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Ipad sales flatten
BURIED IN Apple's stonking quarterly results was the surprise news that its Ipad sales have flattened.
When Apple released its tablet, I said that it deserved to fail because it was an overpriced netbook without a keyboard or even any useful outputs.
I said that it was technology without an application, that it actually added nothing to the world and that only an Apple fanboi would be dumb enough to buy one.
I had to eat a little humble pie when the stupid gadget sold millions more than I expected. I had a few days with one to see if there was something I missed. There was nothing to suggest that the gear should not end up in the pile with that weird K-Tel stuff that looks like a good idea but you never use. You know, the sort of kit that polishes your onions.
However when Steve Jobs announced Apple's fourth quarter sales figures he had to admit that sales of the Ipad were disappointing. The company sold 4.19 million Ipads in the fiscal fourth quarter.
Analysts who have made fools of themselves predicting that Jobs' magic will bring about a new era of computing are trying to claim that the Ipad didn't sell well because of supply shortages. However the under-supply was more to do with pre-orders and was soon rectified. Most people who want an Ipad have been able to get one.
But 4.19 million Ipads sold would be a great figure, if Apple had not been touting it as a cure for cancer that was going to sweep the world with its magic and change computing.
What we are seeing is that the Ipad is not going to be the big "game changer" that Apple and its tame media lackeys had claimed. Apple has created a new market for itself, but it is still flogging the gear to the usual nutters who buy everything that it makes.
It is possible that ordinary people are waiting for saner priced tablets, perhaps something with Android inside. But I doubt it.
Steve Jobs did make a splash by being the first to make a tablet that some people wanted. But generally people still do not want to waste cash on something that they can't use much.
Tablets have floundered because no one can think of a good reason for them to exist. They will be useful when someone does.
Jobs' Ipad is a giant version of the Ipod Touch. Nothing to see here, move along please.
But this means those who are hoping to jump on the Ipad bandwagon with similar products are going to face an impossible task. They are going to be flogging keyboardless netbooks to those who are not brain-dead Apple fanbois with more money than sense.
What we have been seeing is that a number of tablets that have been placed on the market are suffering from delayed releases. Normally if something really is good, then manufacturers churn them out really fast. But the Ipad has been out for a while now and there have been very few tablets announced that might give it a good kicking.
Some of that has been because the 'Froyo' release of the Android operating system that many of them are depending on has a few problems with tablets and the manufacturers want to make sure that they get it right.
However, manufacturers have rushed products to market before hoping for a quick buck and it is not as if they cannot undercut Apple's margins. It seems to me that they are sitting on their hands waiting for what we saw yesterday - proof that there is not enough interest in tablets.
Those who have released tablets earlier than the others have clearly tried to re-jig them to remedy what have been seen as Apple's failings. They have mostly made them lighter and more portable.
Jobs has mocked them by saying that the current crop of 7-inch tablets are going to be dead on arrival. "Their manufacturers will learn the painful lesson that their tablets are too small," he said.
He might mock, although there were rumours that he was going to release a smaller tablet too, but the reason rival tablets are smaller is that the other tablet makers had to think out of the box. The Ipad is seen as not being portable enough. Maybe they can squeeze something more out of the idea.
But Jobs is right. They will fail unless they can actually come up with a use for the technology. I predict that Jobs will keep flogging new versions of his Ipads to Apple fanbois who will buy them for the token upgrades he will provide for them. But the tablet is not baked yet. µ
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It's not that the iPad replaces the PC/MAC it is in addition to. My iPad is alongside my MAC and I work with both at the same time. I look things up on the iPad whilst working on the MAC.
When I go out - I take the iPad. It's more compact and discrete.
More important Apple have got rid of all the issues I was having with PC's and has made what computers do into a commodity so that I can do what I want to do instead of trying to work around the PC/Windows issues. With Apple you get you life back!
To me all the negative comments by the author show a total lack of appreciation as to what consumers want and expect in the future.
Apple may be a little arrogant but they're giving us what we want - and it works.
Im certainly not an Apple fanboy, but this device has been a huge game changer in my family. My laptop is rarely opened now, as I turn to my speedy iPad instead all day every day.
Price is the problem. But year 1 is always early adopter price. Lest we also forget, there is a recession. Only now is the consumer market warming up. For a recession year, sales on a $600+ new machine arent going to be superb no matter what
If Apple doesnt get the price down, and the Droid tablets do, you'll see problems for Apple this year.
