Apple's iPad strategy: Cutting off competitors, or just learning their lesson?

Falling into the "no, duh" category, Business Insider, citing a 9to5 Mac article, says that the main reason the forthcoming iPad 2 will undercut the emerging plethora of Android-powered tablets is because Apple has already cornered the market on manufacturers and has enlisted more to produce the tablet. The number of PCB suppliers, according to reports, has risen from three to seven. Business Insider points out that Apple did the same thing with the iPod just a few years ago, making it harder for competitors to get their hands on supplies.

Apple does learn its lesson when it comes to supply and demand. It doesn't want to face a chronic shortage of iPad 2 when they do come out -- not only will they have the early adopters wanting to trade up to a version with a camera, but they also have the first-generation holdouts waiting for the rumored features. I'm sure that Steve Jobs was not happy with the length of time it took new users to even get their hands on an iPad after the initial run, not to mention a basic case and the iPad Camera Connection Kit. As with the iPod and iPhone, the company has learned to anticipate demand.

There will also be companies out there willing to produce parts for Android-powered tablets, and have probably anticipated the growing demand as well. Just as Apple has learned from itself, its competitors are learning from Apple, too.