Survey finds initial iPad demand to be greater than initial iPhone demand
By Donald Melanson 
posted February 24th 2010 1:23PM
posted February 24th 2010 1:23PM
So there's no question that the iPad has generated plenty of interest and debate, but the big question remaining is how that will translate into actual sales. According to a new RBC / ChangeWave survey, however, it seems that the iPad is at least on track to do slightly better than the iPhone did, at least initially... maybe. To be a bit more specific, the survey found that of the 3,200 respondents, 13% were either somewhat likely or very likely to buy an iPad, compared to 9% who said the same thing about the iPhone way back in April, 2007. Of course, that says little about the potential long-term success of the iPad, and there's also the small issue of the iPhone already existing, which no doubt factors considerably into anyone's potential iPad purchase. Not surprisingly, RBC also says that the iPad relatively low price is a significant factor, and adds that only 8% of respondents were unwilling to pay Apple's prices for the iPad, compared to hefty 28% that said the initial iPhone prices were out of the question for them.
What everyone should be comparing this is to the survey they took about the iPad before it was announced.
Interest has diminished since people found out about it.
I was excited about the iPad at first but after looking at other offerings coming through the pipelines and the ADAM from Notion Ink and what it offers, I really feel like Apple is being quite the douche. The lack of ports alone kills it for me now. It's just too closed of a system. Hopefully things will change before release and we can get at least one stinking USB port.
@Plazmic Flame What would you use the USB port for? A bunch of peripherals that can't be used anyway? What do you want to connect that the OS will actually support? It does have bluetooth and the dock connector you know...
There has GOT to be something wrong with this or else the world has really taken leave of its senses. The ipad is hardly worth the box it would come in. Add to that Apples history of poor customer and product support.
@Atkins
From my personal experience it's not true atall. It really really is Not true. If the customer experience had been good or even mediocre then we would not be having this conversation and I would still have my iphone 3Gs. S'ok though, there tons better options now.
I think people have gotten used to the ipod touch and iphone interface, such that this is just a natural extension of their smaller devices.
It'll draw people, to be sure. No flops here, but a frustratingly incremental improvement of hardware, just as what happened with the iphone.
I'm one of those people who plan to buy an ipad (or similar tablet). What's temping is not only the low weight, very long battery life but also the extremely long standby time. And while less full-featured than a laptop/netbook I believe 3-party developed titles will make up for much of what's missing.
But I think I'll pick it up used in 6 months or so, €500 is a bit hefty for a toy.
@Atkins
Can't be sure about the cost in Euro but the Apple conversion rate seems to indicate so. A price of one USD in the US in most cases seems to convert to one Euro in Europe.
People who said yes in the survey probably own, ipod original, ipod shuffle, ipod mini, ipod touch so now they want the new & upgraded version of the ipod touch.
Only buy this when its already jailbroken.
But... why? Really though, who the fuck wants this? I just don't get it. There's a handful of far superior tablets coming this year for just as much or less then what the iPad will cost. Hell, you even have the option of ditching a smartphone OS and getting a desktop OS with stuff like the HP Slate.
Shit, I'm not a fan of the iPhone either, but at least that's a decent, smart, useful, relatively well priced piece of technology. I can't say the same for its larger cousin the iPad.
@kenny goo Can you do me a favor? Where are these "far superior" tablets so I can read up on them? Please include links with at least a brief video demonstration of them being used- with real applications optimized for using the multitouch interface. Also make sure the pricing is there as well as a reasonably certain release date. If you want you can briefly explain why you think each one is "far superior".
Thanks!
@kenny goo Tablets with a desktop OS (I assume you mean windows 7) and current netbook specs are NOT superior. Yes, the iPad is flawed in many ways and the OS is way to restrictive. I'd never get one. BUT, the one thing that IS good on the iPad is the CPU and graphics chip combination they used together with a lightweight OS. You try to get 10hours of batterylife while watching HD movies on your HP slate.
@kenny goo @darksharpie @HighestRanked2 There is one tablet that is way better than the iPad imho: Notion Ink Adam. Google/youtube it.
@MaTdg Other than its screen's e-ink mode and supposed battery life, I haven't seen any videos of the Notion Ink Adam doing anything special especially software-wise- all the videos are just blurry glimpses of it running a web browser or showing a screen of text. In its current state (at least what is demonstrated on the web) I don't think it's even close to the iPad. It may well have the *potential* to be better since the hardware seems to be good. But strangely, people are proclaiming its greatness without seeing it do much in terms of software.
@darksharpie Well at least there is hope for the Adam and it looks very promising.
The iPad has already failed for me both on hardware and sofware.
@kenny goo
I agree. there are going to be much better options before you know it. Apple can only ride the gimmick so far. Competition will be able to actually provide a good deep performing product AND will include Flash instead of pouting like children. I'll be interested to see how this directs change in the industry.
