Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

How the iPad Went from Massive to ‘Meh’ in 5 Short Years

wired.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 59 posts

Re: How the iPad Went from Massive to ‘Meh’ in 5 Short Years

#31

Post by peteretep »

dasil003 wrote: post #13

It's crazy how out of whack people's expectations for Apple have become. I mean after the string of iMac => iPod => iTunes => iPhone, people were just expecting iPad to split the earth in half or I don't know what. Not that the article's reasoning is wrong about the ultimate utility of an iPad, but I find it really hard to describe it as a "meh" product. Remember tablets before the iPad? There were a lot of them but…

    > people were just expecting iPad to split the earth in half
... and it did.

This time last year, 42% of Americans over the age of 18 had a tablet, of which 75% had an iPad. That is, 31% OF AMERICAN ADULTS OWNED AN iPAD.[1]

Only 78% - at that time - had a laptop of a desktop, of any brand[2].

1/3 the number of people who own a computer in the US own an iPad. That is market penetration that beggars belief, for a product that didn't exist 5 years ago.

[1] http://marketingland.com/pew-50-percent-in-us-now-own-tablet... [2] http://www.pewinternet.org/data-trend/mobile/device-ownershi...

Re: How the iPad Went from Massive to ‘Meh’ in 5 Short Years

#32

Post by wodenokoto »

melling wrote: post #21

68 million devices last year is meh? It's not a big deal because everyone in the world doesn't want one? A decade ago Apple was only selling 4m-5m Macs a year. Now hundreds of millions buy Apple "computers" creating a massive ecosystem. When they only sell 5 million watches in the next 12 months, I hope we don't waste too much time with the meh's.

In business, number of units sold is not as important as number of units more sold.

It's meh because it isn't increasing in sales, not because its sales are low. If they sold 20 million last quarter, but had an constant year-over-year increase in sales, it wouldn't be considered meh.

I'm not sure I agree with this thinking either, but that's the explanation at least.

Re: How the iPad Went from Massive to ‘Meh’ in 5 Short Years

#33

Post by Derbasti »

aetherson wrote: post #22
GoofballJones wrote: post #10

Saturation and people are satisfied with what they have. Take my mother-in-law (please) for example. She does _everything_ on her iPad. Banking, email, surfing the web. She literally (yes, literally) hasn't touched her desktop computer in years. But, she's still only on an iPad 2. She'll run that into the ground before she'll get another. She loves it, but isn't on any "upgrade cycle", the same for many people. Now,…

Yes, clearly a factor in the tablet sales slowdown is: Frequent computer users do not feel comfortable replacing their laptops with tablets. They bring their laptops with them. And then they say, "Do I really want to tote around a tablet as well?" The answer is no, their tablets languish at home, and they don't upgrade. Very casual computer users may largely or entirely replace their computers with tablets... but the…

When I go on a trip, I always take my tablet instead of laptop, just because its smaller and I won't be tempted to work.

My tablet can't replace my laptop at all, but it's a great device for traveling, reading, and watching videos.

Re: How the iPad Went from Massive to ‘Meh’ in 5 Short Years

#35

Post by blueskin_ »

Doesn't even need an article.

Year 1: Apple fans buy it because they always buy everything apple sells.

Year 2: Some other rich people buy it, because they were shown it by apple fans.

Year 3: People buy it because other tablets aren't as mature; people start realising that doing normal day to day tasks on a tablet sucks.

Year 4: "Everyone has one", while at the same time most are actually shoved into cupboards or buried under desk clutter.

Year 5: People have realised tablets are impractical. For serious tasks, a computer is better, while for portability, a phone is better. Sales are now driven by replacement with new models and the 2nd world consumers buying their first, while most ipads are sitting in a cupboard or on a shelf somewhere.

Re: How the iPad Went from Massive to ‘Meh’ in 5 Short Years

#36

Post by avinassh »

graeme wrote: post #6
pitchups wrote: post #3

The article misses a more likely reason for the declining sales: maybe sales of the iPad are declining - not because the iPad has lost its appeal - but because the market is saturating and most people who wanted an iPad, have already got one. Folks who have iPads that are 3 or 4 year old are not in the market for newer models - as the old ones are working just fine.

