News - Apple iPad predicted to dominate tablet market for years

[HEXUS]

A new report from iSuppli says the iPad will hold onto the majority of the market even after 2011.

Read more.

[spoon_]

Not a surprise at all.

Apple will dominate the market that have had tablet devices for years but no one could design the proper OS for it. This is perfect example of Apple being dominant when it comes to SW/HW.

Its like with iPhone 2G, 2 years down the line and other companies were playing catch up role, still.

[crossy]

Apple will dominate the market that have had tablet devices for years but no one could design the proper OS for it. This is perfect example of Apple being dominant when it comes to SW/HW.

Hmm, I think I'd argue that - especially the hardware "dominance". Where Apple's tablet scores big time is that they fitted an OS from a finger-driven device on it, rather than trying to squeeze a "desktop" OS (with some trimmings - like virtual keyboard) onto it. That's the mistake that Microsoft and the Linux folks have been making for years. Some have referred to the iPad as "a big iPod Touch" - which is probably a fair assessment, and no insult given the number of those they've shifted (three in my household for a start!).

Its like with iPhone 2G, 2 years down the line and other companies were playing catch up role, still.

Sorry, going to argue that too. Even Apple had to raise their game (2G -> 3GS for example), and most of the folks that I know are now saying that the '4 is a retrograde step - both in looks (it's comparitively ugly) and function (call problems). But that's an argument that'll run and run...

Getting back to the article - my reaction was "like ... duh!". Apple got a lot of publicity for the form factor, so they've already sold a lot of units (good enough - that's their reason for being). However, I suspect that their "unassailable position" in the market may very well get challenged when the Android-based tablets come to market. They're likely to be cheaper, and the sheer number of them means that Joe Public/Jane Doe is more likely to find that one which suits him/her.

Meanwhile, I think I'll just soldier on with my plain, old-fashioned netbook!

[Singh400]

I'm going to disagree. The industry has responded a lot quicker this time round. Apple owned the competition with the release of the iPhone, it took years for the industry to respond. What with Android 3.0 on the horizon by the end of this year. And the Samsung Galaxy tablet already being teased, Apple in my opinion won't hold this "lead" for much longer.

[Brewster0101]

Not a surprise at all.

Apple will dominate the market that have had tablet devices for years but no one could design the proper OS for it. This is perfect example of Apple being dominant when it comes to SW/HW.

Its like with iPhone 2G, 2 years down the line and other companies were playing catch up role, still.

I too am going to disagree with all the comments you have made.

I think this report is fabricated from cotton and wool and holds no real strength.

If the tablet market takes off, which it looks like it will, then the only products Apple will sell is to their fan base. I don't think this fan base will be that large and all the other consumers will buy another brand with another OS.

And your comment about the iPhone 2G is also not soo correct. The iphone may have been technically superior at the time of launch, but it was never the no. 1 selling phone during its life.

[SiM]

A new report from iSuppli says the iPad will hold onto the majority of the market even after 2011.

Read more.

Either these guys are apple or they are apple fanboys. You can tell by the name of the company

[aidanjt]

Apple got a lot of publicity for the form factor

Apple got a lot of publicity for being Apple.

[crossy]

Apple got a lot of publicity for being Apple.

That is - to an extent - quite true. IMHO Apple's "genius" is not based on "innovation" but more for being able to generate that "need" in certain segments of the population. As far as I'm concerned the iPod (mini, Classic, etc) design and iOS UI are their contributions in the "innovation" stakes. And I note a worrying trend for them to claim ownership on concepts/designs that just aren't theirs - WIMP, multitouch, etc.

Anyway, getting back to the iPad - I stand by what I said - they were smart enough to equip the iPad with an OS that's designed for finger-drive from day 1 - and they deserve their success to date for that. Unfortunately, for me at least, there's shortcomings in the iPad design that means that it fails to meet my device needs.

On the other hand an Android-based pad - like the Toshiba SmartPad, Viewsonic ViewPad, MSI WindPad or maybe the Samsung Galaxy Tab - don't lose much on the "bling factor" stakes (the Tosh is a particularly attractive device to my eyes at least) but have none of the Apple's shortcomings.

I suspect that - as Singh400 rightly says - that reality will prove the iSuppli report's authors wrong, and 'droid-based tablets will probably follow the exponential (?) sales profile that their smartphone cousins are currently enjoying. Heck, I bought a 'droid phone and I'm a self-confessed Nokia fanboi!