing the software.

iPad sales have been flat or falling for a while. I reckon a new $329 iPad will boost sales or at least minimize the sales decline more than an upgraded $399 iPad will.

 

[Alrescha]

Steve Sinofsky reported earlier this week that Apple sold more iPads in 2016 than Dell sold computers. I think it will be ok.

A.

(https://twitter.com/stevesi/status/844219399632490497)

 

[rui no onna]

Steve Sinofsky reported earlier this week that Apple sold more iPads in 2016 than Dell sold computers. I think it will be ok.

A.

(https://twitter.com/stevesi/status/844219399632490497)

Apple tends to be held to a higher standard by Wall Street.

 

[larzy]

I think it's a little disappointing how Apple is not able to renew their hardware more. Why go back to the design of the Air 1, instead of just selling the Air 2 with a new processor? That hardware/design is 2 1/2 year old - I find it hard to believe that they couldn't upgrade the processor in that body considering the hardware of the 9.7 pro model.

They might excuse that by the need to refine their products, but many other companys have no problems coming up with new designs. Not saying you should put design over functionality. A good example is the hardware of the OnePlus 3/3t - if you look pass that the phone runs Android, but compare the hardware to the iPhone 7 Plus, you get a much more compact phone that weights less. Instead of optimizing the body that has been the design for 3 years for the iPhone Plus model. Thats not saying it's not great that they have done some waterproofing and better screen technology, but still...

Same with the iPhone SE - I think they are losing some of the innovative approach to hardware design, which they still have. I love the AirPods for example. Great design and solution.

 

[Mikael H]

I think it's a little disappointing how Apple is not able to renew their hardware more. Why go back to the design of the Air 1, instead of just selling the Air 2 with a new processor? That hardware/design is 2 1/2 year old - I find it hard to believe that they couldn't upgrade the processor in that body considering the hardware of the 9.7 pro model.

They might excuse that by the need to refine their products, but many other companys have no problems coming up with new designs. Not saying you should put design over functionality. A good example is the hardware of the OnePlus 3/3t - if you look pass that the phone runs Android, but compare the hardware to the iPhone 7 Plus, you get a much more compact phone that weights less. Instead of optimizing the body that has been the design for 3 years for the iPhone Plus model. Thats not saying it's not great that they have done some waterproofing and better screen technology, but still...

Same with the iPhone SE - I think they are losing some of the innovative approach to hardware design, which they still have. I love the AirPods for example. Great design and solution.

Again: entry level products. Both the iPad and the iPhone SE are supposed to open up the Apple experience to people who really can't afford it, but they should get a taste of it while still wishing for the high-end products where Apple's margins lay. Build too good entry level products and no-one will see the point in high-end ones.

 

[Howard2k]

Again: entry level products. Both the iPad and the iPhone SE are supposed to open up the Apple experience to people who really can't afford it, but they should get a taste of it while still wishing for the high-end products where Apple's margins lay. Build too good entry level products and no-one will see the point in high-end ones.

Your common sense, logic, and grasp of basic marketing have no place here!

 

[gmfeier]

My trusty iPad2 gave up the ghost a couple of months ago. I had bought it on the day it was released. This is a perfect replacement and I ordered the 128GB model as quickly as I could.

 

[j2ee]

I think this new pad comes with great price and it is like a cheap version with a lot of advantage of air 1&2. Going to get one for my parent.
[doublepost=1490551800][/doublepost]How big is the screen quality different comparing to the pro version? I mainly concern the "eye can tell" kind of screen quality different when doing some daily stuff like watching streaming or web browsing.
[doublepost=1490553125][/doublepost]By the way have anyone really received one and using it?

 

[Andres Cantu]

It seems like not too many realize the under-the-hood improvements the A9 chip paired with faster RAM and especially the much faster storage bring to this iPad. Sure, the display and body isn't as nice as the iPad Air 2, but in terms of performance, it's a set-up.

 

[0989383]

I was going to buy an iPad Pro at the end of the year but to be honest I'm considering the new iPad now. Much cheaper, I can't tell the difference in the screen but if it's cheaper to fix then I feel it's worth I any compromise.

Plus.. Much better in real world terms than my other choices: low cost Windows laptops. Better battery, resolution, colour depth, faster storage, more storage.. The list goes on.

 

[Tsuchiya]

I think it has a place in the lineup given its price. I am somewhat disappointed that Apple couldn't keep the same physical body of the Air 2 and simply update the internals though. Small differences to be sure, but enough for me to reconsider my purchase.

 

[Alrescha]

Like most, it's disappointing that Apple has taken a step backwards in terms of thickness/weight/screen.

Nothing personal Tsuchiya, but I think it is hysterical that people have been screaming bloody murder about Apple's obsession with thinness and weight, and when they *finally* relax and make something a teeny, tiny bit thicker and heavier*, it is "disappointing".

A.

* 1.4 mm, and 32 grams(!)

 

[rillrill]

The iPad Air 2 is A8X not A9X just so u know

I know. I was just saying that if they made an iPad Air 2 with an A9 it would be better than the 2017 iPad.

 

[rui no onna]

I know. I was just saying that if they made an iPad Air 2 with an A9 it would be better than the 2017 iPad.

Probably more expensive, too. An Air 2 with A9 CPU likely would've retained the $399 price point.

In any case, while Apple certified refurb stock tends to fluctuate, they seem to get replenished often enough. If one values the fully laminated display with anti-reflective coating, I think $379 for Air 2 64GB Wi-Fi and $419 for Air 2 128GB Wi-Fi is pretty fair considering MSRP as of September 2016 refresh was $399 for 32GB and $499 for 128GB, and original MSRP was $599/64GB and $699/128GB.

 

[j2ee]

I think it was the right decision at the right time.

Being serious, anyone knows that tablets (like smartphones) have become ordinary things. Except of a few people that always spend more money on ordinary things than necessary, most buyers spend just enough money on things so that they don't need to buy a second time soon.

And those people will like the iPad. Other brands are without updates, less security. Whilst an iPad runs about 4 years minimum with all updates, patches etc.

All apps are running on it, browsing is snappy and everything is good. Anti glare is not important at home use, most people never use their tablets away from home or outside.

The pen is really nothing that attracts buyers, nobody really wants to have this.

I think that times for innovation are over. Extra pixels here, buttons with extra features there, really, nobody cares for that.

Now it is the time of the eco systems. Do you want google to spy on you and sell all information to anyone or do you prefer Apple where you pay a little more so that you stay a costumer and don't become the product.

Do you want a System where anything works out of the box, for generations? Just fill in your account data and every iPad will be ready to go.

I don't have an iPad yet, but if i buy one, my choice would be the new cheap one.

I agree what u said except you claim only google spy personal info but not apple.