Have You Joined the iPad Bandwagon Yet?

Understanding Our Fascination with the iPad & Looking into Its Future Use in Our Daily Lives

By Andi Kusuri, Managing Editor

“While innovation and technological ingenuity has been important to Apple’s success, so has its ability to design its products from the perspective of the customer, not just from the perspective of the technological experts which it employs. And it seems to be paying off.”

The tablet market came to life in 2010 with the release of the iPad.

A presumptuous statement?  Perhaps, but it is difficult for anyone to dispute the fact that the iPad has become the face of the tablet market. Apple sold approximately 3 million units within 80 days of the release of the first iPad.

The iPad 2 has also been successful, despite limited modifications from its predecessor. Apple’s iOS accounted for 83.9% of worldwide sales of media tablets in 2010, and it is expected to continue to dominate the table market through 2015, owning over 50% of the market for the next three years. The recent launch of the Blackberry Playbook failed to slow down Apple’s momentum. The less-than-stellar reviews have led to a two-percent dip in RIM’s share price upon the release of the Playbook.

Why has the iPad been so successful? Well, it undoubtedly has its limitations. The iPad is relatively heavy when compared to devices such as the Kindle. It lacks a built-in camera, there is no flash support, and it lacks a SD Card slot and USB ports. The latter is particularly troublesome because it requires a user to constantly sync their iPad when editing and updating documents. Apple could also still add significantly more memory to increase system performance.

Released earlier this year, iPad 2, aside from being noticeable lighter, did offer some improvements such as increased system performance and a built-in camera, yet it still failed to address the key problems people have with the iPad in general.

Even so, what was once criticized as being simply an experimentation and side-project for Jobs and Apple has proven to be a resounding success: the iPad is here to stay, at least in the near future.  It’s not hard to see why many people are obsessed with the iPad. It has an easy interface, which is characteristic of many of Apple’s products; uncomplicated operations, relatively light weight; and long battery life. Sure, there are many competitors who offer—if not, in some facets, superior—products. But, at the end of the day, people want a simple experience, and Apple is known for providing just that.

[pullquote]While innovation and technological ingenuity has been important to Apple’s success, so has its ability to design its products from the perspective of the customer, not just from the perspective of the technological experts which it employs. And it seems to be paying off.[/pullquote]

Technological advances have experienced exponential growth, but perhaps what has been lacking is a focus on customer needs. While innovation and technological ingenuity has been important to Apple’s success, so has its ability to design its products from the perspective of the customer, not just from the perspective of the technological experts which it employs. And it seems to be paying off.

Also, the iPad is blurring the line between smart-phones and laptops, as well as directly challenging netbooks. Mikako Kitagawa, a Gartner analyst, points out that hype around media tablets has led consumers to take a wait-and-see approach to computer purchases. The iPad may not yet be at the point of replacing netbooks entirely, but it is arguably closer than most would expect.

Critics have questioned the purpose of the iPad, and defining its niche whilst considering the functions of laptops and smart-phones has indeed been difficult. Is it just a larger iPod Touch? To some it may be, but that’s not the point. The truth is that, much like other technological ingenuities such as the iPhone, or the original Walkman; the iPad has created a need, and is on its way to becoming a household item.

We all have basic care needs, but the role of technology is to serve latent needs, those needs that we may not realize we have. Think to yourself: Was a smart-phone seen as necessary fifteen years ago? Yet, within the last few years, smart-phones have seen exponential growth in sales and will inevitably dominate the mobile phone market.

[pullquote]Think to yourself: Was a smart-phone seen as necessary fifteen years ago? Yet, within the last few years, smart-phones have seen exponential growth in sales and will inevitably dominate the mobile phone market.[/pullquote]

And, contrary to what some critics believe, the iPad does have several uses. More importantly, it has potential. In fact, what the iPad really offers is versatility. It goes much further than simply allowing users to surf the web, check their emails, read a book, or play a game; indeed, it caters to various different users. First of all, the multitude of apps available to users through Apple’s infamous AppStore gives the iPad an instant appeal.

As e-textbooks increase in popularity, the iPad offers a user-friendly and engaging method of learning. Couple this with self-directed learning services like Apple’s iTunes U and various other online learning and discussion resources, and the iPad has the potential to become an indispensable learning tool.  The iPad also offers advantages to educators, who can integrate it into the classroom through educational games, videos and interactive quizzes. The business world also has much to gain. More than 50% of US employees admit they have better technology at home than at work.

The inclusion of the iPad in a work environment could serve many different purposes, anywhere from connecting with other employees to making presentations. And, interestingly, health care can also benefit from the iPad with the increasing emphasis on electronic medical records. The iPad is a very portable means for physicians to access patient records and medical history, view medical imaging data or test results, and update patient health information.

The argument here is not that the iPad is perfect, or that it is unequivocally the best product on the market. But, by that same token, we must appreciate what it is, what it can do, and the vast potential that it has. Oh, and we must not forget: the iPad has the “cool” factor that comes with the Apple brand. 

ARB Team
Arbitrage Magazine
Business News with BITE.

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