What has america come too?
@sa56
Um... Addicted to Credit Cards? Not news..
of course because theres more audience now listening
Here's why I think the ipad will not be as successful as initial polls indicate>>
The iPhone is a necessity - and almost everyone who owns an iphone has paid for it with the aid of their cellular phone providers.
The iPad, is by no means, a necessity. Unless you're commuting long distances by plane, train, subway, you don't need this toy.
All you really need is an iPhone and a laptop.
@ianrutledge
Disagree - the iPhone is not a necessity. That said, I do accept that the iPhone is more necessary than an iPad. What you have to appreciate is that (hold onto your hats for this one) the iPad is *not* a cellular telephone; it isn't meant to perform the functions of a cellular telephone and it is isn't expected to replace one. What you are looking at here are two totally different markets and demand for one does not really effect demand for the other. In this respect the iPad can be treated in much the same way as, for example, an XBOX 360. A games console is not exactly what you would call a "necessity" but that doesn't stop the things from selling like hotcakes if the price is low enough that they can almost be treated as an impulse purchase. There is absolutely nothing that the iPad can do that my iPhone or MacBook Pro cannot but yet I will still likely buy one because it does things in my living room better than either of the other devices and (depending on the release price in the UK) it is pretty cheap.
Remember, Microsoft predicted that there would be no market for a $600 cellular telephone with the iPhone because the assumption was that devices already available that could do the same job at a cheaper price. You don't have to be a "necessity" to sell well.
Still feeling pretty strongly about getting one. I have a computer that I do a lot of pretty hardcore work on.. really big photoshop files, illustrator, etc.. I do this professionally for some pretty big companies. Not to brag, but to show that not everyone buying an iPad will be completely dumb or computer illiterate. I was looking for something to cover my living room surfing while watching tv, to take around with me like a book so I can read a magazine in the subway (maybe I can play a game standing up), or read in bed a little more comfortably than a laptop. Looks like it could cover my email needs too. I'm excited to see how viable full blown apps will be when I try out iWork, but this thing doesn't need to replace my work computer.
The best slate device for doing programming, scientific, and design work has already been designed and it has a keyboard. There's no point in making a crappy laptop by just removing the keyboard.
Instead of trying to be a laptop, the iPad tries to be the best for things a tablet might actually stand a chance of being better at. No boot up times, you can do stuff standing up and lying down. Great for all the apps in the app store and all the new ones that might come out for it. Would love to have it like liner notes used to be on old LPs while I'm listening to music.
@MisterK
This pretty much nails how I think about the device. It isn't going to replace my existing computer for doing "work" but it is a great fit for when I am not at, or do not want to be at, my desk. Laptops really do suck for casual use in the living room, particularly if all you want to do is effectively consume information/media. As Apple clearly stated in the presentation for the device, it isn't really going to replace anything but rather fill an existing gap that hasn't been filled yet. I can definitely see that gap.
oh rly .. good for them
Not interesting. iPad was anticipated heavily. iPhone was not.
That's the major difference.
@d3sc3nd3ncy
Oh, I don't know about that. The iPhone was heavily rumoured for years before it eventually appeared, and I suspect that demand was high after it was demonstrated publicly. It is possible that there was more interest in the iPad because more people now know of Apple after the iPhone but I doubt that there is much difference. That said, I wouldn't read much into this story until payments for pre-orders and actual sales starts to change hands.
@HighestRanked2
Ok fanboy. I tried to like iPhone. Had one and after constant letdown and crappy customer service and a year of trying to forgive them and like my iPhone I had enough. It's not hard to find that there ARE superior products out there. I'm speaking form personal experience here zippy. Satisfaction surveys are from people who simply want to defend their purchase and the results are bias. It's like going to a book club to ask if they would rather read a book or see a movie. The iPad is just a joke beyond belief. One application at a time!? No flash!? Please... don't go away mad though, just go away, lemming.
iPad is not a game-changer for now.. Although it might be a budding device made for a non-existential market.
I believe, this year won't be an iPad year. But believe me, after 3 years.. I think we will look back and remember this day, why we disdain iPad so much, because it turns out on that day.
iPad is a part of your home already: http://bit.ly/ipad-debacle-examined
i know straight up stupid apple fan boys that say they wont buy it. These are the same people, that if Steve Jobs said, I have a bridge in SF that I want to sell you.. They would be all over yet. Yet They said they wont be buying the Ipad.
Personally speaking, I can see myself buying the basic version but not at launch in the UK. The initial version will no doubt have some kinks to be knocked out but if I wait until later in the year then I'll have the disposal income for one and I expect that the out-of-the-box experience will have been improved.
That's a lot of dumb people.
it's apple
people would buy it anyway