I remember a while back when Xbox, Playstation and Nintendo fanboys were duking it out on message boards on what system was the best. As the systems evolved into more powerful iterations, the target audience for the systems changed. Nintendo started to target a different type of video game player - the casual gamer and Microsoft and Sony stayed with the "hardcore" gamers who have grown up from their 80s 8-bit systems to be adults who demanded more involved and graphic games.The result? The Wii system sold over 70 million consoles with the Xbox 360 at 42 million and PS3 at 38 million (figures approximate).
I believe what Wii is to the console video game market is what iPad is to the mobile computing market now. You hear people complain that the iPad can't do this or do that, but I don't think Apple is targeting the person who wants an all-in-one computer. Apple is targeting the "casual" computer user.
Case in point - my friend has a MacBook Pro and recently bought an iPad. When we visited her over the summer, I did not even see the MBP, just the iPad. All her needs were met including reading blogs, checking Facebook and playing games.
When I had the iPad for a few weeks, I found myself picking up the iPad to pass the time instead of powering up my laptop. I believe this is what Steve Jobs was aiming for - a computer for casual computer use - not to replace the working computer.
And that is why I think it is a game changer and make Apple millions of dollars.
What are the implications of this for your organization?
Questions for my team to wrestle with:
- Will students access our sites using the iPad more than traditional laptops and desktops?
- Is the iPad mobile enough for students to carry it everywhere they go? Should it be included as a device to consider in a mobile strategy?
Photo credit: ahhyeah and geehail2
do most students have the money to purchase an iPad on top of their laptop and growing debt?
ReplyDeletejust a thought :)
Good point @sajoy. But you know the buying habits of students, they get their "freedom" and they get the latest cell phones, iPod, clothes, shoes and I think the iPad is just one of those things they will buy because it is "cool". They also might have received it as a gift from parents and family who think the iPad is the next "thing" to get for students.
ReplyDeletegood comparisons. I appreciate that apple doesn't always give people what they think they want, but what apple thinks they'll need (but clearly, not NEED, but end up realizing they want). it's risky, but innovative.
ReplyDeleteYa students just dont have the money to get an ipad. Even the ones that have one will still carry their laptop around because it is a device that does everything... Until Universities and book publishers embrace an open standard, I don't think the iPad or any device will over take the laptop.
ReplyDeleteBut even if they don't, I think it is still possible to embrace both mobile users and laptop users in one shot. I would convert all websites to HTML5. HTML5 will allow newer devices like the ipad to display the page properly to the users. (like pull up the number pad when entering numbers)
I might be wrong... not sure where I read the HTML5 thing from.
The Wii didn't outsell the PS3 and XBox just because they targeted casual gamers. I'd say the biggest reason they took off so well in the beginning was that they offered something new and most importantly they did if for less than any other player in the space. It's more difficult to see since Sony and MS have really cut the price of their consoles, but when they all launched the Wii was much, much more affordable.
ReplyDeleteThe iPad doesn't really offer anything new or revolutionary. It isn't cheaper either - unless one wants to compare it to an apple laptop. It really is an expensive media consumption device. One that will soon be facing a rather wide array of competition from cheaper alternatives with more capabilities.
I think it's very likely that the iPad will be much like the iPhone, but dominant for an even shorter period of time before the Android based tablets eclipse it.
@Anonymous - you make a good point that iPad will not be the only table on the market. I should have said in my application questions what are "tablet" implications and not just "iPad" implications.
ReplyDeletei loVe mY MAC!
ReplyDelete& i aLso liKe mY i-PaD.
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