5 ms·

Apple Selling More iPads Than Macs

31 points by AndrewWarner 16y ago

wmf 16y ago
I think "pent-up demand" says it all; it's not interesting to compare the launch of a new product category against an existing one.
- pohl 16y ago
  It is interesting when you consider that supply is still constrained.
- symesc 16y ago
  Sorry, but I disagree. It is interesting. It is interesting because it is a new product category and it is selling like crazy. Truly new categories of personal computing devices don't happen very often at all. Desktop, laptop, mobile phone, netbook, touch screen mobile phone . . . now this. There's the history of product categories for 30 years. Chrome OS may change that again. It is also interesting because when a consumer has only so much budget for new computing devices. Their choices matter, not only to Apple but to competitors.
  - astine 16y ago
    Well tablets aren't 'truly new.' (Neither were netbooks for that matter.) The iPad just happens to be the first one with wide appeal.
dgregd 16y ago
This is a great example of well executed idea. As we all know the tablet idea isn't a new one. But Apple is first to execute it well. That's why bare ideas aren't worth too much.
- axod 16y ago
  Apple have die hard fans. If Apple release a computer with a circular screen, they'd sell a ton. That doesn't mean it'll translate to widespread adoption though.
  - keltex 16y ago
    Reminds me of an oldie but goodie from the Onion: http://www.theonion.com/video/apple-introduces-revolutionary-new-laptop-with-no,14299/ http://www.theonion.com/video/apple-introduces-revolutionary...
  - catch23 16y ago
    Their die hard fans didn't really help the Apple TV much unfortunately.
    - listic 16y ago
      Why, they sold 6.6 million according to Wikipedia. This is not bat, is it? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_TV http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_TV)
      - catch23 16y ago
        Still pretty poor, considering it's been around longer than the iPhone has. The Palm Pre was considered a failure and it sold more units than the Apple TV did in its first year.
  - brk 16y ago
    Yes, they do have die-hard fans. People often state this like it is a bad thing, or like Apple has done something wrong by building products that attract a loyal following. Any real developer on here would give their left nut (or tit, if the case were) to be able to build a technology company that could attract the following that Apple has. That fan base has been acquired by creating products that people feel good about owning and using. I don't want to make this a fanboi/anti-MS thread, but the market perception of most Microsoft-based products seems to be that most of the users purchase them somewhat begrudgingly.
Mentat_Enki 16y ago
This just in: Apple ALSO selling more iPods and iPhones than Macs! Compelling! After the break: the shocking story of a Bear who shits in the woods, and is the Space Pope REALLY reptilian? Back after this...
- brk 16y ago
  Yes, but few people would say an iPod or an iPhone is a credible alternative to a computer. I have a 3G iPad, I am frequently picking it up to do casual computing tasks (web, email, entertainment) that I would have ordinarily sat down at my desk for, or grabbed my laptop (MBP) off the desk for. I like the fact that I can use the iPad on and off all day. It comes alive almost instantly, yet doesn't drain its battery after a couple of hours of use and idling. The iPad is, to me, one of the first well-executed PC alternatives to come out in about as long as I can remember. I've also had netbooks (EEE 701), various smart phones, PDAs, computers tethered to TV's and other "alternative computing" devices throughout the years. None of them have ever really felt like viable products for me.
  - Mentat_Enki 16y ago
    You've missed the admittedly rather subtle point I was trying to make, and have assumed I meant that iPods and iPhones were 'credible alternatives to a computer'. The reason for my sarcastic, annoyed comment is the continual shock and disbelief that a low-cost product that completely freaking nails its intended target is outselling the recently-antiquated paradigm that is the personal computer. People have been pining for this sort of device in their little black hearts for decades (if you want insight into the zeitgeist of a society, examine their art & culture for their hopes and dreams. Case in point: the Star Trek PADD, etc. Who could possibly NOT want one of those ;) ), and as such the "pent-up demand" comes to me as no surprise. The iPad won't be the only one of its breed to surface in the near-future, but you can damn well better believe it will always be one of the best if not THE best-of-breed. In fact, I contend that these devices aren't "well-executed PC alternatives" so much as well-executed PC REPLACEMENTS. We may end up seeing the "personal computer" as we know it relegated back to the days of the concept of a "workstation", reserved only for those that need the on-site computing power, and the 'cloud' on the horizon seems make this even more certain. Yes there have been other tablets. Yes there will be other tablets. "It's not the hardware, stupid!" (It's the interaction model that makes it so successful, and why Apple is miles ahead of everyone else in this respect, and will most likely remain so for the near term.) Sorry for the rant, and of course nothing personal, just don't like the flavour of other people's words in my mouth and felt like my point was misinterpreted.
barrkel 16y ago
This is mysterious to me. I have an iPad, but I think it's a toy. Probably the best use case is airplane entertainment.
- InclinedPlane 16y ago
  Even if it is a toy, it's still a new toy. It's barely just 6 weeks old. I'd wait a bit before declaring the iPad revolution legit.
- catch23 16y ago
  it's the ultimate toy... there are so many great games built for it.
- mechanical_fish 16y ago
  You can't understand why people would line up out the door to pay money for toys? Have you ever heard of George Lucas? [1] Do we need to send you on a remedial field trip to the local mall on the day after Thanksgiving? --- [1] I'll bet that over the course of my lifetime my family has paid George Lucas far more than the cost of an iPad, for fewer hours of enjoyment. I've probably spent half an iPad's worth on Lucasfilm movie tickets alone.
  - barrkel 16y ago
    But it's a toy whose novelty wears off really quickly, I find. I have one here on my desk, but I haven't used it (apart than to verify the UK's app store is up and running) with any seriousness in around two weeks.
    - pohl 16y ago
      I have one here on my desk That may be the issue. Put it on your nightstand or an end-table by a frequently-used chair or couch. Or your kitchen counter when you're cooking. Or at the kitchen table when you're having breakfast.
      - 16y ago
jlgosse 16y ago
I'm not even going to read the article and just tell you all that an iPad is like 1/3 - 1/4 the price of a Mac, so in that alone we should conclude that it'll sell more. Not only that, there isn't really a competitor to the iPad, whereas I can go out and buy 2-3 laptops for the price of a Mac. Finally, for most situations, I can imagine the following happening: Customer: Yes, I'm looking for a computer. Apple Store Guy: Okay great! What will you need it for? Customer: Um, checking my Facebook and Twitter, doing some email, and playing some games? Apple Store Guy: Okay, well you can get our entry-level touch-screen toy of the future, known as the iPad, for $499. Or, you can get a Mac for anywhere between $1500 and $3000. Customer: OMFG drool iPad please! The customer just saved hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, and now has a fun way to check email. Case closed.
- cpr 16y ago
  Good point, but careful not to exaggerate: 13" MBPs and 21" iMacs start at $1200, and Mac Minis can be had for $600 if you already have a monitor or a large-format TV.
- qwzybug 16y ago
  TFA notes that the iPad seems to be cannibalizing iPod sales rather than Macs, though certainly there's no way to know for sure.
thewileyone 16y ago
I think a relevant question to ask is, has Apple just replaced one market for another with a lower profit margin?

