It might seem a long time, but the Media Tablet marketplace did not exist until April this year. It soon became obvious that Apple’s iPad had catalyzed yet another major computing trend – by Computex, almost every device manufacturer in the world had a tablet coming. Last month, Gartner Group predicted the 20 million sales expected in 2010 will grow an order of magnitude over the next four years. Now Gartner has gone a step further. “It is not usually the role of the CEO to get directly involved in specific technology device decisions, but Apple’s iPad is an exception,” says the report. “It is more than just the latest consumer gadget; and CEOs and business leaders should initiate a dialogue with their CIOs about it if they have not already done so.”
Media tablets are slate devices that support touch and run a lightweight OS such as iOS, Android, WebOS or Meego. Apple’s iPad is a media tablet and Samsung’s recently-released Galaxy Tab and the Cisco Cius are other examples.
…and so many people said the iPad wouldn’t sell. It’s been a complete game changer.
The iPad seems to be selling well, but I’m still holding off. Everyone I’ve talked to says it’s a great media consumption device (read: toy), but that they don’t do any sort of meaningful work on them. I just can’t see them being very useful in the workplace. Have other DU readers seen/experienced the same thing, or have you found them to be valuable in your business?
Note: I’m not trying to be a troll here, I actually want to know. Thanks!
Wow a site call Gizmag, I’m sure they are totally unbiased and not just trying to get clicks.
Game changer it is. Nearly every major vendor in the mobility space is chasing the 800# Apple gorilla. They are using another 800# gorilla, Google/Android to do it – alongside Nokia and RIM proprietary solutions.
There is NO competition for iPAD until 2nd half of next year. Even Pedro wants this 10incher all to himself.
Why is it selling?
Do people feel like their credit cards have more space left for these toys?
I’m trying to reduce the ammount of crap I have at home, and having more specialized devices to make me “happier” is antithetical to my goals. I’d rather have one, small, superpowerful, laptop that can stream to the TV, than a half dozen gizmos.
It is like a Porsche, neat, but not worth having because it’s all flash and no utility. And, anyone who is impressed with the Porsche must be a lower class person of no importance (not worth my money impressing).
I think these pads will become closer to regular computers as time goes on. For me, the iPad is a great news and magazine reader.
Apple cleverly got head start with iPad. However, same as with the iPhone (or even more so) there is inherent problem with Apple restrictive and controlling vision vs. “everything goes” Google/Android platform. Same as Android have quickly gained ground and almost double sales of iPhone in short time it will do so vs. iPad. In the end we will have same situation as Apple vs. MS of the past – vast majority using the free(er) platform and Apple holding expensive (and profitable!) niche. One can predict marketplace of 2012 almost with certainty: 75-80% in Android hands, 10-15% in Apple and all others failing miserably.
How Apple can (but won’t) change this: 1) Stop assault on the customer (USB port or bust); 2) Stop assault on creatives (programs able to be made and placed on the device whichever way designer wants and without Apple approval); 3) Understand that one size does not fit all
The iPad is the computer most consumers have been waiting for. Extremely intuitive, no muss or fuss. None of the slow down over time that plagues every other operating system. Sure you can not really get any meaningful work done on these machines, but the majority of the public does not need there home PC to have the ability to write up a 1000 word document and upload it to whatever service happens to be of the moment. This is the first computer anyone can pick up and use and use well within five minutes. No surprise that these things are selling like hotcakes. I predict we will not see a viable competitor until 2012.
…and so many people said the iPad wouldn’t sell…
Yeah, and one of them was none other than John C. Dvorak…
#6–dusanmal==excellent review. This is an excellent product for travellers. Ipod with VOIP and my camera, I’m set to go. Now, just waiting for the competing Android.
The future is so bright, I gotta wear shades.
I really don’t see the need for a pad computer, except as an data input pad. Years ago I saw pads used in hospitals and grocery stores to collect vital signs and inventory levels, but otherwise pads are toys.
20 years ago I had a boss that referred to PC as “toys” too.
Too many people get caught up in comparing the iPad to laptops and PCs saying “but I can do more with a laptop”. While what you can do with an iPad can do is important, the way you do it is what makes it so slick.
From a business perspective we’ll be piloting an iPad in the field in another month or so. It may or may not work well, but the thing that makes it interesting to us is that it is essentially a very portable and easy way to run web-based data collection apps.
I’m not sure if the iPad is the game changer. Apple (Steve Jobs) has decided that it is a special-purpose device that will only run an approved set of apps. This is great for most people and they have sold millions of these things.
