44% of iPad buyers view Apple's tablet as notebook replacement - Page 2

Spoken like a true non-iPad owner.

"That's the second thing: the heavy lifting tasks like printing or importing/manipulating documents that the iPad and the current versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote just can't handle."

And that's my point exactly. When and if the next version that can 1) send documents to a networked printer, and 2) not screw up the formatting, and 3) you don't need a third-party app to print, is available, I'll have my credit card ready

Even if the iPad doesnt do some of the netbook features, people need to realize non-IT people pretty much only consume content with computers. Before the ipad those people would buy netbook or cheap Pc's. Now they can buy an ipad instead.

Geeks tend to think flash/physical keyboard/full OS are a must and dont realize most people only want to consume content. This is where netbooks are getting hit.

Personally I think that the iPad will cannibalize MB sales but perhaps not so much MBP sales. But I also think that in many instances one MB will be replaced by several iPads. The price point makes it much more likely every family member will get one instead of fighting over dad's or mom's.

You assume any of your factors matter to those that buy an ipad.

perhaps they don't.

Also, I find all these surveys to be rather bogus. They are often smaller groups, selected from a non random pool. and they never ask the questions that really matter

such as

1. Do you own a computer now?
2. Is your current computer a desktop or a notebook/netbook
3. did you/would you buy an ipad to replace either computer
4. before the ipad was announced were you considering the purpose of a portable computer
5. what functions are you/were you looking for when deciding whether to buy an ipad
6. is your existing computer a Windows or Mac machine
7. if Windows, would the ipad affect whether your next computer is Windows or Mac.

and so on.

instead we get some magazine that surveys their readers, gets 500 replies to a single question "did you buy/are you going to buy an ipad" and posts the 60% yes as if it is some huge insight


text book companies pledging a huge shift into etexts by fall will push this. schools giving away ipads.

heck if Apple adds the ipad to the items you can buy with a rebate for their back to school promo, a lot of students will grab that macbook pro plus a 16gb ipad with $199 knocked off the price

How has that been proven? Don't you think price is part of the reason the Macbook outsells the Macbook Air?



The already are a mainstream product.



A lot of netbooks have basically full-sized keys. Still a lot better than typing an essay up on a tablet.



The same way it works on a netbook? Full-featured with video chat, conferencing, etc. etc?




If you show up somewhere and need to print, chances are there is a USB on hand, same with a projector, external hard drive, etc. Probably no proprietary iPad cables around, though.




Tell that to someone with a library of FLAC music on their home PC (quite common) and wants to take it with them, or to someone whose website is flash-based or has a flash-based content management system (quite common), or someone who wants to watch a DVD, or has some dvds ripped to MKV or another non-itunes format that they want to watch (also very common). There are plenty more examples of "obscure file types" that plenty of people might want to access away from their home pcs. I'm sure eventually there will be plenty of workaround apps (as long as Apple doesn't decide to reject them from the app store), but do you


True, like I said, Apples to Oranges, but in the context of this article and my original post, it is indeed an important difference for a lot of people.


The iPhone, yet, but do you really think it'll replace the netbook or macbook for video editing, music recording, typing essays etc for most people?

Oh, I almost forgot in my original post, with a Netbook you can listen to music while having a spreadsheet, word document, web browser, email client and Skype open at the same time!

Again, I know it's apples to oranges, but the quote in the article that Netbooks do nothing well, and iPads do everything well is very misguided.

The article is about iPads cannibalizing netbook sales, and for people considering one or the other, all of the points I made are 100% valid. That's why I don't think iPads will cannibalize a significant quantity of netbooks.

Definitely iPod touches and/or iPhones, though.

What i'm referring to is the fact that without a computer, you cannot own/use the iPad. It must be sync'd to some form of computer to function, or at least some device that runs iTunes. My issue is that many people, perhaps not the majority of computer users, don't need both a computer and an iPad, but just the iPad would suffice. Why not allow the iPad to be a device that doesn't need to be docked or sync'd to anything but a simple base station, or even the Time Capsule? That way you don't need a computer that sits unused. I've been wanting to buy my mom an iPad, but she doesn't own a computer. So she's out of luck, even thought the iPad is really all she needs.

