Just a thought. The last "budget" iPad which they really promoted as being for the education sector came out in March 2018. I'm surprised they never release an iPad in late summer as students (and teachers) are shopping for tech for school.
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iPad Why Doesn't Apple Release iPads in time for Back to School?
- Thread starter joeblow7777
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So basically, they figure they're going to sell off old stock during this time, so they release something new soon after?
I’d say pretty much, as it is logical to try keeping profit margin of new products high.
No we didn't.
[EDIT]
Let's see, with regards to Mac releases:
MacBook
2017-06
2016-04
2015-04
MacBook Air
2019-07
2018-10
2017-06
2015-03
2014-04
2013-06
2012-06
MacBook Pro
2019-07
2019-05
2018-07
2017-06
2016-10
2015-05
2014-07
iMac
2019-03
2017-06
2015-10
2015-05
2014-10
2013-09
2012-11
iMac Pro
2017-12
Mac mini
2018-10
2014-10
2012-10
2011-07
2010-06
2009-10
2009-03
Mac Pro
2013-12
2012-06
2010-07
2009-03
2008-01
2007-04
2006-08
So, it seems your October claim sort of may be partially true for the Mac mini, but not for much else.
[/EDIT]
A lot of university students might be better served by an iPad Air 3 (because of the Apple Smart Keyboard support), and that came out in March.
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Which goes with why I'm asking. Another good "back to school" device that was released in March.
They want to keep shifting stock I would imagine around this time of year, clearing out inventory of 2018 iPad's and bagging the last few sales they can snag of the current Pro while it's the latest and greatest to new students who (for some) have been handed a tonne of government loan / grant of money and don't know how to handle it, so will spend near £1,000 in some cases on a shiny new iPad.
Well, that's my theory, anyway!
Well, that's my theory, anyway!
It gives retailers a chance to clear out old inventory. And if they don’t commit to X amount of new SKUs the retailer doesn’t get preferential reduced pricing from Apple. Retailers may shift inventory around but the retail channel is dry about 1 or 2 months ahead of back to school. It’s literally the worst time to buy Any tech.
Because budgeting doesn't happen through a 5-minute email. Budget review and requests happen one year ahead of time. How many educators go "Well, that's a great looking iPad for my class, let me send an email to the department head to ask for $30,000."
For many institutions:
Students aren't likely the biggest buyers of the $329 iPad, rather it's the educators. And educators don't work on an ad hoc budgeting process.
For many institutions:
- Sept. to Dec. - budget committee review of unit proposals
- Jan. to Feb. - community consultations
- Mar. to Apr. - executive approval
Students aren't likely the biggest buyers of the $329 iPad, rather it's the educators. And educators don't work on an ad hoc budgeting process.
In terms of educators, I actually meant buying them for ourselves, but what you've described for bulk purchases is not necessarily universal. When the 6th gen ipad came out in 2018, I was able to speak to my department head, write up a request to my principal, and we placed an order for 10 units within a week or two of their launch, and bought 10 more later in the year. I also ordered my own personal unit within days of launch.
So my point is, yes, educators are interested in iPads for ourselves and for our students, and sometimes we do have the ability to make immediate purchases. Funny enough, I had more trouble getting permission to get the cases and charging station I wanted for our units. My board has no problem ordering from Apple, but they don't buy from Amazon, but that's a whole different story.
One may just as well ask why most iPad releases aren't timed for Christmas (iPad Pro are the only models on a fall release schedule).
New model releases do not necessarily have to coincide with peak demand periods (although they certainly can). There are justifiable business reasons for spreading new model releases across various times during the year, rather than bring them all out at once.
New product releases can stimulate sales when there are no other particular sales stimuli available - I'd suggest the early-year Mac and iPad releases fall into that category. This gains those products a bit of free-standing attention, rather than be overshadowed by other product releases. It spreads the new-product-release workload for departments from engineering to marketing, rather than concentrate it in a few months. It also stimulates revenue in at times of year when revenues are below-peak.
In the case of Back-to-School, Apple doesn't have to deliver a brand-new product - these are need-based purchases that can't be delayed. Arguably, the March release date for non-Pro iPads is superior to a September or October release date - a July/August purchase gives you a 4-5 month-old model, rather than a 10-11 month-old model. As far as Apple is concerned, they seem to like bringing out new iPads at a six-month offset from the iPhone release - a nice way to spread the cashflow peaks.
New model releases do not necessarily have to coincide with peak demand periods (although they certainly can). There are justifiable business reasons for spreading new model releases across various times during the year, rather than bring them all out at once.
New product releases can stimulate sales when there are no other particular sales stimuli available - I'd suggest the early-year Mac and iPad releases fall into that category. This gains those products a bit of free-standing attention, rather than be overshadowed by other product releases. It spreads the new-product-release workload for departments from engineering to marketing, rather than concentrate it in a few months. It also stimulates revenue in at times of year when revenues are below-peak.
In the case of Back-to-School, Apple doesn't have to deliver a brand-new product - these are need-based purchases that can't be delayed. Arguably, the March release date for non-Pro iPads is superior to a September or October release date - a July/August purchase gives you a 4-5 month-old model, rather than a 10-11 month-old model. As far as Apple is concerned, they seem to like bringing out new iPads at a six-month offset from the iPhone release - a nice way to spread the cashflow peaks.
There ya go!
10.2” iPad in early September, during the back-to-school shopping period.
Starts at only US$299.
Compatible with both Apple Pencil and Apple Smart Keyboard.
10.2” iPad in early September, during the back-to-school shopping period.
Starts at only US$299.
Compatible with both Apple Pencil and Apple Smart Keyboard.
Is it really still back to school shopping though? Most people tend to do that before school starts or within the first couple of weeks.
Yes. Typically the sales are August to September.
And we are only in the second week of September.
College students are buying MacBook Airs in droves.
Anybody who gets an iPad to "study" is a Netflix-watching clown fooling their parents. High school kids should be studying using books. And pencils.
I’ve been a teacher for 13 years. I’ve seen the rise of tablets (and smartphones) in classrooms. They’re useful devices for educational purposes.
I’d suggest a little decorum chief. I use my phone and iPad for 99.99% of my work, (have been since 2013) and even more since iPad Pro and iPad OS. Of course you should voice your opinion, but no rudeness is necessary even if you strongly disagree. Peace mate
At my school we were cursing Apple yesterday. We are on a 1-1 program and the iPads for this year’s students are already at our facilities.
We started on 2016 and this is the first time the students will get the same model as the year before.
2016- iPad Air 2
2017-iPad 5th Gen
2018-iPad 6th Gen
2019-iPad 6th Gen
We started on 2016 and this is the first time the students will get the same model as the year before.
2016- iPad Air 2
2017-iPad 5th Gen
2018-iPad 6th Gen
2019-iPad 6th Gen