The fact of the matter is that iPad is the cost of a computer. At the current price point, a notebook still has more power and more to offer.
Whoever wins the tablet price wars will convince users that somewhere between their clunky smartphone and a $600+ laptop, there is a solution to their needs. A tablet.
+ Add easy phone and camera capabilities, and you'll suck the air out of smarphones altogether. I look at my iPhone now and wonder how I ever did anything on such a tiny screen.
I do think you guys are a little hard on Apple. Your points are valid but the iPad has proven to be a useful gadget. I would never have purchased it on my own as I prefer a desktop. My daughter gave it to me and it is an excellent adjunct to regular computers.
Will it replace a desktop? no! but it does serve as an easy tool for internet related activities. I have come to like it and i think you guys should cut Apple some slack.
I personally use PC's but it doesnt mean Apple is the demon you make it out to be. Give credit to them. they have a business model that works and a media image that other companies would envy.
When it comes to Apple you guys sound more like the rantings of some tea party supporter then a techncial website. Yeah they are overpriced and yeah the fanboys have tunnel vision but the damn things make planty of money for the company.
I have always felt that Apple software should be more stable because they operate in a closed environment. Microsoft deserves a lot of credit for making OS's that work in just about anything. Making bulletproof software in MS's environment is much more of a challenge then Apple's prep school.
When the iPad was announced, most predicted 2million sales in 2010. After the first weekend most estimates doubled that to 4 million units sold. Apple have sold double that and are well on target to sell 10million before the end of the year.
And you are still trying to spin it as a fail. I suspect you will be eating that humble pie for a long time.
The iPad makes some sense. Long battery life, Apply appstore shackles, email, web browsing (well, almost), until one compares that to a regular tablet PC.
Having used a tablet PC (for example HP current TM2T which can be had for $600 on sale), the iPad starts to make far less sense.
There-in lies iPad success. Consumer ignorance. Who in their right mind would want an iPad over a real Tablet PC with inking, handwriting recognition and speech recognition? Oh, and there's Flash support on the Tablet PC too.... hmmm....
Who didn't predict the flattening of iPad sales?
I own PC's, MACs, an iPhone and thank you an iPad, which I use 95% of the time. All you Apple haters enjoy your 7" Droid next year and enjoy the virus's with it. I have owned every phone and gadget starting with an IPAQ, Palm Phones, Blackberry and I can tell you as can my wife my daughter my employees that the iPad is a true joy and has doubled my productivity. With the upgrade coming in November and the next generation coming next April Apple has nothing to worry about from idiot's like Nick.
There are over 5 billion people in the world. The US has 300+ million. 8 million, in the whole scheme of things isn't that many. Those 8 million comprise markets other than the US. Thankfully, that also means that not all of those 8 million people are in the US. I'm sure the majority of them are though.
I have only been tempted to buy an iPad. I say tempted because I have been waiting for the Android products. Those that aren't part of the walled garden approach. For the life of me, now that I think about it, garden is quite a bit of a stretch. It should be considered a walled prison.
I have been eagerly awaiting the tablets from other manufacturers and have watched them over the past 6 months. None really seem to have my attention. Sure the Galaxy Tab caught my eye but it is far far too costly, and though it may not be strictly tied to Verison it was intended to be that. And the way Verison is pricing their data plans that puts it out of the reach of the vast majority of people.
The Notion Ink tablet doesn't hold much excitement for me. I'm not really sure it will ever be a real product. I know they are trying, but their notion is not working out. They also don't understand markets well so they'll have big trouble getting distribution. It'll probably go east rather than west for distribution first and maybe we'll see it crop up in the US some time, but when, no one really knows.
So, until we see the whole selection together so I can make an informed choice (and no way will I spend $600 for the Galaxy Tab (and never spend $20 per gig for data--as that makes the device, while out and about worthless). Verison significantly over values the data network. Apple had it right to start with $25 to 30 for unlimited data with no contract. Unfortunately they screwed the pooch on it, and gave me all the more reason to not even consider their product.
Please remember this article and the cretin author at the end of next quarter when Apple will have sold another 6-7 million iPads...
A sales graph with only two points *cannot* be logically said to "flatten".
Hmm. Casual empiricism.