Indeed. I use an iPad to make drawings for online lessons. It made drawings well when I got it in 2012, and it continues to make drawings well. I won't ever upgrade unless it breaks or software updates junk it. Why would I? It would be a mistake to view my reluctance to upgrade as a bad thing, from apple's perspective. I've bought two MacBook airs since (I needed an upgrade for work projects). The fact that the iPad…

> Indeed. I use an iPad to make drawings for online lessons. It made drawings well when I got it in 2012, and it continues to make drawings well.

What all tools/apps/stylus you use? What's the entire process is like? Can you show some of your videos?

Re: How the iPad Went from Massive to ‘Meh’ in 5 Short Years

#37

Post by comeonnow »

GoofballJones wrote: post #10

Saturation and people are satisfied with what they have. Take my mother-in-law (please) for example. She does _everything_ on her iPad. Banking, email, surfing the web. She literally (yes, literally) hasn't touched her desktop computer in years. But, she's still only on an iPad 2. She'll run that into the ground before she'll get another. She loves it, but isn't on any "upgrade cycle", the same for many people. Now,…

In a way I'm in a pretty similar situation. I have a desktop for my day job, and an iPad mini 1 (1st gen) for evening browsing (so that I don't get sucked into work if I use the desktop machine).

There's been 3 updates to the iPad mini since mine, and felt zero need to upgrade. I'm very happy with my ipad, and most certaintly don't think it's meh, it's just apart of my evening cycle that I don't even think about any more.

Re: How the iPad Went from Massive to ‘Meh’ in 5 Short Years

#38

Post by lmedinas »

In my opinion the problem with iPad is iOS. Not saying that iOS is bad it's just not as good enough for tablets. The iPad Air 2, for example, has a huge amount of power in it's CPU and it's not by far being used on OS level functionality like multitasking. Until Apple makes iOS more appealing and functional for tablets people will find it boring or "just another version of an iPhone/iPod with big screen". Also there are some good and cheaper Android tablets in the market. For these reasons people don't feel excited about iPad as they were before.

I owned an iPad 3 and now an Air 2 and i can say that the hardware is top notch and it still continues to be probably the best tablet of the market overall. I also use an Android Phone. :)

Re: How the iPad Went from Massive to ‘Meh’ in 5 Short Years

#39

Post by facepalm »

forcer wrote: post #12

I am a father of 2 year old. I did not experience being a parent before iPad arrived but I suspect it changed the parenthood completely. These days I see all kids of all ages interacting with tablets. My son started using one before he was 1 year old, now he is experienced user, able to start, launch games he likes and videos he wants to see on youtube. Its so powerful as it is scary. Everyone from parents is scared…

I'm in the same boat, my tablet gets most use from my son. For kids it's a great hing. Before reading age, though - once he can read he'll get a proper computer and I'll teach him programming...

Re: How the iPad Went from Massive to ‘Meh’ in 5 Short Years

#40

Post by colechristensen »

forcer wrote: post #12

I am a father of 2 year old. I did not experience being a parent before iPad arrived but I suspect it changed the parenthood completely. These days I see all kids of all ages interacting with tablets. My son started using one before he was 1 year old, now he is experienced user, able to start, launch games he likes and videos he wants to see on youtube. Its so powerful as it is scary. Everyone from parents is scared…

We have infants using computers more powerful than could even be imagined when their grandparents were born.

This is just the beginning.

How long until neural implants are installed at birth, the difference between man and machine is undefinable, and life is experienced as much in the 'real' world as it is in the virtual one?

There are already many successful projects allowing the blind to see and the paralyzed to walk with neural implants.

computers in 1965:computers in 2015 :: man machine interfaces in 2015 : man machine interfaces in 2065

What will the war between luddites and technologists look like?

Post reply on HN