Netbook sales aren’t as brisk as they used to be, and some are blaming the iPad. Well, Morgan Stanley’s released an enlightening chart that pegs the victims of the iPad as, well, just about everything. It just makes people anxious.
Anxious about buying other stuff, that is. The chart’s based on a survey of customers who were planning to by an iPad, taken in March. The question? What would you be buying, if not the iPad? In other words, what did the iPad prevent you from buying?
It remains to be seen if actual device sales are affected by Apple’s tablet, which could take some time, or simply be impossible to measure, since most of the listed devices, like notebooks and iPods, sell at tremendous volumes – many times higher than the iPad is predicted to reach in the near future.
But if the iPad does continue to sell quickly, and competitive tablets to the same, the categories that’ll hurt the most are interesting: Along with netbooks, iPods touch are endangered, as are the PSPs and DSes of the world. Ebook readers are already threatened, but they never sold that well anyway. [Fortune]
Peter Zaharis
Friday, May 7, 2010 at 8:41 AMInteresting data.
From a personal perspective I can see how this may work.
I was thinking about getting a netbook sometime soon but have changed that to possibly getting a tablet. The tablet is more suited to what I want do which is basically media consumption.
However, I’m waiting to see what other companies come out with before making any final decision.
Also if I do get a tablet I am less likely to get an e-book reader. I have my iPhone to read things on the train etc and thus a tablet would make a very useful reading device for around the house i.e. on the couch or lying in bed.
As for the iPod touch cannibalisation I can see that as well. As some have mentioned what you may have occur is people will by a nano and also an iPad. It all comes down to why they want to buy a touch.
Anyway, that’s just my 2c.
klaw
Friday, May 7, 2010 at 10:08 AMAnyone who bought an iPad instead of a laptop/netbook/desktop either has very basic needs, or is a rabid fanboy. The iPad is not a viable replacement for any of those.
Buying an iPad instead of an iPod Touch or eReader makes much more sense, but shows that the buyer has too much money.
As a media consumption device, the iPad is an reasonable choice, but I still can’t see why you wouldn’t just buy a laptop, which is much more powerful and flexible, albeit at the expense of eye-candy and bragging rights.
boc
Friday, May 7, 2010 at 1:39 PMEye candy and bragging rights has always been important when trying to keep up with the Jones’.
Now that western society generally has more disposable income on hand, it’s become even more important now.
Tristan Vaughan
Friday, May 7, 2010 at 5:56 PMDon’t want to get into a flamewar, but I bought one and it fits what I need for work MUCH more than a laptop or a netbook!
An iPad with 3G and Citrix is MUCH more convinient for me to carry around for helpdesk support / network ops than a laptop. Startup time is fantastic and standby time is even better!
The iPhone was a good solution, but the bigger screen means that I can now leave my laptop at home!
So tell me why I made the wrong decision?