It continues to amaze me and make me scratch my head all the time on some people's way of thinking. These people act like tha world revolves around their thinking and that it's all that matters and what's true. Apple sucks, the iPad is just a big iPhone, Apple products are overpriced, the Android is better, Windows suck, Adobe this and that, etc. I'm going to let you add to the list people bitch about.

Look, it's as simple as this. BUY WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU AND IS SUITABLE TO YOUR NEEDS.. and stop bitching about what people buy and like. What you think of the iPhone or Android, iPad or netbook or any other gadget is irrelevant to what others feel about it. Just because you don't find any use for the iPad for example or that the Android is better doesn't mean others feel the same way. Why should you care people bought this instead of that? It's not your money. If you don't like the way Apple does business then buy from another brand.

What Tim Cook thinks about the netbook is not a generalized statement from how I understood it to be. The iPad works for him and does a lot of better things for him that a netbook can't. Of course some people's opinion differs from his. Well he's Apple but the point is people who bought the iPad and didn't return it back to the store are happy with it. It works for them...

Anyways, regardless of how you feel about the iPad and if you think is a piece of crap, obviously at least over a million people (and growing) doesn't think the same way as you do and don't care what you think of the device.

not completely true.

Saying you need a computer to use an ipad suggests that it is a tethered device. It is not. You use the computer to kick start it, load larger sized media like movies on it and back it up/update software. Otherwise, you don't need that computer.

And if you really want, the Apple stores will do the 'kickstart' for you. If you don't buy large media you are good there and if you really want to risk losing your stuff, that's on you. You don't have to back it up. As for updating your software, you could probably go to a Genius Bar and they would do it for you.

so you could use one without a computer.


It won't. but that's not what it is for. Even Apple will tell you this

If you need full power you get a computer, if you need something for reading digital books, watching a movie during travel/morning commute, doing some quick emails, the ipad is an alternative to a notebook that is overkill for what you will do with it.

I have an imac in the studio for doing Final Cut, Logic, Maya etc. I don't need that stuff on set. What I need is my script pages, my storyboards, my wireframe vids of the shots etc. All of which I can carry on an ipad and juggle around very easily. Which is why I got the ipad and why I haven't returned it beyond switching to a 3g for when i'm out on the desert and need email without wifi access.

I have a 21.5" iMac, a 13" Unibody MacBook, and a 32gb 3g iPad and love all three. My question is what do you plan on doing when your Dell finally takes it's last breath? You make it sound like that's right around the corner. How will you get the iPad updates, your personal music & DVD's moved over to the iPad, etc?

Exactly. I ordered a 13" MB 2 weeks ago because I do type quite a lot while out of the house. Long emails, writing a lot of copy, etc is one thing. With a MB I can work with exactly the same interface as I do at home. I also need to be able to do basic work with Logic and Photoshop. I have a friend who got an iPad on day one, and I have never envied him while he sits in a cafe with his neck craned down typing out an email on his legs. I don't even want to imagine holding the iPad in a comfortable viewing position for a full movie...

Everyone has different needs.

I could totally see someone using an iPad as their only computer if they had a parent, spouse, IT person or whatever that they used to sync off of and be their support "base". There are a lot of people who just want to browse, email, and generally consume only. For them the iPad may be perfect.

I know a lot of people who need a full computer, but not when they're away from home/office. For them, having the iPad as a second computer makes sense in addition to the desktop or even notebook that they keep at home/office.

Then there are people like me. I need a server (multi-core Linux), workstation (Mac Pro), casual desktop (iMac), large notebook (17" MacBook Pro), small notebook (13" MacBook Pro), and mobile (iPhone). I also happen to have multiple iPods: disposable to use in wet/rough environment (Shuffle), one to keep around when I don't want to plug in the iPhone (Nano), and one large library (iPod Classic).