Disclaimers: I have an iPhone 3GS - it came with the job. I do not have an iPad. I have 20/10 vision
I don't know anyone who owns an iPad who is not extremely happy with the device. Some of them own Macs, some own iPhones, very few of them are under 35yo, both sexes are represented and describing any of them as a fanbois is peurile. Some are nerds, but most are ordinary people with no real obsession with technology per se.
So, what can I personally observe/conclude?
Things wrong with an iPad.
* iTunes is truly horrid but it hasn't killed the iPhone, iPod or its iBuddies - so it musn't be that important.
* Poor format support goes without saying - it's piss poor.
* Highly reflective screen resembling a mirror and useless outdoors. These things do not replace an eReader, completely hopeless for reading.
* Silly SIM card which created an instant market for SIM card cutters!
* Too heavy IMHO
* It's not really an adequate office computer replacement for the road, and cannot really replace a netbook, but mostly it could with a landscape stand and a keyboard.
* Various other trivial technological things of concern mostly to nerds
* Poor people consider it expensive
* Closed environment for applications (less choice + censorship)
SET AD HOMINIUM = (ATTACK,ON)
Clearly the worst thing about the iPad is that Apple make it, and Nick hates apple beyond the point of obsession. If one makes the not unreasonable assumption that Nick's writing reflects who Nick "is", then one can easily conclude that Nick is also a jerk.
SET AD HOMINIUM = (OFF)
Things good about the iPad
* No Flash. Flash is IMHO the worst of all web software, buggy, a cpu hog (looping), capable of crashing every known browser (OK. only the FF plugin sandbox now - thankfully). The death of flash cannot come too soon.
* Big screen. This makes LogMeIn useful v. trying to use an iPhone for this task.
* Most middle aged people (incl. me) cannot use iPhones for anything other than making a call without putting on their spectacles. Apple chose 9" for very good reasons - they bothered to do the market research. 7" is uncomfortably small without radically increased portability. There is no perfect answer to the portability/size/battery life equation. Apple have made rational choices.
* The iPad is a perfectly adequate web/media device for 99% of the Joe average users. 99% of the time - incl me.
* The sales figures indicate significant growth quarter over quarter, suggesting that people like them and that Nick needs remedial numeracy classes. A sales graph with only two points be logically said to "flatten".
* Poor people consider it expensive
* Closed environment for applications (more consistent application quality)
Finally, anyone who thinks that iPads provide no utility over a smart phone is probably under 35 and has either worn spectacles all their lives, or has perfect close vision. The physiology of the eye is such that in the early 40's (in my case 50) the eye loses its flexibility and tight resolution at close range becomes impossible. A 3" screen is useless, and a 6" one only marginally better. If there is a market for iPhone style apps (truth by existence), there is a market for the same apps on a tablet.
Personally, I think the NotionInk Adam is really interesting and I hope it succeeds, as it attempts, additionally, to solve the issues the iPad intentionally does not.
Sometimes I could really wish that journalists and analysts were better educated and slightly more perceptive.
10-4
Dweeb
you are twat
My Android phone does all those things. As does, I presume, the Iphone?
Regardless how you look at it, Tablets are here to stay. All they need to do is be good enough at a half a dozen functions, retailing below two hundred bucks, and you'll have sufficient numbers willing to buy. Applications will follow, though I dread the day when someone lifts up the screen to their face and starts their Goatse screensaver.
Wow!
Nick you need to step back and look again at whats happening. People have been given a tool that lets them email, surf, watch iplayer, play games, read books, view photos (thxs Tim) all while larding it on the sofa in front of the TV.
Thats it's reason to exist..lets not overcomplicate things here. It's a good application of KISS.
Non technical people will love it more than us techies.
Jobs is a narcissist, to whom everything "He" does is "right". Sales are flattening because people are waking up to the fact that being controlled by a megalomaniac is not really "cool" at all. Nor are devices with "no user-replaceable parts".
I think big phones with form-factors like the Sony X10 and Dell Streak will be where tablets wind up. No one really wants to lug around two devices, and there is no reason why a high-res 5 or 6" diagonal screen cannot meet most users' needs (phone, texting/email, calendar, notes, e-reader, entertainment).
Oh, and @TK Rao "8 million Ipad users cannot be fools". Baaaaaaaaaaa!
