Apple To Put More Pressure On Netbooks with New iPads?
If you thought Apple was satisfied with all the market-share that it has grabbed with iPad, think again. It is already planning iPad 2, and we could see different iPad sizes and flavors in the near future. According to Digitimes, Apple could introduce smaller screen iPads to hit many new market segments and expand its platform.
Apple has recently placed new iPad orders to Taiwan-based component makers for the fourth quarter of 2010 and the first quarter of 2011 with 9.7-inch, 5.6-inch and 7-inch models all included.
While a 5.6 inch iPad is almost too close in size to iPod Touch, it does make sense for Apple. Many netbook fans were using 7″ and 8.9″ models before 10.1″ units started dominating the market. Consumers like having options (even with Apple products). Apple could bring OLED screens to its iPad units (though there are some doubts about this part of the rumor).
Apple iPad to Destroy The Nebook Market?
Apple may be having a big trouble to deal with as far as iPhone 4 is concerned. But that has not stopped the iPad from eating netbooks’ lunch. The iPad is not designed to necessarily replace a netbook. There are certain areas that netbooks have distinct advantage in over the iPad. Besides, netbooks are still a big hit among traveling business individuals. But that does not mean the iPad is not doing some damage to the netbook market. There are a ton of apps available for this device in iTunes which give business individuals cheaper ways to get things done on the go. No matter how light some netbooks are, they are never going to beat an iPad in portability department.
Goldman Sachs 5Cs are just a few reasons why Apple iPad is going to be a big trouble for tablet makers:
- Consumption
- Content
- Connected
- Constant Operation
- Commerce (more…)
iPad Grabs 30% of Netbook Buyers?
Apple iPad was expected to take some market-share away from netbooks even before it was released to the market. According to a Morgan Stanley study, things are not looking too good for netbooks. The market has lost a lot of momentum and is not growing as well as it used to. The growth has gone down from 641% in July to only 5% in April. Not a very promising development for netbook manufacturers.
It’s easy to read too much into these studies. The netbook market is becoming more mature. It can not grow as fast as it has been in the past. Besides, a lot of these sales numbers are seasonal. The holiday season has been great for netbooks, and we may be going through a slow time for these devices. (more…)
HP Slate: A Keyboard-less Netbook?
Credit: Engadget
There has been a lot of talks about how Apple iPad is unstoppable, and why it’s going to run a lot of companies out of their market. Apple iPad is certainly a nice gadget and is very capable in what it does. But other companies are not just sitting around and giving up the fight. HP has been in the process of manufacturing an iPad killer for a while now. We heard about HP tablet right around the time rumors started surfacing about the iPad. It seems we are soon going to see what the device is capable of. In an internal HP memo leaked by Engadget, HP compares Slate with iPad, and it does seem the device has some advantages over the iPad.
HP Slate won’t be counting on hundreds of thousands of apps as is the case with the iPad. At the same time, the device comes with ATOM Z530 processor (a netbook processor) and Intel UMA graphics. The device will also come with much better storage features than the iPad. The iPad is very limited when it comes to dealing with storage media such as flash and Stick cards. HP Slate has a SD reader in addition to a flash storage. It also takes advantage of Windows 7. (more…)
iPad To Debut, Are Netbooks In Trouble?
Apple has literally stolen the media as we come close to the official release date of the iPad. The device has generated a lot of buzz and has been hailed as a game change in multiple industries. Handheld gaming devices, e-readers, and netbooks have all been challenged by Apple’s latest innovation. The iPad is not going to replace netbooks anytime soon, but it is more than enough for those who don’t use their netbooks for more than entertainment and browsing the web.
You can’t call the iPad a pure computer. But it does seem like the ultimate internet device. It can also be a gaming device or a handheld e-reader. But the jury is still out on the device for business professionals. There are more than enough applications in iPad store to give iPad owners the chance to use their device for their business. But the device is not ready for number crunchers, and it takes some getting used for business professionals.
Apple Executive Bashes Netbooks
Apple is one of the most innovative companies in the world, but it certainly is not going to be too kind to companies and products its competing with. We all know how Apple has disabled some of Google’s top apps for iPhone. The company hasn’t been too kind to netbooks either. Now I admit that many netbook manufacturers have shot themselves in the foot by going with software/hardware configurations that don’t give consumers the best computing experience on the road. But to write off what netbooks have accomplished in the past couple of years is a bit too harsh.
Now that Apple has a decent competitor to go against the netbooks, you can expect the company to get even harsher with netbooks. Apple COO Tim Cook certainly doesn’t think too much of netbooks:
I’ve been very clear about my view of netbooks. I think they are an experience most people will not want to continue to have. People were interested in their price, but when they got them home, they said, ‘Why did I buy this?’ So I think when someone looks at the iPad and plays with it and experiences the magic of it and they compare it to a netbook, I find it hard to believe they will buy a netbook
The iPad is a Killer but not a Netbook Killer
So Apple has finally introduced the device many experts have been waiting to see for months. Apple has always been interested in coming up with a response to netbooks. The company has been dismissive of netbooks in the past, talking about how it can’t produce a decent laptop for $500 or so. Well, as it turned out, the iPad is going to cost us all at least $500, and that’s not counting the cost of 3G on this device .
The iPad is a great device. It can act as a portable Internet tablet, a mobile video player, and an e-book reader. It will also support lots of apps that Apple already has available in its app store. But it won’t be a netbook killer. Let’s face it. Apple iPad is not a fully-fledged computer. It can certainly be used for blogging and other tasks, but it’s not going to beat your Macbook Air or netbook on the go. Besides, the device doesn’t support multi-processing, so that will always be an issue. (more…)
The iPad: Apple’s Netbook Killer
Just like any other gadget lover, I have been waiting for Apple to make its move and make a response to the whole netbook movement. Netbooks are super portable, great gadgets to own. But there is no reason for Apple not to be involved in this market. Netbooks have a long way to go to become perfect, so the introduction of Apple’s netbook to the market would only help others innovate and come up with better devices. After months of hearing about how Apple is not interested in releasing a netbook, we now know that Apple is planning to release a brand new gadget that will compete with netbooks, Amazon Kindle, and table PCs. The device, which is currently being called the iPad, is a super large iPod Touch that takes advantage of mobile Mac OS to bring you everything that is great about iPod Touch without you having to settle on a small screen.
Apple iPad is essentially the closest Apple will ever come to releasing a netbook-like device. Apple has said in the past that it’s not interested in associating itself with the netbook brand and given its premium brand who can blame it. But Apple iPad, which will be sold for some price in $500 to $700 range, is certainly capable of acting as a netbook. For starters, the device does allow you to watch videos, edit them, blog, tweet, manage your Facebook, and do most things that you can do on a netbook. And you can even type up documents on your device (you can always use your fingers or get an iPad keyboard).
The details are still a bit sketchy about Apple’s latest super gadget, but if what we have heard about this gadget is true, it’s going to be a major competitor to the top netbooks on the market. The device is rumored to be very slim, highly portable, and highly capable. Add the power of the App Store, and you have got a device that will keep on giving. It’s interesting to see how Apple courts developers for this new gadget. Nevertheless, it’s going to be a few exciting months.
Your take: would you consider purchasing the iPad instead of a netbook, even though it would cost you an extra $200-$300?
