Apple Selling More iPads Than Macs

http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20100520/apple-selling-more-ipads-than-macs/

by AndrewWarner • 16 years ago

31 42 16 years ago

digitaldaily.allthingsd.com

wmf• 16 years ago

I think "pent-up demand" says it all; it's not interesting to compare the launch of a new product category against an existing one.

pohl3• 16 years ago

It is interesting when you consider that supply is still constrained.

symesc• 16 years ago

Sorry, but I disagree.

It is interesting.

It is interesting because it is a new product category and it is selling like crazy. Truly new categories of personal computing devices don't happen very often at all. Desktop, laptop, mobile phone, netbook, touch screen mobile phone . . . now this. There's the history of product categories for 30 years. Chrome OS may change that again.

It is also interesting because when a consumer has only so much budget for new computing devices. Their choices matter, not only to Apple but to competitors.

astine2• 16 years ago

Well tablets aren't 'truly new.' (Neither were netbooks for that matter.) The iPad just happens to be the first one with wide appeal.

dgregd• 16 years ago

This is a great example of well executed idea. As we all know the tablet idea isn't a new one. But Apple is first to execute it well.

That's why bare ideas aren't worth too much.

axod• 16 years ago

Apple have die hard fans. If Apple release a computer with a circular screen, they'd sell a ton. That doesn't mean it'll translate to widespread adoption though.

keltex• 16 years ago

Reminds me of an oldie but goodie from the Onion:

http://www.theonion.com/video/apple-introduces-revolutionary...

catch233• 16 years ago

Their die hard fans didn't really help the Apple TV much unfortunately.

brk2• 16 years ago

Yes, they do have die-hard fans. People often state this like it is a bad thing, or like Apple has done something wrong by building products that attract a loyal following. Any real developer on here would give their left nut (or tit, if the case were) to be able to build a technology company that could attract the following that Apple has.

That fan base has been acquired by creating products that people feel good about owning and using. I don't want to make this a fanboi/anti-MS thread, but the market perception of most Microsoft-based products seems to be that most of the users purchase them somewhat begrudgingly.

Mentat_Enki2• 16 years ago

This just in: Apple ALSO selling more iPods and iPhones than Macs! Compelling! After the break: the shocking story of a Bear who shits in the woods, and is the Space Pope REALLY reptilian? Back after this...

brk2• 16 years ago

Yes, but few people would say an iPod or an iPhone is a credible alternative to a computer.

I have a 3G iPad, I am frequently picking it up to do casual computing tasks (web, email, entertainment) that I would have ordinarily sat down at my desk for, or grabbed my laptop (MBP) off the desk for.

I like the fact that I can use the iPad on and off all day. It comes alive almost instantly, yet doesn't drain its battery after a couple of hours of use and idling.

The iPad is, to me, one of the first well-executed PC alternatives to come out in about as long as I can remember. I've also had netbooks (EEE 701), various smart phones, PDAs, computers tethered to TV's and other "alternative computing" devices throughout the years. None of them have ever really felt like viable products for me.

Mentat_Enki2• 16 years ago

You've missed the admittedly rather subtle point I was trying to make, and have assumed I meant that iPods and iPhones were 'credible alternatives to a computer'.

The reason for my sarcastic, annoyed comment is the continual shock and disbelief that a low-cost product that completely freaking nails its intended target is outselling the recently-antiquated paradigm that is the personal computer.

People have been pining for this sort of device in their little black hearts for decades (if you want insight into the zeitgeist of a society, examine their art & culture for their hopes and dreams. Case in point: the Star Trek PADD, etc. Who could possibly NOT want one of those ;) ), and as such the "pent-up demand" comes to me as no surprise.

The iPad won't be the only one of its breed to surface in the near-future, but you can damn well better believe it will always be one of the best if not THE best-of-breed. In fact, I contend that these devices aren't "well-executed PC alternatives" so much as well-executed PC REPLACEMENTS. We may end up seeing the "personal computer" as we know it relegated back to the days of the concept of a "workstation", reserved only for those that need the on-site computing power, and the 'cloud' on the horizon seems make this even more certain.

Yes there have been other tablets. Yes there will be other tablets. "It's not the hardware, stupid!" (It's the interaction model that makes it so successful, and why Apple is miles ahead of everyone else in this respect, and will most likely remain so for the near term.)

Sorry for the rant, and of course nothing personal, just don't like the flavour of other people's words in my mouth and felt like my point was misinterpreted.

barrkel3• 16 years ago

This is mysterious to me. I have an iPad, but I think it's a toy. Probably the best use case is airplane entertainment.