I really didn't see a "need" for an iPad. I wasn't very attracted to the concept, especially when I saw it was iPhone OS only. When I actually got on in my hands, I realized that I *really* wanted one.

I ended up getting a 3G on my birthday from my girlfriend... she loves me... she really loves me!

It's fitting into my life in ways I didn't count on at all.

The ABC Player is totally awesome. If other networks jump on this, I could see using this a lot for watching TV. It really excels when you see apps that were originally for the iPhone, but have been enhanced for the iPad. Those apps usually show off what can be done with the extra real estate. The developers have spent time thinking about how to best utilize the space...it's not just bigger.

I had been thinking about getting a netbook and hacking OS X on to it, but netbooks really don't do the things you'd want them to do well at all...at which point I really need my 13" MacBook Pro or would be better served with my iPad...or even iPhone.

It's really funny to use the iPad for a while and then go back to using the iPhone. The iPhone feels really small and constrictive for a while when you do this.

Back to the "need"... When I sit down with a client and hand them the iPad, it's a totally different experience. They're getting something tangible that they can consume. It feels like as if it's in its final form as opposed to showing them something on a notebook that now in comparison feels like you're revealing how sausage is made.

The iPad is going to kill the netbook market, if it hasn't already.

It will be an additional device for a lot of people without cannibalization. However, for some percentage, it will be an option that is chosen over an iPod or notebook. Overall though for Apple, it adds to their ecosystem. The deeper you already are in their ecosystem, the more you'll be able to get out of the iPad.

A forum is a place where people share thier thoughts and discuss ideas with others, sometimes people get protective of thier ideas and it gets out of hand. With that said, why do you read forums if you think everyone should just shut the heck up and deal...So with you line of thinking, i'm curious as to why you read forums? You obviously don't want to hear what people have to say, and don't think anyone's points are valid. So why are you commenting? One could argue that your comment isn't relavent either.

I'll be buying a 16GB iPad in a few weeks, but I still don't see how it could be a replacement for my MacBook Pro.

I'm going to be using it mainly as a consumption device and not a content creation device for many reasons (some of which have already been stated).

1) I've used an iPad on numerous occasions, but there is no way in hell that I can type as fast on the on-screen keyboard as I can on my 13" MBP.
2) My job involves dealing with large spreadsheets, writing long documents, and editing documents -- again, the on-screen keyboard is not a good substitute and takes up a good chunk of the screen in the process which is not ideal.
3) Buying an external keyboard alleviates the problems above somewhat, but it then defeats the purpose of the device IMHO and having to switch between touching the screen and using the keyboard to navigate = PISS POOR.
4) Can I print (properly formatted) to my Color LaserJet printer over the wireless network? Can I scan in documents from my wireless all-in-one printer to an iPad? Can I print my UPS, Fedex, and USPS shipping labels from the iPad? Nope (not as far as I can tell).
5) Can I access my photos on my D-SLR or P&S camera without an adapter?
6) Can I access my thumb drives or external HDD for content?
7) What would I use to program my Logitech Harmony One all-in-one remote? Magic?
8) Simple things like downloading files from the internet, downloading torrents of live shows (me likey The Dave Matthews Band), archiving documents, pictures, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing the iPad -- I just don't see it as a notebook replacement (at least for the power user). I will use it to lounge on the chair, as a lightweight tablet for air travel, an eBook reader, and light email/document creation.

Now for someone who does nothing but Facebook, email, internet browsing, movie watching, light gaming, etc., I can totally see the iPad as being a notebook replacement.

However, I'd like to see a college student try to get by with just an iPad and no notebook/desktop and see how that goes (and no cheating by going to the computer lab)

so your needs are clearly not met by an iPad. why bother going on repeated rants about why it shouldn't work for everybody else?

That was my thinking. While finances are tight, I can do fine with just the iPad. When I have a bit more cash, I'll be buying an iMac for less than the difference between the cost of the MBP and iPad. I'll get more power for my buck and two devices each suited best for their purposes. The perfect solution.

