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NPD Data: Strong Mac Sales in April, Some iPod Cannibalization by iPad?
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It appears that PC users are a little bit smarter than the Apple ones in that more of them understand that iPad is not a replacement for a desktop/laptop.
Then of course people do use computers for different purposes. It's possible that more Apple customers use computers exclusively for web browsing where iPad will do just fine.
What's ironic is that while the iPod touch is currently being overlooked by some iPad purchasers, they are actually buying a higher profit margin product for Apple and thus growing Apple's total gross sales.
When the next iPod Touch arrives I imagine they will be priced in a different price range to minimize total unit sales reductions as much as possible, but if it means those sales go to the iPad Apple isn't going to sweat it.
because the iPad is mostly just a big iPod Touch
And the posters who thought that the iPad couldn't just be a big iPod Touch because that was useless, are likely proven wrong because this data shows that there turns out to be a significant portion of the population who will pay more for a bigger iPod Touch, thus increasing Apple's revenues.
Whereas some sort of smaller-macbook-like tablet would have decreased Apple's revenues by cannibalizing the wrong (higher margin) product.
And the posters who thought that the iPad couldn't just be a big iPod Touch because that was useless, are likely proven wrong because this data shows that there turns out to be a significant portion of the population who will pay more for a bigger iPod Touch, thus increasing Apple's revenues.
Whereas some sort of smaller-macbook-like tablet would have decreased Apple's revenues by cannibalizing the wrong (higher margin) product.
A $499 to $829 novelty... in the worst recession in at least 30 years. I think that is your fantasy talking. The "unbelievable" $499 price is still way above the mass adoption sweet spot for a consumer electronics device, yet Apple sold more of them in the first month than DVD manufacturers sold DVD players in its first year. That is more than first adopters getting their brief jollies until the next toy comes around.
I have to say personally, as someone who owns an iPhone, MBP, etc. etc., I go to my iPad when ever I can because it's easier. I never used my iPhone except outside the house. It's always been a device of last resort inside the house. The fact I don't need to drag my MBP all over the house now is a lifestyle changer, i.e., the opposite of a novelty.
I suspect as more iPad apps come out that take advantage of the iPad demand is only going to increase, not decrease as you say.
My guess is that the money will never be there. Devices like Apple TV or WD Live will get absorbed by TVs. Have you checked out the latest high-end TVs? Capable of playing MKVs in Full HD, access to networks shares, Internet access etc. Not perfect, but they are getting there.
This is also the reason why some people think Apple might enter the TV market, because otherwise they might as well give up their movie store right now. It will never attract a significant amount of customers without easy access from TVs. I doubt it, as there is hardly that much money to be made there, and the need to innovate and turn around a market full of crappy products is not really there. Most people are happy with their TVs.
Another option are cooperations with TV makers to include Apple software on their TVs. But then again, Apple doesn't really want to sell movies and music as a standalone business. They want to sell hardware.
It's not tired and silly per se. If you introduce a new product that takes significant sales from another of your own products, that is bad. A second product costs you a lot in R&D, marketing, logistics etc. overhead and needs to justify its presence somehow. In this case, it's not that bad, because the new product makes them more money than the existing one. If iPads had actually cannibalized Mac sales, that would have been a disaster since Apple makes more money with Macbooks than with iPads.
But a necessary "bad" as you are simply trying to preempt competing devices from stealing your sales first.
Ah, the dangerous speed of the technology business...
the ipod is not "cool" anymore... I think apple doesn't care If people buy iPads instead... though the iPod is not going to be EOL'ed "soon", I think we can count the "day"
Of course.. Apple will EOL the most popular portable media player on the planet.
Realistically, I think we are going to see Apple making steps to better differentiate these products now.
iPods will be in constant decline as more and more phones becomes more competent at the music playback side of things. People prefer one device over two, even if it'll cost more/ not perform as well.
Hello? Shuffle?
Has everyone forgotten that early last year Apple release the new iPod shuffles? No wonder they had bigger unit sales back then.
