Should Apple Cut the Price of iPad to Attract More Buyers

[alchemistmuffin]

With the introduction of Textbooks on iBooks, it seems like Apple is finally really pushing the education market.

But, unfortunately, until they cut the price of the iPad to a price where lot of Americans and other people can actually afford one, I think it might be while before massive adoption of tablets in education market can take place.

Think about it. For $499 16 GB iPad wifi, you can buy 2 8GB iPod touch, which has enough features for many users, including iBooks and Newsstand, an HD camera, and a music player, same features as iPad has. For many students and schools who are cutting budges left and right nowadays, they will want best for their bang, and while Android tablets are much cheaper, they would rather go for the top of the line, and would try to save up for iPads.

But, from the looks of Apple's education keynote, Apple would rather want this textbook adoption as fast as possible, and with current iPad price point, that isn't going to happen.

So, I've been wondering, what if Apple cuts the price of iPad to the similar price point as iPod touch.

Here's the possible price point, starting with iPod shuffle, since cutting price of iPad means they have to cut the price of all iPod prices as well

iPod shuffle: $39

iPod nano: 8 GB in Any Color: $99
iPod nano: 16GB in Any Color: $149

iPod classic: Axed in favor of iPod touch

iPod touch: 8GB: $199
iPod touch: 32GB: $249
iPod touch: 64GB: $299

And now, iPad prices:

iPad 16GB with Wifi: $399 ($299 with Educational Discount)
iPad 32GB with Wifi: $499 ($399 with Educational Discount)
iPad 64GB with Wifi: $599 ($499 with Educational Discount)

iPad 16GB with 3G: $429 (Lower Price depending on subsidy of carrier)
iPad 32GB with 3G: $529 (Lower Price depending on subsidy of carrier)
iPad 64GB with 3G: $629 (Lower Price depending on subsidy of carrier)

If at&t, Verizon and even Sprint can offer the iPad with contract at lot lower price in par with the iPhone, this would be a game changer, since many people can finally afford the iPad, as long as they are willing to sign up with a data plan.

What do you think: Will you buy the iPad if it was available at lot lower price?

 

[OllyW]

Why would they cut the price?

The iPad was selling so fast that production could barely keep up with demand for most of last year. There have been rumours that the iPad 2 will be retained as a lower cost entry model when the new iPad is released so that might cover the $399 price point.

 

[MonkeySee....]

None of you poll results count for me. No apple shouldn't cut their price. Its 100% justified IMHO.

 

[Bernard SG]

If they're in a position to have enough supply for volumes double or triple what they are today ( that is 100 to 150 million units per year), then yes; but that doesn't seem to be the case for the time being.

That being said, I think the current price point is 100 or 150 bucks too high, but I'm still going to buy an iPad 3 or 4 because I'm under Apple's spell

 

[roadbloc]

Where is the "no I don't need an iPad at all" option?

 

[quasinormal]

I'd rather see a drop in the price of the iPhone, but lets face it, it won't happen while every man, his child, spouse and dog wants one.

OP, you seem confused about the true cost of an iPhone.

 

[ChristianVirtual]

Yes, I bought it at full price in order to get less problem with the prepaid contract.

And I think we will see some price cut with the introduction of iPad 3; the iPad3 comes 20% higher and the current iPad 2 goes 20% cheaper. Wild guess though.

 

[thewitt]

Apple is selling 150,000 iPads a day and completely dominating the market. They would be foolish to lower the price.

The hype about competition is still all hype. The own this market in every definition of the term. Yes, they need to continue to innovate to stay on top, but devaluing the iPad through a price or feature reduction is not necessary.

 

[alchemistmuffin]

Oh, I forgot one more thing:

New 8GB entry model iPad with Wifi (To convince people who might be getting the 8GB iPod touch to upgrade to 8GB iPad): $349 ($249 with Educational Discount)

No 8GB entry model iPad with 3G, since carrier subsidized iPad might cover it. But if they insist, 3G model would cost about $399.