How can you sync the iPad to nothing? This is what I don't get about this argument. If you want to back up your desktop or laptop computer, or sync them, they have to be connected in some way to the backup device or the device to which it is going to be synced -- but I never hear that being described as a "dependency." Granted it would be better if the iPad could do this wirelessly, but really this is the only difference. The other is operating system updates, and initial setup, which currently do need a computer. The fact is, you could set up your Mom's iPad on your computer and give it to her. After that, what sort of syncing will she really need?

Those that can replace a notebook for an iPad aren't using the notebook for any type of content creation, maybe for emails, facebook, web browsing in general.

To me the iPad is an extremely expensive device for what it does and for what it is. Not saying is a bad device just lacking in so many departments I couldn't see myself justifying the purchase of one. Apple makes great computers, I have a couple but I really don't see the iPad as a computer replacement at all. Used as a complimentary device and things look better but still way to expensive. For the price of an iPad I was able to put together a Quad CPU Windows 7 desktop with 4 gigs of RAM (plan to upgrade to 8 soon) and a 23" LCD screen which I use for photo and video processing because my iMac got old and replacing it with another Apple desktop would have been 2 times the price.

Again.... great device the iPad but way overpriced just like everything else Apple makes.

Oh no, it's not the sharing of ideas and opinions that grinds my gear (I like reading them and respect those opinionated people who actually knows what their talking about and I've learned a thing or two from those comments), it's all the immature, childish, baseless comments that I'm trying to point out. You know, the Apple sucks, Adobe sucks, insults, comments full of bias that it makes no attempt at defending their comment. I guess they're called fanboys (I don't know, I don't see the need for one to be).

I should've made that clear. This isn't a personal attack to people who actually make real opinionated comments.

Not when she lives in another state. I'm talking about people (like her) that don't want to buy both a computer and an iPad to own an iPad (which my arguement state most average users only need). The iPad is dependent on a computer to operate. My thought was to create a device that sells with the iPad, like a docking station, perhaps the size of the Time Capsule (or something built into the accessory keyboard). This dock would then be connected directly to a router via CAT5 or WiFi. That way, when you dock your ipad, you can manipulate files and access content, like a computer currently does, but when you unplug it from the dock, it works as is currently does.

Looks like you're happy with a netbook. Great. I've tried netbooks and hate them. Plastic and junk to me. That's my feelings. You have you're feelings. We're both happy with what we've got. That's what freedom of choice is all about. Based on what I've seen, though, a whole lot more people are going to be happy with an iPad than a netbook. They make do, same as you can't drive a car where you can ride a horse. You may be restricted to mostly roads in a car, but it's the vehicle that meets nearly all of your needs (except for flights) and is much faster and better than a horse in nearly all areas.

Basically, buy what you like and fits your needs, and respect the choice of others to buy what they think is best for them. Everybody's happy.

Quote: 6. Access file types currently unavailable on the iPad (flash, FLAC, MKV, i'm sure there are more)

There is no need to support every obscure file type. The iPad only needs to support the most commonly used. End Quote



There is a need if you intend to access these files. Not everyone generates content in Apple approved formats.

And Flash is not obscure. Not yet anyway.

Agreed, that was what I was trying to express as well. And antkm1, I understand your point of view, I just think your point has been made and discussed, and we should agree that we probably have differences of opinion that might not be resolved. We can discuss the merits of those opinions, but when both sides see no progress, you just agree to disagree. So let's move on and hit up the next article.

I see my iPad (when I finally manage to get hold of one) replacing my Macbook Pro, my iPod Touch and my Kindle. In practice, I use my Macbook Pro pretty much exclusively for surfing the web these days, and use my iMac for doing any heavy computing (much prefer sitting at a desktop with it's larger screen when I'm playing with photos and video). Since the MBP is mostly used for web surfing, the iPad will replace it nicely.

