Yeah, I agree that it’s not a must-have upgrade for people who already have a first-generation iPad (the only major selling point for the average consumer is the cameras, but those alone will sell a lot of these to current iPad owners and new customers), but I don’t think upgrades are the play here.
Apple rarely does a complete overhaul of the previous generation, instead they incrementally add features to keep up with or ahead of the competition, and to keep their brand in the headlines. This new model does both of those things very well, mostly taking a lot of the wind out of Honeycomb’s sails by closely matching many of the specs of the new Android tablets, while staying extremely competitive on price.
In short, people who already have iPads are already iPad customers. They’re invested in the platform and whether they upgrade on this generation or the next isn’t as important to Apple as making sure the story in the next few months isn’t about what the iPad can’t do compared to the competition, but rather that it has the same doohickeys as the other guys, and it’s cheaper.
To avoid the heartbreak of a Slog post titled “Re: Re: Re; ipad 2, I’ll respond here: The one thing I take issue with in your post here is “Apple rarely does a complete overhaul of the previous generation.” Maybe they don’t often completely overhaul something, but they definitely have two stages of upgrades: Little hops and big leaps. The rumors that have gone around about the iPad 3, if they are close to the truth, make it sound about as big a leap as the iPhone 4 was from the 3GS.
Yep. I’m someone who didn’t purchase an iPad because I wanted to wait for the second generation, so this works fine, thank you. I also skipped the original iPhone and started with a 3g, skipped the 3gs and now have a 4.
I think Anthony’s point is that their redesign is not as consistent as their upgrade bumps. Look at the MacBook Pros. I think they’ve been in the same major design iteration for more than two upgrade cycles. If things are going good, unlike with say AppleTV, they’re content to introduce changes iteratively as with many other product in many industries.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: No support for Flash equals no purchase of an iPad for me.
@4 Flash is dead.
We all know that, but you’re late to the party.
Basically, triage:
1. Do you have an iPad now?
A. Yes – cool, wait till the iPad3 for Xmas 2011.
B. No.
1B: Do you hate Apple and love crufty things that almost but don’t quite work?
A. Yes – then ignore the iPad and buy a 3D tablet that almost but doesn’t quite work right and gloat about how geek u r.
B. No – welcome to the majority! Go buy one, you’ll love it!
There!
@5 Somebody tell the web developers that Flash is dead.
@6 ok.
“Flash is dead”.
@1 I disagree. Apple spends quite a bit of time developing a new product. From design, to OS, to network compatibility, making it superior to most competitors. The need for a major overhaul isn’t necessary when you make a product properly. (Even when you look at the first Gen iPhone, there isn’t a drastic difference between that and iPhone4. Don’t test me bitches, I have them both. Sure upgrades were made. It’s thinner and improved software but that comes with the evolution of any new technology and the speed of which Apple is improving is far beyond that of others.)
Also, being the first doesn’t hurt (and they will ALWAYS have that edge on smartphones and the iPad. I’m not calling it a tablet because IT IS NOT THE SAME FUCKING THING). Look at the difference between smartphones circa 06 to 07, after iPhone everyone tried unsuccessfully to copy it. We’re talking about June of 07 to today. Less than four years and look at the progress phones have made. Would it be the same if the iPhone was never launched? I doubt it.
Unlike Android who will put out a piece of toast with a fucking logo on it if they think it will sell.
That’s right I said it. Read it again.
Overpriced consumer electronic that’s about a decade behind in real technological updates? CHECK!