Will the iPad spread Apple thin?

[connoro]

Apple are now, essentially, developing for three different operating systems: the iPhone OS, the iPhone OS (iPad variant), and the Mac OS. And they're forcing third-parties to develop for three operating systems, too. (It might be relatively painless to convert iPhone apps to run on the iPad full-res, but to do that well will still take substantial effort).

Personally, I'm a little worried the iPad will spread the company's focus thin: will Apple release an update to iWork this year, or has the iWork team been so pushed to develop the iPad version that the Mac version has been overlooked?

I remember when Jobs entered the stage in '97, he promised a return to a simple, un-convoluted product line. Now, I have the feeling the company is releasing new products simply because they feel as though they need to continually expand the product line.

Thoughts?

 

[NathanCH]

I agree about Apple focusing on too many things. Next think we know, they'll end up being like Sony.

But Apple isn't forcing people to develop applications for all three OS.

 

[ct2k7]

Whoever said redesigning the app to work on both platform was easy needs a right kick up the backside. I've been at the drawing table for the past few hours and I've still got issues.

 

[yamabushi]

I think they should expand even more. Customized versions of OS X for select other companies would let the platform expand. They should probably remove almost all references to Apple or Mac in the custom OS and also leave a few features out. Expand the hardware base by allowing it's use in devices sold by other manufacturers that Apple currently doesn't sell, such as netbooks, game consoles, wearable devices, and embedded devices.

 

[connoro]

I think they should expand even more. Customized versions of OS X for select other companies would let the platform expand. They should probably remove almost all references to Apple or Mac in the custom OS and also leave a few features out. Expand the hardware base by allowing it's use in devices sold by other manufacturers that Apple currently doesn't sell, such as netbooks, game consoles, wearable devices, and embedded devices.

You're kidding, right?



... Right?

 

[paduck]

I remember when Jobs entered the stage in '97, he promised a return to a simple, un-convoluted product line. Now, I have the feeling the company is releasing new products simply because they feel as though they need to continually expand the product line.

Thoughts?

Well, they do need to expand the product line. They drove their profits through most of the 2000's with the iPod and got a halo effect on Macs. Then they announced the iPhone as the iPod started to fade and continued the trend. That trend is still going and can be juiced a little more when they expand beyond AT&T, but they need to come up with The Next Big Thing to drive sales, buzz, halo effect - and that's the iPad. It will keep them going for 5 years until they get to the next level with something else.

It does fit nicely in their product spectrum, just like Steve says:

iPod Shuffle $59 - $99
iPod Nano $149 - $179
iPod Classic $249
iPod Touch $199 - $399
[Apple TV, ahem?] $229
iPhone $99 - $299
iPad $499 - $829
MacBook $999
MacBook Pro $1199 - $1499
MacBook Air $1499 - $1799

If anything, it is cannibalizing some sales of the MacBook (because that is what it is competing with in terms of usage - low-end MacBooks. However, it still requires a full-up base computer to use (or to use fully), so people will want to have a computer with iTunes on it to store greater amounts of content. Hopefully, that will be a MacBook or iMac.

People are going to love this thing for e-mail and web surfing around the house - sitting in their living room. We like doing that now with MacBooks (not so much with the little iPod Touch or iPhone), but this will be better. And it will travel well. Trust me, I have a netbook. The thing that doesn't do anything better. With one exception - it travels better than anything I have seen before. The iPad is the same screen size, but smaller and lighter. Therefore, it travels even better. It will do what a lot of people want on the road - email, webs and audio/video (with a larger screen than the iPhone/iPod Touch).