I'll replace the iPod Touch with an iPod Nano when the battery in the touch gives up the ghost (and it's started to fail now) and the Kindle will end up being taken over by the iPad since I can get all my Kindle books on the Kindle app.

I see the iPad being a fantastic device for me, fitting into what I need far more than what is available now.

If there needs to be a differentiator between Touch and Pad in order for both to remain viable, there's an answer that makes me very excited: Turn the Touch into the first true mobile wireless device that replaces a camera. The obvious omission from all but 1 or 2 (in Korea or China only, I believe) of the cameras on phones or smartphones out there? Optical zoom. I can see not building that expensive option in when needing Touch to be mass-market. But with Phone and Pad surrounding it, now's the time to dominate the portable camera market for Apple! With all the apps you need to manage, alter, share, etc. that recorded content instantly, how would it not dominate the category?

(I have no idea what response this might generate, but please make sure it's not mean. I'm not a market-research, technology, consumer or any other kind of expert. I've just decided I want my new Touch to be a kick-ass camera and thought I'd share!)

Manipulate what files, and for what reasons? Again, in your Mom's case, she doesn't have a computer, so she has no need for syncing or any sort of file manipulation. The iPad is not dependent on a computer to operate, not in the least. I understand the problem with initializing it, and hope Apple addresses that issue, but once initialized, it is functionally complete, without any other computer present.

Wow, way to insert some rather abusive subjectivity there "plastic and junk". Although, I do have that same sentiment for my white iPhone with its plastic cracks (without a single drop), but I digress.

Yes, people have freedom of choice. That's a rather obvious sentiment. My point was more of the market cannibalization of an iPad over a Netbook/Notebook. While it may be a replacement for some in the heat of their recent purchase/hype of the iPad, it will be interesting to see 8-12 months from now if they have those same feelings. I can see some people justifying a new laptop/netbook because of the "little things that my iPad just can't do."

Time will tell on the "replacement" front. People just dropped $600-$1000 on these things and have a bunch more purchases to make in terms of accessories and the iPad versions of apps they've already bought. Obviously they'll be very happy and consider it a replacement.

One last point, are you saying a Netbook is like a horse and an iPad more like a car? Can't a car do more things than a horse? Why can't I do some basic things on an iPad? What if I want to have a videochat with my family across the country? Also, there are speed limits. They are called software limitations. The car may have a higher top speed than a horse, but with speed limits, you'll rarely ever see the top speed of your car.

I think a camera of some sort would fit Apple's portfolio nicely. Not sure a modified iPod Touch is the way forwards (might be though!) but given how much involvement Apple have with photography on the Mac side, you'd think they could come up with a camera that could integrate nicely into that.

As someone who owns a Kindle and tried an iPad for book reading for a while.... You will be sorely disappointed in the amount of glare on that shiny screen when you want to read. The weight difference is also incredible. Some will say though the fancy page turns make it worth it...Whatever floats your boat.

I have to admit, I'm going to wait and see on that front. I don't see myself selling the Kindle, so it might stay my main reading device.

Appreciate the comments though - will be interested to see how I find it.

Here we go again..........

Don't worry, I'm very nice. The issue with that is thickness. The reason they don't have optical zoom is there is not enough room to add in multiple lenses and rotating mechanisms. There simply isn't enough room to put all the components. Durability would be another concern. I wouldn't, and I don't think Steve would, sacrifice the beautiful thinness of the iPod Touch merely to add a nice camera. I'd love a small camera like the iPhone, but even that one is almost twice as thick as the Touch. I'd be disappointed with the camera in the Nano with no stills and low quality video, so I'm content with just a larger battery instead.

Holy crap, that is a great idea. If they do that, the iPad could seriously start dominating college campuses.

At first I thought that the iPad was not for me. I do a lot of CAD and some simulation and animation work. Then I played with one at an Apple Store and - Eureka - I realized that I have 3 lives. The at home/office life where I do most of my substantive work; the 'in the field' life where I have to do engineering sketches, facility layouts and database development; and my marketing life where I do presentations and take notes.