Does anyone seriously think that the iPad is cannibalizing iPod shuffle sales? More likely the shuffles just need another refresh.
In any case, I'm sure Apple would be quite happy to trade sales of $59 devices for $599 ones.
If there's any true cannibalization of iPod sales, I'd tend to think it's really more from increased iPhone sales.
Has everyone forgotten that early last year Apple release the new iPod shuffles? No wonder they had bigger unit sales back then.
Does anyone seriously think that the iPad is cannibalizing iPod shuffle sales? More likely the shuffles just need another refresh.
In any case, I'm sure Apple would be quite happy to trade sales of $59 devices for $599 ones.
If there's any true cannibalization of iPod sales, I'd tend to think it's really more from increased iPhone sales.
Even still, a $499 to $829 iPad is replacing a potential sale of a $199 to $399 iPod touch.
I'm sure no one at Apple is crying in their beer.
In April, I bought a 15" i7 MBP and a 64GB 3G iPad. Each serves a purpose for me. As I am still using my 1st Gen iPhone, I'll be getting the 4th Gen as soon as it comes out.
The iPhone is the true cannibal of the iPod Touch, not the iPad. I've bought my last iPod Touch (unless it's a GIFT). That's how I might buy them from now on, but not for myself. I still buy Shuffles because it satisfies a need for portability that is better than even iPhone.
Currently I own a 160GB Classic and would still consider them because they work well with a portable DVD player (10" screen) we put on the headrest of our car seat to entertain our little girl on car trips -- we've got over 60 animated movies on the iPod that slips into a tray and pops back into the machine. Awesome to have so much choice on a long trip. So, I'd buy another iPod if it has lots of HD space.
The iPhone is the true cannibal of the iPod Touch, not the iPad. I've bought my last iPod Touch (unless it's a GIFT). That's how I might buy them from now on, but not for myself. I still buy Shuffles because it satisfies a need for portability that is better than even iPhone.
Currently I own a 160GB Classic and would still consider them because they work well with a portable DVD player (10" screen) we put on the headrest of our car seat to entertain our little girl on car trips -- we've got over 60 animated movies on the iPod that slips into a tray and pops back into the machine. Awesome to have so much choice on a long trip. So, I'd buy another iPod if it has lots of HD space.
I don't watch that much TV but what I've seen, it doesn't look like Apple is spending as much promoting iPod these days, and seems to be focusing on iPad. So, it doesn't surprise me to see these stats.
(and usually, what is 'cool' is what is being _promoted_ as 'cool', at least for Apple products).
(and usually, what is 'cool' is what is being _promoted_ as 'cool', at least for Apple products).
Hardly surprising
The iPad cannibalizing sales of the iPod Touch is hardly surprising to Apple. In fact Apple lowered their estimate for iPod sales in this quarter for that very reason. No big deal. As long as people buy an even more expensive Apple device instead of the iPod Touch they had originally planned to buy, Apple is fine with that.
Apple knows full well that the iPod product family has peaked as a revenue source. That's why they've introduced a new product to take over when the iPods run out of steam. That new product is the iPad.
The iPad cannibalizing sales of the iPod Touch is hardly surprising to Apple. In fact Apple lowered their estimate for iPod sales in this quarter for that very reason. No big deal. As long as people buy an even more expensive Apple device instead of the iPod Touch they had originally planned to buy, Apple is fine with that.
Apple knows full well that the iPod product family has peaked as a revenue source. That's why they've introduced a new product to take over when the iPods run out of steam. That new product is the iPad.
iPods have been in decline for a couple years now. I think its the reason Apple launched the iPad now -- to maintain grown. The Touch will continue to be a good seller b/c the iPhone isn't affordable to most high school kids -- that is the main buyer of that model. Adults have an iPhone. The nano and shuffle is still useful for workouts though the current nano is banned from a lot of gyms b/c of the camera. I don't know who the market for the classic is now. That model seems due for burial soon.
the ipod is not "cool" anymore... I think apple doesn't care If people buy iPads instead... though the iPod is not going to be EOL'ed "soon", I think we can count the "day"
Someone forgot to look at Apple's profit sheet from last Q. If you had looked at it you'd found that the iPod is still immensely profitable for Apple -- there is just no sales growth anymore. As you say, the iPod line isn't getting EOL'd anytime soon.