InclinedPlane• 16 years ago

Even if it is a toy, it's still a new toy. It's barely just 6 weeks old. I'd wait a bit before declaring the iPad revolution legit.

catch233• 16 years ago

it's the ultimate toy... there are so many great games built for it.

mechanical_fish2• 16 years ago

You can't understand why people would line up out the door to pay money for toys?

Have you ever heard of George Lucas? [1]

Do we need to send you on a remedial field trip to the local mall on the day after Thanksgiving?

---

[1] I'll bet that over the course of my lifetime my family has paid George Lucas far more than the cost of an iPad, for fewer hours of enjoyment. I've probably spent half an iPad's worth on Lucasfilm movie tickets alone.

barrkel3• 16 years ago

But it's a toy whose novelty wears off really quickly, I find. I have one here on my desk, but I haven't used it (apart than to verify the UK's app store is up and running) with any seriousness in around two weeks.

astine2• 16 years ago

To put things in perspective: people had trouble understanding why folks would line up outside Star Wars films as well.

roofone2• 16 years ago

It is a toy for you. It's also a toy for me. But, it's a easy way to check email and the web for my wife, a way to learn letters and numbers for my 3 year old, and a video player for long car trips for my son.

To me, that's the most incredible thing about the iPad and perhaps a factor in its success: the incredible versatility and extensibility you can get from a small flat screen with one button.

czhiddy• 16 years ago

What does the average Joe do with their computer?

Email, Web surfing, Music, Videos, Casual gaming

Seems like the iPad is a good fit for this simple usage pattern (and much cheaper than a laptop or desktop). I imagine that writing code / hacking around is pretty far low on their list of priorities.

fierarul• 16 years ago

I would say the iPad might actually be a better fit for geeks (that know how to use it) or people that don't actually use computers that much so they'll just adapt to anything.

Because the "average Joe" is actually a pretty strange beast:

* his email may be on servers that need weird configurations

* his web surfing includes powerful meme-sources such as youtube. In US, he might actually go to hulu or something similar. His bank might be very fond of some ActiveX thingy to allow online banking. He uses facebook and probably plays one of those flash games.

* his music isn't always legit or always bought via iTunes. How will he buy Amazon music and put it in his iPad without a laptop ?

* his videos might not always be h264

* his casual gaming is made by those facebook games I talked about.

Basically the fact that you still need iTunes to use (and upgrade for example) the iPad means it's not meant to be a computer replacement, but an add-on.

Tamerlin• 16 years ago

I'm considering one for use as a portfolio, and for reading while traveling (if it turns out that it's possible to charge it with solar power, it might even go on the list of backpacking luxury items, to serve as a book, journal, and possibly entertainment (games) device in case of being tent-bound during inclement weather).

But my main intended use would definitely be as a portfolio of my photography. It wouldn't hold a candle to the image quality of my print portfolio, but it would be easier to update it regularly, and to have custom sets for showing different prospective clients.

So even though it's mostly a nifty toy, it does have some potential use. We'll see how well that pans out, I suppose.

I think there are already some apps floating around or in the works that enable tethered photography for studio use, which could be useful also, although I don't do much studio work.

jasonlbaptiste• 16 years ago

I haven't used my mbpro in days. I created and gave an entire talk using keynote. I have terminal, FTP/code editor, rackspace app so I can do technical tasks too. I use highhrise and other g apps for more work relted stuff. Email is a delight. Anything with heavy design is still lacking, though I'd love to give it a go. I can now work uninterrupted for 9 hours with Internet. The world is truly changed.

jlgosse• 16 years ago

I'm not even going to read the article and just tell you all that an iPad is like 1/3 - 1/4 the price of a Mac, so in that alone we should conclude that it'll sell more.

Not only that, there isn't really a competitor to the iPad, whereas I can go out and buy 2-3 laptops for the price of a Mac.

Finally, for most situations, I can imagine the following happening:

Customer: Yes, I'm looking for a computer. Apple Store Guy: Okay great! What will you need it for? Customer: Um, checking my Facebook and Twitter, doing some email, and playing some games? Apple Store Guy: Okay, well you can get our entry-level touch-screen toy of the future, known as the iPad, for $499. Or, you can get a Mac for anywhere between $1500 and $3000. Customer: OMFG drool iPad please!

The customer just saved hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, and now has a fun way to check email.

Case closed.

cpr• 16 years ago

Good point, but careful not to exaggerate: 13" MBPs and 21" iMacs start at $1200, and Mac Minis can be had for $600 if you already have a monitor or a large-format TV.

qwzybug• 16 years ago

TFA notes that the iPad seems to be cannibalizing iPod sales rather than Macs, though certainly there's no way to know for sure.

thewileyone• 16 years ago

I think a relevant question to ask is, has Apple just replaced one market for another with a lower profit margin?

Apple Selling More iPads Than Macs

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