The game changer will be the tablet device in general. PCs outsold Macs because they can run any program (including viruses) without any approval from anyone, and they were cheaper and more powerful.
The problem with the “other” tablets (Samsung, etc) that have been announced is that they aren’t cheaper, and they aren’t more powerful. Someone needs to teach these guys some marketing.
[Tablets were going nowhere until the iPad showed up. Now you will see hundreds of tablets… and many of them before Christmas. Another game changer with the iPad is the 10 hours plus that you get from the battery. – ed.]
I read recently that the iPad has 95% of the tablet market. Although they seemed to be excluding all the combination tablet/laptop PCs that Microsoft tried to promote just a few years ago.
That’s like saying that Apple has 100% of the Macintosh market. Or that they have 90% of the “smart” phone market. Except for all the other phones.
They’re being widely used in academic settings, particularly middle schools and high schools.
http://ipadinschools.com/
iPad is one of those devices you need to make a pro/con list for as it is not for everyone. I myself use it to read books(Kindle App), read magazines(Zinio), comic books(Comic Zeal), surf the web, read email, game. All on one device instead of many. For me it is perfect.
There are dim-wits out there who just don’t get it.
Troll … troll …
When is the app store listing mechanism going to get fixed. It better in this release. If your beloved app was 1035th in the X category, and now there are 3000 in the list, forget about customer discovery via browsing, they will never reach your listing!
Apple have now 10 per cent personal computer market share.
!!! YEAH RIGHT !!!!
One of the remarkable things about the iPad is even though it is a 1GHz cpu (vs 2GHz average pc) its reduced OS and the cpu-gpu on-chip coupling produces some amazing physics simulations.
I am now an avid collector of beautiful natural process graphical apps (not the video fakeries).
#20 I am now an avid collector of beautiful natural process graphical apps (not the video fakeries).
This is why you’re still single and living with your mom.
#6 The thing that people seem to forget when they talk about iPhone vs Android market share is that the iPhone is only available from AT&T whereas you can get an Android phone from almost anyone. This definitely limits the sales of iPhones and it has nothing to do with Apple or the device itself.
Has anyone actually looked at the article to see this is all made up non-sense?
The big problem for iPad competitors is the price/quality point that Apple has set. It will take longer than people think for competitors (Androiders, PlayBook, etc) to catch the iPad.
#23 – you had to look at the article to see that? Just look at the headline: “iPad Catalyzing Disruptive Change”!!!
WTF?
To catalyze means “to act upon, or increase”.
As for “disruptive change” – does any change not cause some kind of disruption? If no one notices the change, then who cares?
Basically a bullshit headline for a bullshit article.
#21
#20 I am now an avid collector of beautiful natural process graphical apps (not the video fakeries).
#
# This is why you’re still single and living with your mom.
No its because my X took 2/3 of my money, bank took the rest, and my pub-tent just fits in next to the pot plants.
cgp,
So you have nothing, and you waste your time playing with a toy, rather than doing something to build up your life?
Is this the typical Mac Fan?
I need a computer because I use it to do work. With the money I make from working, I have quality time left over to talk with friends and family to talk about work and play. My life isn’t spent on a toy (except now) whining to people who don’t care about me.
#1. You are right on the mark. I am typing this on an iPad as I watch a movie on tv. It’s great for wasting Time during commercials. I also use it for watching compressed movies, light games, and it’s great if you’re traveling. BUT, it’s not good for getting work done. I don’t regret getting it at all. It does everything I thought it would, but better.
I love these discussions.
Some IT tech/CIO doesn’t see the need and predicts failure for the device. Sure. Of COURSE. In business it is not necessary.
Having your CEO say squat is useless. For business, an iPad is useless.
PCs can already do the job for much less and can be controlled far more effectively.
It wont ever replace the PC. Its not the same kind of device serving the same market. The PC had 30 years to evolve and it is now about right for the market it serves. That is SUCCESS!
The market for the iPad is elsewhere, like in my living room.
The next device for the consumer is the iProjector HD.
A black cube (remember the NeXT? Its coming back,) which just needs a power cord, a blank wall and wireless internet.
Input is via audio (a microphone for voice recognition,) gestures (a camera for detecting a users’ body positions) and haptics.
We won’t finish the next decade without it. MARK MY WORDS!
The iProjector©™®
That was lower than whale shit Dallas.
So what is it about PCs that make them non-toys?
Physical keys?
CD slot?
Non-mobility?
Nut-roasting capabilities?
The concept of a file system, in which you get lost quick?
An open system, wherein you are free to fry your plug-in
of choice?