31 points by AndrewWarner 16y ago

wmf 16y ago

I think "pent-up demand" says it all; it's not interesting to compare the launch of a new product category against an existing one.

pohl 16y ago
It is interesting when you consider that supply is still constrained.
symesc 16y ago
Sorry, but I disagree. It is interesting. It is interesting because it is a new product category and it is selling like crazy. Truly new categories of personal computing devices don't happen very often at all. Desktop, laptop, mobile phone, netbook, touch screen mobile phone . . . now this. There's the history of product categories for 30 years. Chrome OS may change that again. It is also interesting because when a consumer has only so much budget for new computing devices. Their choices matter, not only to Apple but to competitors.
- astine 16y ago
  Well tablets aren't 'truly new.' (Neither were netbooks for that matter.) The iPad just happens to be the first one with wide appeal.

dgregd 16y ago

This is a great example of well executed idea. As we all know the tablet idea isn't a new one. But Apple is first to execute it well. That's why bare ideas aren't worth too much.

axod 16y ago
Apple have die hard fans. If Apple release a computer with a circular screen, they'd sell a ton. That doesn't mean it'll translate to widespread adoption though.
- keltex 16y ago
  Reminds me of an oldie but goodie from the Onion: http://www.theonion.com/video/apple-introduces-revolutionary-new-laptop-with-no,14299/ http://www.theonion.com/video/apple-introduces-revolutionary...
- catch23 16y ago
  Their die hard fans didn't really help the Apple TV much unfortunately.
  - listic 16y ago
    Why, they sold 6.6 million according to Wikipedia. This is not bat, is it? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_TV http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_TV)
    - catch23 16y ago
      Still pretty poor, considering it's been around longer than the iPhone has. The Palm Pre was considered a failure and it sold more units than the Apple TV did in its first year.
- brk 16y ago
  Yes, they do have die-hard fans. People often state this like it is a bad thing, or like Apple has done something wrong by building products that attract a loyal following. Any real developer on here would give their left nut (or tit, if the case were) to be able to build a technology company that could attract the following that Apple has. That fan base has been acquired by creating products that people feel good about owning and using. I don't want to make this a fanboi/anti-MS thread, but the market perception of most Microsoft-based products seems to be that most of the users purchase them somewhat begrudgingly.

