Study suggests $600 mass-market sweet spot for Apple tablet
While most Mac users would have no problem paying more than $600 for Apple's long-rumored tablet, most PC users would not consider hardware above that price, a new study suggests.
In a survey of 753 customers, Retrevo.com found that 64 percent of PC users accustomed to low-cost machines would only buy the Apple tablet if it costs less than $600. But 27 percent of Mac users would pay between $600 and $800, and 41 percent said they would spend more than $800 on the still-unseen hardware.
In conclusions drawn from the Gadgetology survey, the company said that the iPhone has found success by appealing to users beyond the Mac market, and the tablet must do the same. The study also assumed that those considering the pruchase of a netbook would be most interested in the touchscreen device.
"Apple had better hurry up if they want to capture any of the netbook market because many consumers, both Mac and PC owners, have already bought a netbook and many more plan on buying one soon," the study said.
The survey found that 37 percent of Mac users plan to buy a netbook within the next year, and 36 percent of PC users plan to do the same. Among iPhone users, 40 percent said they were eyeing a netbook purchase. A study from the company in August found that school shoppers chose netbooks over Macs.
In other Apple tablet news, Bill Keller, executive editor of The New York Times, referenced Apple's forthcoming touchscreen device in a presentation to the newspaper's digital staff. Keller said that print publications would need to embrace new hardware, like the "impending Apple slate," if they want to succeed. His comment, in full, was as follows:
"We need to figure out the right journalistic product to deliver to mobile platforms and devices. I'm hoping we can get the newsroom more actively involved in the challenge of delivering our best journalism in the form of Times Reader, iPhone apps, WAP, or the impending Apple slate, or whatever comes after that."
Apple's tablet device is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2010 with a 10-inch screen and 3G connectivity. Recent rumors have pegged the multifunction device as a potential e-reader, and officials with The New York Times and other publications are alleged to have had discussions with Apple about making their content available for the hardware.
In a survey of 753 customers, Retrevo.com found that 64 percent of PC users accustomed to low-cost machines would only buy the Apple tablet if it costs less than $600. But 27 percent of Mac users would pay between $600 and $800, and 41 percent said they would spend more than $800 on the still-unseen hardware.
In conclusions drawn from the Gadgetology survey, the company said that the iPhone has found success by appealing to users beyond the Mac market, and the tablet must do the same. The study also assumed that those considering the pruchase of a netbook would be most interested in the touchscreen device.
"Apple had better hurry up if they want to capture any of the netbook market because many consumers, both Mac and PC owners, have already bought a netbook and many more plan on buying one soon," the study said.
The survey found that 37 percent of Mac users plan to buy a netbook within the next year, and 36 percent of PC users plan to do the same. Among iPhone users, 40 percent said they were eyeing a netbook purchase. A study from the company in August found that school shoppers chose netbooks over Macs.
In other Apple tablet news, Bill Keller, executive editor of The New York Times, referenced Apple's forthcoming touchscreen device in a presentation to the newspaper's digital staff. Keller said that print publications would need to embrace new hardware, like the "impending Apple slate," if they want to succeed. His comment, in full, was as follows:
"We need to figure out the right journalistic product to deliver to mobile platforms and devices. I'm hoping we can get the newsroom more actively involved in the challenge of delivering our best journalism in the form of Times Reader, iPhone apps, WAP, or the impending Apple slate, or whatever comes after that."
Apple's tablet device is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2010 with a 10-inch screen and 3G connectivity. Recent rumors have pegged the multifunction device as a potential e-reader, and officials with The New York Times and other publications are alleged to have had discussions with Apple about making their content available for the hardware.
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While most Mac users would have no problem paying more than $600 for Apple's long-rumored tablet, most PC users would not consider hardware above that price, a new study suggests.
In a survey of 753 customers, Retrevo.com found that 64 percent of PC users accustomed to low-cost machines would only buy the Apple tablet if it costs less than $600. But 27 percent of Mac users would pay between $600 and $800, and 41 percent said they would spend more than $800 on the still-unseen hardware.
In conclusions drawn from the Gadgetology survey, the company said that the iPhone has found success by appealing to users beyond the Mac market, and the tablet must do the same. The study also assumed that those considering the pruchase of a netbook would be most interested in the touchscreen device.
"Apple had better hurry up if they want to capture any of the netbook market because many consumers, both Mac and PC owners, have already bought a netbook and many more plan on buying one soon," the study said.
