Why the iPad Will Be Successful (Eventually)

I predict Apple's iPad will be a big success... by the second or third generation. I think this initial version will perform moderately, but won't knock it out of the park -- since Apple's been knocking everything out of the park lately, this in of itself, may seem like a failure, but that's another post all together.

So, why don't I think it'll make it big right now? It's a big idea. The iPad is not a computer or a smartphone. What do I even need it for? It'll take people time to figure out how the iPad can best be used. But, I don't think it'll flop either because, let's be honest, it's pretty darn slick. I don't know how I'll use it, but I'd love to have one.

The iPad is a true revolution in computing. It's a new kind of device that will be easy to use, truly intuitive, beautiful, and relatively cheap. I foresee a huge market for them in tech novices, people who want to be able to use email, and surf the web, but don't need the computing power of a full machine. Macworld has an awesome article pushing this idea even further called "The iPad isn't a a third device, but a third revolution." The iPad runs on the iPhone OS and uses iPhone/iPad apps instead of normal computer programs, and, although this will bother power users, many mainstream users will find they don't need anything else. Furthermore, it's got a pretty appealing price point, that starts at just $499.

The iPad needs more features and time to truly become mainstream. Where's multi-tasking, a camera, and a usb port? I predict they'll be included in the next generation. Also, it will take time for people to realize the true value of the device. Just think about the iPod -- it wasn't immediately popular but now it's a cultural icon.

So what do you think? Let me know if you agree, and especially let me know if you disagree.

 

Follow Megan Berry on Twitter: www.twitter.com/meganberry

Comments

[topypunk]

12:43 PM on 02/14/2010

I think It'll be great success on many levels. Never mind the virus free OS. No more mouse for my grandma to keep fighting with. No more horrible buggy software, that changes, for the worst every few weeks.no more dealing with all those wires everywhere. no more repeatedly reinstalling software disks for my grandma(ie... ME doing it). iPhone OS has great software for the able challenged, never mind voice commands. it's so many great Apple devices all rolled into one. I just sold my MACBOOK PRO, for many reasons. but miss the things the iPad does even better. Emails, web surfing, basic media stuff in my lap and hands now! If you've ever had the joy of using an iphone or an iPod touch doing some of it's more powerful apps, this iPad is going to be way more enjoyable and blow us all away. I can't wait. I never like buying the first generation of any new gadget. The second always come out shortly after and is always better. But I know I will be buying one at some point.

[LightShadow62]

01:27 PM on 02/13/2010

Let's look at the iPad for what it is, a new portal to the iTunes Store.

[ROFLMAO]

07:47 PM on 02/12/2010

so many words to say so little

[onceler]

02:51 PM on 02/12/2010

Um, what? The iPod was most certainly immediately popular, but people weren't used to spending that amount of money on such a device in such large numbers at the time. But they sold a ton of them. People, please don't write stories like these based on what you remember from the time. Look up the actual facts and use those. They are not hard to find.

[johnqsittinzen]

12:31 PM on 02/12/2010

"I don't know how I'll use it, but I'd love to have one."

The new American motto.

[Eris23]

01:02 PM on 02/11/2010

To compare the iPod to the iPad is simply off base. When Apple released the iPod, there was already a market for MP3 players. It wasn't a huge market, due to the fact that your average novice computer user didn't know how to find music, or even really understand what an MP3 was. But, the market was always growing rather than shrinking. The savvy business move by Apple was the idea to set up an online store for music that would tie in with the iPod. That was Apple's goal from the start. It just took longer with them to negotiate the deal with the music industry that was very wary about piracy, which is why DRM came to be a part of the iTunes/iPod platform for so long. Right place, right time pretty much for Apple there.

The iPad on the other hand, is not remotely the same. Tablet PCs have existed for awhile and have never enjoyed heavy sales. Furthermore, unlike the iPod which was very similar to every other consumer MP3 player available at the time, the iPad lacks many features on an as of yet unreleased product where competitors that announced a similar product months ago have more features.

[LightShadow62]

01:33 PM on 02/13/2010

To NOT compare the iPad to the iPod Touch or iPhone is to be blind to reality.

It runs the iPhone OS.
It runs iPhone apps
It's interface is the same as the iPhone
Only difference is a bigger screen and a faster processor.

[disposableidentity]

12:15 PM on 02/14/2010

And yes the iPad runs over 140,000 different iPhone apps, but it will also run new apps built just for the iPad. Both the iPhone and iPad run a UNIX based OS. These are not light-weight web apps or dumbed-down Windows mobile apps. Apple's development tools let programmers crank out desktop-class applications.

If developers could produce 140,000 apps for the iPhone in only 18 months (many of them very clever and useful day to day), just wait what they'll do with a mobile device with a 10' touchscreen.

[disposableidentity]

12:08 PM on 02/14/2010

But low-end $500computers have been selling very well for years to people who only use them for email and web browsing. If the iPad is just a better, sexier, more portable $500 computer they could easily sell tens of millions of units.

I'm buying one for my grandmother. My parents want a couple of them. Looks like my aunt and u cle are buying them for their kids instead of a second desktop PC.

That's a huge market.

[Paul Berry]

08:52 PM on 02/09/2010

i'm not sure I agree because I think the Chrome netbooks are going to be so much more tempting and jam packed, but it's always been hard for me to really fall in love with Apple