Mentat_Enki 16y ago

This just in: Apple ALSO selling more iPods and iPhones than Macs! Compelling! After the break: the shocking story of a Bear who shits in the woods, and is the Space Pope REALLY reptilian? Back after this...

brk 16y ago
Yes, but few people would say an iPod or an iPhone is a credible alternative to a computer. I have a 3G iPad, I am frequently picking it up to do casual computing tasks (web, email, entertainment) that I would have ordinarily sat down at my desk for, or grabbed my laptop (MBP) off the desk for. I like the fact that I can use the iPad on and off all day. It comes alive almost instantly, yet doesn't drain its battery after a couple of hours of use and idling. The iPad is, to me, one of the first well-executed PC alternatives to come out in about as long as I can remember. I've also had netbooks (EEE 701), various smart phones, PDAs, computers tethered to TV's and other "alternative computing" devices throughout the years. None of them have ever really felt like viable products for me.
- Mentat_Enki 16y ago
  You've missed the admittedly rather subtle point I was trying to make, and have assumed I meant that iPods and iPhones were 'credible alternatives to a computer'. The reason for my sarcastic, annoyed comment is the continual shock and disbelief that a low-cost product that completely freaking nails its intended target is outselling the recently-antiquated paradigm that is the personal computer. People have been pining for this sort of device in their little black hearts for decades (if you want insight into the zeitgeist of a society, examine their art & culture for their hopes and dreams. Case in point: the Star Trek PADD, etc. Who could possibly NOT want one of those ;) ), and as such the "pent-up demand" comes to me as no surprise. The iPad won't be the only one of its breed to surface in the near-future, but you can damn well better believe it will always be one of the best if not THE best-of-breed. In fact, I contend that these devices aren't "well-executed PC alternatives" so much as well-executed PC REPLACEMENTS. We may end up seeing the "personal computer" as we know it relegated back to the days of the concept of a "workstation", reserved only for those that need the on-site computing power, and the 'cloud' on the horizon seems make this even more certain. Yes there have been other tablets. Yes there will be other tablets. "It's not the hardware, stupid!" (It's the interaction model that makes it so successful, and why Apple is miles ahead of everyone else in this respect, and will most likely remain so for the near term.) Sorry for the rant, and of course nothing personal, just don't like the flavour of other people's words in my mouth and felt like my point was misinterpreted.

barrkel 16y ago

This is mysterious to me. I have an iPad, but I think it's a toy. Probably the best use case is airplane entertainment.

InclinedPlane 16y ago
Even if it is a toy, it's still a new toy. It's barely just 6 weeks old. I'd wait a bit before declaring the iPad revolution legit.
catch23 16y ago
it's the ultimate toy... there are so many great games built for it.
mechanical_fish 16y ago
You can't understand why people would line up out the door to pay money for toys? Have you ever heard of George Lucas? [1] Do we need to send you on a remedial field trip to the local mall on the day after Thanksgiving? --- [1] I'll bet that over the course of my lifetime my family has paid George Lucas far more than the cost of an iPad, for fewer hours of enjoyment. I've probably spent half an iPad's worth on Lucasfilm movie tickets alone.
- barrkel 16y ago
  But it's a toy whose novelty wears off really quickly, I find. I have one here on my desk, but I haven't used it (apart than to verify the UK's app store is up and running) with any seriousness in around two weeks.
  - pohl 16y ago
    I have one here on my desk That may be the issue. Put it on your nightstand or an end-table by a frequently-used chair or couch. Or your kitchen counter when you're cooking. Or at the kitchen table when you're having breakfast.
    - 16y ago

jlgosse 16y ago

I'm not even going to read the article and just tell you all that an iPad is like 1/3 - 1/4 the price of a Mac, so in that alone we should conclude that it'll sell more. Not only that, there isn't really a competitor to the iPad, whereas I can go out and buy 2-3 laptops for the price of a Mac. Finally, for most situations, I can imagine the following happening: Customer: Yes, I'm looking for a computer. Apple Store Guy: Okay great! What will you need it for? Customer: Um, checking my Facebook and Twitter, doing some email, and playing some games? Apple Store Guy: Okay, well you can get our entry-level touch-screen toy of the future, known as the iPad, for $499. Or, you can get a Mac for anywhere between $1500 and $3000. Customer: OMFG drool iPad please! The customer just saved hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, and now has a fun way to check email. Case closed.

cpr 16y ago
Good point, but careful not to exaggerate: 13" MBPs and 21" iMacs start at $1200, and Mac Minis can be had for $600 if you already have a monitor or a large-format TV.
qwzybug 16y ago
TFA notes that the iPad seems to be cannibalizing iPod sales rather than Macs, though certainly there's no way to know for sure.

thewileyone 16y ago

I think a relevant question to ask is, has Apple just replaced one market for another with a lower profit margin?