 

[malman89]

I don't really need an iPad or want one, but to be more appealing to me I suggest keeping the iPad 2 line after the iPad 3 launch with a decent discount included.

It's not like they wouldn't still be making a profit. It would be more appealing to people like me who don't see it being a full fledged productivity tool and therefore not worth the current price.

 

[talmy]

I'll always need a computer so the iPad has never been appealing to me. I'd like to see features available in the iPad also available in OS X (particularly full iCloud support and iBook support).

Also while the iPad was originally criticized for being an overgrown iPhone (without the phone), I'd like to replace my iPod Touch with a shrunk iPad the same size as the Touch. I don't use a cell phone and am not interested in paying $1000/year to have an iPod Touch replacement that has a data plan.

 

[ChazUK]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.3.4; en-gb; GT-I9100 Build/GINGERBREAD) AppleWebKit/533.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/533.1)

Do they need to attract more buyers?

The thing is doing tremendous thus far.

 

[mrsir2009]

No. The iPhone is where the costs need to be cut! Where I live the iPad goes for $800 and the iPhone goes for $1050. Which price needs to be cut?

 

[Consultant]

No. The iPhone is where the costs need to be cut! Where I live the iPad goes for $800 and the iPhone goes for $1050. Which price needs to be cut?

Lobby your country to reduce import duty?

Or have friends who travel to US buy them?

 

[mrsir2009]

Lobby your country to reduce import duty?

Or have friends who travel to US buy them?

Yeah, but the price of the iPhone is still higher than the iPad anywhere in the world.

 

[SpaceKitty]

I don't really need an iPad or want one, but to be more appealing to me I suggest keeping the iPad 2 line after the iPad 3 launch with a decent discount included.

This is what I have heard they will do just like what they do with the iPhone. The old iPad will be set at a nice low price with lower capacities.

I don't have and have never wanted an iPad.

 

[Shrink]

No. The iPhone is where the costs need to be cut! Where I live the iPad goes for $800 and the iPhone goes for $1050. Which price needs to be cut?

That'll teach you to live on a part of the globe where all the blood rushes to your head., Kiwi.

 

[malman89]

This is what I have heard they will do just like what they do with the iPhone. The old iPad will be set at a nice low price with lower capacities.

I don't have and have never wanted an iPad.

I wouldn't pull the trigger, either, because I need to save for a new computer. Never know how much longer mine is going to hold up (5+ years). It would make it much more enticing, though. I see it as a media consumption device mainly and it's far too expensive at its current price to warrant buying it for that.

 

[AppleScruff1]

I'd like to see them raise the price $100 across the board. As a consumer, I only care about Apple, not myself. Apple's profit is all that matters to me. The more they make and the less I have, the better I feel.

 

[Dr McKay]

I think, depending on the price of the wave of Windows 8 tablets, Apple may adjust the price of their iPad. If the Win8 Tablets manage to undercut the price of the iPad, they may drop theirs.

 

[Shrink]

Unfortunately, part of the cachè is the price. It suggests quality (which, in fact, is true) and exclusivity.

 

[danahn17]

OP... the title to your thread and your poll are asking two different questions

At any rate, I think that the iPad is priced fine as is. If/when the iPad3 comes out, I suppose a cheaper iPad2 may be an option but I wouldn't count on it...making it cheaper would start putting it in the iPod Touch range and possibly cannibalize sales.

 

[george-brooks]

I think what is more likely than a price cut is a $399 8GB iPad 2 sold next to the iPad 3 lineup at the same or slightly higher prices as current. As for ubiquity in education, I think Apple will probably have a deal to see iPads to school discounted in bulk.

 

[rdowns]

I think Mercedes should cut their prices. It pains me to se so many people driving Fords.

 

[*LTD*]

https://www.macrumors.com/2012/01/2...6-billion-profit-on-46-33-billion-in-revenue/

There's your answer.

/thread