I got an Air. Felt like a fanboy, but my netbook sucked and I needed something I could share programs with and would work well for a long time.
I have never, ever regretted a single cent. As a primary computer, it might be a little tight on space for content, and it can't do photoediting...but if you have a "simple" digital world or have a second computer, an Air (w/ dropbox!) is the best. In fact, it is slowly becoming my primary computer with my imac serving as a library/workshop of sorts.
I never think about taking it anywhere, its ~8mos old and gets 6+ hrs battery life if I dim the screen, has all the ports I need and is comfortable to use for long periods of time. People make fun of it on the net, but in real life people ask about it. 100% worth it and I hope they never stop selling it.
I'm glad you mentioned the distinction between online and real life. People tend to forget that on these kinds of boards, there are a lot of techie people who may not like products like the MacBook Air simply because of its specs. However, most people just want functionality. MacBook Air owners want a computer that is lightweight, comfortable, and still able to perform the work that you need to do. The computer really delivers.
I don't own one, simply because I do care about the hard drive space on my laptop (since I don't own a desktop), but I can definitely see the appeal.
kinda of nice to see Mac sales growing. Seems like there's been so much focus on the smartphone market in recent years - warranted because it's has so much growth potential; but given Apple's small market share in the desktop arena, there's lots of potential there too.
It's not so tired and silly if product X is the MacBook and product Y is the iPad. And there is evidence to suggest this is occuring.
iPad a novelty?
Guys, guys, c'mon...
If you buy an iPad and don't buy any apps and leave it as it is you can bet is a damn novelty.
but right now I spend more than $100.00 on professional apps and let me tell you that the only difference between my MBP and my iPad is that the MBP can burn DVDs/CDs.
My hard core jobs as video editing and graphic arts are made in my iMac.
My iPad is the tool I was looking for a long time.
I actually was using my MBP and to be honest the advantages of having an iPad instead of a laptop are well noticeable.
Once you depend on the iPad (not for consuming media) for work you will never go back to a laptop.
For media, you have Handbreak, Ripit, MDRP, Mactheripper, Xtorrent and Toast. Yep as everybody do so don't tell me you have a full iPod with paid media... That's more than a year salary. Do you really think people is going to fill 64gigs of paid media? LMFAOL
So, for productivity and real work the iPad replaces my laptop to the fullest.
It's not a novelty. The iPod Nano with a camera... that's a NOVELTY.
so stop saying that the iPad is a big iPod Touch or a toy, remember that the apps define your iDevice.
Guys, guys, c'mon...
If you buy an iPad and don't buy any apps and leave it as it is you can bet is a damn novelty.
but right now I spend more than $100.00 on professional apps and let me tell you that the only difference between my MBP and my iPad is that the MBP can burn DVDs/CDs.
My hard core jobs as video editing and graphic arts are made in my iMac.
My iPad is the tool I was looking for a long time.
I actually was using my MBP and to be honest the advantages of having an iPad instead of a laptop are well noticeable.
Once you depend on the iPad (not for consuming media) for work you will never go back to a laptop.
For media, you have Handbreak, Ripit, MDRP, Mactheripper, Xtorrent and Toast. Yep as everybody do so don't tell me you have a full iPod with paid media... That's more than a year salary. Do you really think people is going to fill 64gigs of paid media? LMFAOL
So, for productivity and real work the iPad replaces my laptop to the fullest.
It's not a novelty. The iPod Nano with a camera... that's a NOVELTY.
so stop saying that the iPad is a big iPod Touch or a toy, remember that the apps define your iDevice.