That's an idea Cook also alluded to in acknowledging that there is some apparent cannibalization between both iPads and Macs, and between iPad and iPhones, as users decide which products they want to buy.
That's not in issue. It's better to have people unsure which of your products they will buy rather than if they will buy your product in the first place. I'm sure the other mfg would love that problem!
One problem that I think Apple has lies with the replacement market. That is, every time someone replaces an existing iPad they then turn around and hand down or resell the old iPad.
As such, whenever Apple sells a replacement iPad they take not one, but two customers out of the market.
The way to handle the canibalizing of old devices and long replacement cycles is to offer a compelling reason to upgrade. If people just use their ipad to watch a few few shows, go on facebook, take their email and browse the web.. That's not very compelling.
The useful life span of an iPad is much longer than an iPhone. My iPad 2 (32GB WiFi, bought April 2011) is still working well and is upgraded to the latest iOS.
Despite the slow down as a result of the much heftier iOS 8.1, it is still faster than many crappy Android tablets out there which have worse screen and they were built a few month ago.
Compare this to the three iPhones I bought during this same period of time.
The way to handle the canibalizing of old devices and long replacement cycles is to offer a compelling reason to upgrade. If people just use their ipad to watch a few few shows, go on facebook, take their email and browse the web.. That's not very compelling.
True, but that is going to be subjective, and Apple does more than any other tablet (or PC) vendor to highlight the different use cases. Apple's iPad commercials all showcase uses beyond the general browsing & app usage you note. Good coverage on their websites.
Compare the iPad Air 2 to the iPad 4 (2 years old), and the new Air 2 is significantly thinner, lighter, better screen, TouchID, massively improved CPU/GPU, better wireless, etc. On the pure basis of how it will feel, look, and operate, the new Air 2 is a very compelling upgrade. However, if the use cases for the iPad 4 are general as you note, then there is no "need" - just for some a desire.
At a high level, I wish that Apple was doing some more first-party apps that could realize more use cases - but then I am at a loss to really name them. IBM is apparently the focus for productivity apps. I wish Newstand were improved to gain wider adoption.
Let's hope Apple doesn't do something stupid and try to pre-obsolete iPads and Macs. Doing that kicks into play the opposite dynamic to that they intend. When that game is being played, people delay upgrades as long as possible in order to get a model that'll not be pre-obsoleted as quickly.
I think that the upgrade cycle will be largely determined by the battery in the device. I know in my own case with phones over the years that I start thinking about a new one when the battery starts to wonk. It'll be the same with my iPad2. (Although - I have to say that when I had a horse around hwith an iphone 6 I was lusting for that immediately !)
Comments
You need to compare FULL 12 Quarters with FULL 12 Quarters.
Like i said the upgrade cycle is 3 years.
... and if it's lower then you will say you have to compare it over 5 years.
Been there... done that...
and if its 5 years? its 5 years.
iPad is brand new territory. No one really knows what the true upgrade cycle is.
Oh... I thought you just said it was 3 years.
So now you are saying you don't know what the upgrade cycle is.
You could have saved us all a bunch of time and said that in the first place.
That's not in issue. It's better to have people unsure which of your products they will buy rather than if they will buy your product in the first place. I'm sure the other mfg would love that problem!
One problem that I think Apple has lies with the replacement market. That is, every time someone replaces an existing iPad they then turn around and hand down or resell the old iPad.
As such, whenever Apple sells a replacement iPad they take not one, but two customers out of the market.
The way to handle the canibalizing of old devices and long replacement cycles is to offer a compelling reason to upgrade. If people just use their ipad to watch a few few shows, go on facebook, take their email and browse the web.. That's not very compelling.
Exactly:
The useful life span of an iPad is much longer than an iPhone. My iPad 2 (32GB WiFi, bought April 2011) is still working well and is upgraded to the latest iOS.
Despite the slow down as a result of the much heftier iOS 8.1, it is still faster than many crappy Android tablets out there which have worse screen and they were built a few month ago.
Compare this to the three iPhones I bought during this same period of time.
The way to handle the canibalizing of old devices and long replacement cycles is to offer a compelling reason to upgrade. If people just use their ipad to watch a few few shows, go on facebook, take their email and browse the web.. That's not very compelling.
True, but that is going to be subjective, and Apple does more than any other tablet (or PC) vendor to highlight the different use cases. Apple's iPad commercials all showcase uses beyond the general browsing & app usage you note. Good coverage on their websites.
Compare the iPad Air 2 to the iPad 4 (2 years old), and the new Air 2 is significantly thinner, lighter, better screen, TouchID, massively improved CPU/GPU, better wireless, etc. On the pure basis of how it will feel, look, and operate, the new Air 2 is a very compelling upgrade. However, if the use cases for the iPad 4 are general as you note, then there is no "need" - just for some a desire.
At a high level, I wish that Apple was doing some more first-party apps that could realize more use cases - but then I am at a loss to really name them. IBM is apparently the focus for productivity apps. I wish Newstand were improved to gain wider adoption.
I know in my own case with phones over the years that I start thinking about a new one when the battery starts to wonk.
It'll be the same with my iPad2.
(Although - I have to say that when I had a horse around hwith an iphone 6 I was lusting for that immediately !)
The problem is Wall Street CLOWNS are comparing Quarter vs Quarter.
They need to compare 3 year cycles because that's how long it takes for people to replace their iPad.
That would be true if the market were saturated, but if it isn't, shouldn't there be purchases all the time from new buyers?