Well, my iPad cured cancer, created world peace and solved the energy crisis. But I guess it's still a failure in Nicks world.
7.5 million units sold in 6 months and Nick says that's a failure? Sounds like Nick is trying to be funny. His brain must have exploded after receiving a text message from Brett Favr. Nick's just mad that his new job is the on-site tech reporter for some Chilean mine.
..that the iPad is crap (OK it is overpriced). Simply that no one has come up with a reason for it to exist. Actually I think when someone does then the Tablet will be the next thing in computing. Until then it is just a fanboy toy.
It is extremely biased of you to use the term "Apple fanboy" in an article, and belittles your arguments.
The flattening of rate of sales is not the same as the flattening of sales, as the iPad has sold 1 million more in this quarter than the previous.
The analysts' expectations was for sales of between 4 and 6 million, and the fact that the actual sales figure is nearer the low end of the prediction is neither here nor there.
The entry price is going to be the hardest point for Apple's competitors - come out with a compelling product at the entry price points that Apple has set. I predict that only HP will be able to effectively compete on price and features with the iPad.
It is hilarious to watch fanboys helplessly defending IPAD/IPOD/Iphone4 and any other I-gimmick that the fruity peddler of broken dreams has bastardised again.
Tablet market will take off at some point, I for one, am definitely excited and have pre-ordered my Samsung Galaxy Tab, which IMHO is way above the rim that is the IPAD. This will be especially apparent when it will receive its Gingerbread treatment (Android 3.0)
As for the future of IPAD, once Samsung,Dell,HTC and the likes jump on the bandwagon, it is the end of the IPAD. Since it will be forever hindered by the abortion that is ITunes and horrid format support.
7,460,000 is the total amount of ipads sold to date. The device is still the fastest selling non-phone digital device ever.
Way to expensive for what you get IPAD is a nice toy I wait for it to be 199$
The worst thing was the competition was way way to slow to react to the IPAD.
This website's jihad against the iPad is tiresome. The iPad has been the most successful launch of just about any new consumer electronics product with millions sold in just 6 months of sales. All the promised Android competitors are nowhere to be seen but the INQ can still work up an article trying to convince word+dog that its a dud. I don't own a single Apple product but this smells much more like the result of personal bias and sour grapes than independent journalism.
I originally bought one purely for company use, to demonstrate our online web access to clients. After receiving an Ipad, and playing with it at home, I went and bought one myself - even my technophobic wife wanted me to buy one.
It starts up quickly, allows me to access the internet in seconds (faster than any of my windows or linux based devices). I can email, surf, watch iplayer, play games, read books, view photos, and do more. All of which are much better on the 9.7" screen than on a Touch or similar device.
I have a PC, a laptop, 2 netbooks and an iPad.
I use the iPad more than any other device.
I am neither pro nor anti Apple or Microsoft - I just like good technology - and the iPad works very well for me (and millions of other people it seems).
And being constrained by how fast they can make them (based on parts, mostly the IPS screen) is sales flattening?
Looks like Nick is desperately trying to spin the results as bad (and failing. Miserably as usual)
As a teacher, I'm hoping the fad lasts a little longer. There is certainly a market for these in education. It just doesn't make sense to create a device like this just for the niche markets like education. So I'm hoping the fad will last a little longer for economy of scale to kick in. buy, fanbois, buy!
You are totally getting this tablet story wrong. We will see what the future provides to us ...
4.2 million iPads were sold this quarter, almost a million more than the 3.27 million that were sold in the previous quarter. "Flatten" suggests that their sales are not growing, but that is certainly not the case here, unless I'm missing something?
Apple sold about 8 million Ipads in 2 quarters. All of them can't be fools!
I think notion ink's adam can be a good contender. It may be used as a true ebook , a mutimedia player, a videochat device + web surfing with flash.
That humble pie is really getting to you arent it lol
Tablet = E-Readers with better screens. As for lack of poatability, how come I keep seeing people carrying them around in book holders every where ?
Actually what we are finding out is that other manauafactures can't match its quality for the same price, and all have you considered that the holiday season is coming up ? biggest buying time of the year??
Oh by the way saying that 4.9 million sold is rubbish because they bigged it up more.. hmmm well they make a damn good profit on all of those, and they make a profit on the apps as well.
Nick . Steve Jobs is a multi billionaire and you are not, I suggest you study way ;)