For the on-the-road marketing life the iPad is perfect. I will still use my MacBook in the field and my MacPro in the office. If Project Management, CAD and modeling apps ever get ported to the iPad I will probably abandon the MacBook. Or maybe, by then the MacBook will be more like the iPad.

Lol, yeah, I was just going to go into another 300 word essay on my iPad here, but thought I should probably take my own advice. I do wish AI had a few chat rooms so we could a bit faster flow of discussion and ideas.

Maybe, maybe not.

There ARE some people who don't use their computer for more than looking at pictures of their grandkids, browsing the web, and doing email. The iPad is great for them.

There are others (like me) who have several computers and the iPad will take the place of my MBP most of the time. A lot of my time is spent doing things that the iPad handles natively. If I need access to my Mac files and apps, I simply use LogMeIn to access my main computer - and don't have to worry about where my files are - I'll keep ALL my files in one location.

You just don't seem to understand that the world has billions of people - and hundreds of millions (or maybe its past a billion) of computer users. No one product will suit everyone. Even if just a couple percent can use the iPad, that's still tens of millions of units and billions of dollars. Repeat after me: THE IPAD IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.


Because you're judging everyone else by YOUR needs. There are a lot of people out there who use phones and never upgrade the OS. The iPad is the same idea. They'll activate it for you at the Apple Store if you wish and then you can use it without ever connecting it to a computer.

More importantly, the overwhelming majority of iPad users already have at least one computer and the iPad is an addition rather than a replacement, so your argument fails.


BTDT
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_QuickTake

"44% of iPad buyers view Apple's tablet as notebook replacement "

Translation:

"56% of iPad buyers recognize that the iPad is not a notebook replacement but instead an actual computer is listed as one of the system requirements, and 44% of iPad users have yet to suffer either RSI from typing an an unusual angle or eye strain from the glare on the reflective screen."

I think you see my point. You cannot initialize, update, or even store added files beyond the physical storage of the device without a computer. I agree that the iPad is 95% self-sustaining, but without the interface of a computer, you have to look for alternate devices, like a netbook. And this should (IMO) be addressed by Apple to open the market up even further. Why build a device as powerful as this and call it Niche, seems short sighted.

An accessible file structure should be implemented as well at the ability to initialize the iPad without a computer is (IMO) the next step to opening this device to people who don't need a full fuction computer/laptop. That's all i was arguing that Apple should address. I think this may be in the works; if you remember back last year AI posted that Apple is begining to look into an iTunes Cloud interface. That could solve the problem.

My idea of just including (or offering) a docking station specific to devices like the iPad or even iPhone could also be a solution; since neither device has a large enough drive space for large collections of movies, photos, iWork files and music to sync without some kind of sync storage. Perhaps if the Accessory keyboard had some storage space integrated and that could be plugged into the Time Capsule or connected directly to a modem/router, that could also be a solution.

And, since some people are tired of my arguement (see posts above) i will drop it here.

I think of these devices mostly as a tool to get a certain job done or even content consumption in some cases like the iPod, iPad, Apple TV etc. They each serve a purpose, to say the iPad will take the place of a computer really depends on the individual alone and not so much on the actual facts. An iPad will never take the place of a notebook or desktop, impossible at this point in time, maybe future generations will have some improvements such as being able to print, be independent from another computer, etc.

If you have plenty of cash laying around and don't really have a need for a computer then the iPad might do just fine but not even my mother can replace her notebook and desktop for an iPad and she's a very light user. I really would like to see someone go from a notebook to an iPad and use nothing else, depend completely on an iPad for a year and see how that person did. personally I wouldn't last more than a couple of days, until my next photo shoot, Flip Video compilation, or the need to print a document.

The way other devices work such as an iPhone, iPod, Blackberry, Video Cameras, DSLRs and others is by it being connected to a computer sooner or later to extract content, then for editing the content, for syncing calendars or contacts with your smart phone. Even my remote control depends on my computer for programming, the iPad is just another one of these devices, it heavily depends on a computer for functionality at one point or another.