The survey found that 37 percent of Mac users plan to buy a netbook within the next year, and 36 percent of PC users plan to do the same. Among iPhone users, 40 percent said they were eyeing a netbook purchase. A study from the company in August found that school shoppers chose netbooks over Macs.
In other Apple tablet news, Bill Keller, executive editor of The New York Times, referenced Apple's forthcoming touchscreen device in a presentation to the newspaper's digital staff. Keller said that print publications would need to embrace new hardware, like the "impending Apple slate," if they want to succeed. His comment, in full, was as follows:
"We need to figure out the right journalistic product to deliver to mobile platforms and devices. I'm hoping we can get the newsroom more actively involved in the challenge of delivering our best journalism in the form of Times Reader, iPhone apps, WAP, or the impending Apple slate, or whatever comes after that."
Apple's tablet device is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2010 with a 10-inch screen and 3G connectivity. Recent rumors have pegged the multifunction device as a potential e-reader, and officials with The New York Times and other publications are alleged to have had discussions with Apple about making their content available for the hardware.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
First
This is deja vu from pre-iPHone hype. This bodes well for the iTablet and Apple will sell millions next year.
hmmmm .... I am looking forward to seeing the price and the features of the apple's new touch screen device
First
This is deja vu from pre-iPHone hype. This bodes well for the iTablet and Apple will sell millions next year.
Next time you rush to be first try not repeating the entire article please
I'd love a tablet just to have the latest and greatest. But I already have an iPhone and a MBP so I don't know that I really need one. That would be a bit much even for me. I'm afraid I would be lugging around all three devices.
You need one because it helps my AAPL stock, in fact you need several ...
I'm betting it's more that $800 on release.
Actually, even if it goes beyond $999 I'll buy, but it has to be really good.
Anywhere up to $899 is fine by me. Looking forward to the tablet
You better hope it isn't $900.
The idea of polling people about how much they'd pay for a device of completely unknown capabilities and uncertain existence is simply ridiculous. Attempting to analyze the results of such a poll is doubly ridiculous.
How about analyzing the analysis of such a ridiculous poll. Does that make you triply ridiculous?
Our doubly doubly ridiculous (quadruply ridiculous)?
Personally, I would be happier with a 10" MacBook AIR, or just an EXTERNAL BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD for the iPhone!
Apple ALWAYS releases hardware HIGHER than the prevailing rumors. I remember when the Mac128 was rumored to be $999 to compete with the IBM Peanut, and then arrived at $2495!
Personally, I would be happier with a 10" MacBook AIR, or just an EXTERNAL BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD for the iPhone!
I'd love to carry around a bluetooth keyboard in my pocket to make using my iPhone easier and more convenient. I'll call Jobs immediately and have him hire you to join the apple think tank. But don't stop with the keyboard. How about a single button bluetooth mouse for your iPod?? And a bluetooth external screen??? And a bluetooth Bluray Drive????
You need one because it helps my AAPL stock, in fact you need several ...
The way AAPL has been doing lately, I think I can buy several.....
What a pointless study. Asking people how much they'd pay for a product that doesn't exist, and nobody has any idea what it will look like, what it can do, or how it does it, is utterly ridiculous. Apple should ignore this study, and I'm sure they will.
But who will ignore you?
The challenge in the hardware will be the display tech. LCD with backlit LED is great but has limitations due to the battery life. Would OLED save power? Another alternative tech would be the QCOM MEM tech that is low power.
The software is an issue, but with they could modify and soup up the iPhone software and even add multitasking. Most important would be content... would Apple extend iTunes to include textbooks, newspapers, magazines, etc?
Anyway, now that Kindle is rocking, I can not see SJ standing still on this product class.
In other Apple tablet news, Bill Keller, executive editor of The New York Times, referenced Apple's forthcoming touchscreen device in a presentation to the newspaper's digital staff. Keller said that print publications would need to embrace new hardware, like the "impending Apple slate," if they want to succeed. His comment, in full, was as follows:
"We need to figure out the right journalistic product to deliver to mobile platforms and devices. I'm hoping we can get the newsroom more actively involved in the challenge of delivering our best journalism in the form of Times Reader, iPhone apps, WAP, or the impending Apple slate, or whatever comes after that."
I think that people are hyperventilating over an innocuous comment by this guy born of what is, by now, common (albeit rumor-based) knowledge.
One thing to note, however: AI was the first to predict this as an early 2010 release, a position from which it has not budged. (Does anyone recall which site/publication was the first to predict Apple's introduction of a tablet?)