“Brian White with Ticonderoga Securities said in a note to investors on Tuesday that he believe’s Apple’s iPad 2 event, to be held on Wednesday, is a ‘crucial product launch,'” Neil Hughes reports for AppleInsider. “In particular, he said, analysts will look to see how well Apple handles the debut of its second-generation iPad with Chief Executive Steve Jobs on a medical leave of absence.”
We estimate there are well over one hundred tablets coming to market around the world this year. Assuming a new iPad is unveiled at this event, we believe Apple must make a convincing case for why the iPad 2 is better than the plethora of competitors coming to market, while at the same time persuading iPad 1 buyers to upgrade to iPad 2. – Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White
Read more in the full article here.
Oh really? This is Apple’s market that THEY created. They don’t have to explain a damn thing. It’s the 100 competitors and imitators that have to do the explaining, not Apple.
Actually, every product or service has to constantly justify its place in the market by unique selling propositions or cost/value propositions even if only does those exercises internally and presents the results as an abstract: the day you become so arrogant that you don’t think those rules apply to your product is the day you sign your own death warrant.
Of course you’re right, but the context of what Brian White wrote implies that the 100 competitors are better than iPad1.
Microsoft is better served by your drivel more than Apple. At this point, Apple could introduce a chrome turd and people would buy it.
Some people might…but I would only buy one if it were well designed and part of a vertically integrated turd ecosystem. I am a discerning turd consumer!
Seriously, why slam everyone who uses Apple products by implying that they are mindless consumer drones? I am very particular about how I spend my money, and I elect to buy Apple products when they offer the best combination of value and functionality. Even more than most companies, Apple cannot afford to produce “chrome turds.” Even one instance would be blown far out of proportion by the media and wreck its reputation despite all of the greatness that preceded the mistake.
I have a piece of Megalodon coprolite on my mantle.
These analysts are just plain jack-stupid. There is currently just one Honeycomb Android tablet for sale and likely very few people know how well it is selling. Yet these analysts are somehow assuming that consumers will be buying Android tablets by the millions despite the Galaxy Tab didn’t even go over all that well. They have to be making assumptions based on Android smartphone sales that are being subsidized and are being offered with BOGO discounts.
I would certainly think consumers are buying the iPad because of the iOS ecosystem, not just because of the hardware. That’s why the early predictions of the iPad failing were wrong because it didn’t have a camera and a USB port. High-quality Android tablets will not likely be less expensive than the iPad either. Apple has retail stores that will continue to drive iPad sales through the roof. None of the competitors have that advantage.
I honestly don’t understand why these analysts keep saying that Apple’s tablet market share is in so much danger. I don’t doubt that Apple will have a few worthy competitors, but even that doesn’t guarantee huge sales or profit for those companies. Using the term “crucial” seems to be a bit extreme. I’m sure there are already consumers camping out at Apple retailers to pick up the iPad 2, sight unseen.
Hmmm.
How about “Crucial product launch so analysts have more to babble endlessly on about.”
The first iPad is selling in record numbers and no competitor has yet to come close to it.
So even if Apple did nothing, they will continue to sell in record numbers. I just can’t believe how stupid these analysts are.
I agree with MacBill. iPad competitors: You’ve got a lot of splaining to do.
moron.
Let me rephrase that.
I can’t believe how much typewritten crap these analysts publish.
I agree with the fact that it is a crucial launch but not to differentiate the iPad like the analyst suggest. The iPad brand has already reached mass social awareness (like the iPod). The majority of consumers know of the iPad and nothing else. The launch will be Apple’s opportunity to put even more distance between itself and competitors, whom we see has not managed to put out even a single tablet worth comparing to the iPad. The Xoom is supposed to be the flagship Android tablet this year and from the reactions its getting, its not the iPad killer they hoped. Apple has had a full year to improve on the iPad and my prediction is that it’ll have some killer apps launch with it (tiny preview of iOS5 like they did with iBooks with iPad 1).
As several intelligent analysts have already said: last year, Apple has single-handedly created a new market and established a leading position in that market. Competitors took almost a full year to respond. Meanwhile, Apple marched on. In addition, Apple has cornered the components market with the sweet deals for these components, which no other maker can match.
The problem for those hundreds of competitors is, there is simply no way they can match Apple in ANY of the categories. They can’t get components nearly as cheap as Apple, so even if they reduce their margins to the bare minimums, the component prices they’ll be paying will push retail pricing above Apple’s. Second, they simply don’t have the creative powers to out-innovate Apple. And third, the iTunes eco-system.
Apple does NOT need to convince ANY analysts about ANYTHING. All Apple needs to do is to inform the public, in their usual, well-scripted manner, of their new product(s). The engineering and design teams at Apple will have made sure the public will absolutely love the product(s). Analysts will spew verbal diarrhea until they figure it out.
Very well said.
You could also allocate a half-billion dollars for a marketing blitzkrieg that attempts to brainwash consumers into thinking their buying something just as good.
The premise being, you haven’t tried an iPad yet and wouldn’t know any different.
And don’t forget that NONE of the 100 wannabe’s have yet cleared the patent hurdles that are most certainly before them. Apple spent 5 years developing the iPad; no company can bring a comparable product to market in less than a year without cheating somewhere along the line. (Microsoft and QuickTime, anyone?)
MDN: “believe’s” in the first quotation should have [SIC] after it since that is incorrect. It should be ‘believe’s’ with no apostrophe, as i’ sure you are aware,
It just makes the author more of an idiot, anyway!
Three words: hide and watch.
You guys just don’t get it. Apple is only as successful as it is because they have followed every analyst’s suggestion ever published. This is another report that has Apple quaking in it’s boots. They are going to change everything about the iPad in the next few days just to make sure that this analyst’s pronouncements are followed.
Problem is, these 100 new tablets are not trying to muscle in on the “tablet” market because the reality is that there is no such thing as a “tablet” market – there is only an “iPad” market.
@Robert
Like your sarcasm but those analysts are so devoid of morals they do not care.
Talk is cheap from “analysts” & I rarely read them.
I know Apple products as well as any of them and have been using Macs since the 512k Mac appeared.
If you are going to beat a leader in a product segment, it is going to have to be a slow mover like RIM or Nokia.
Apple does not just come up with a great product, they keep pushing the limits with each new release to the point that all others are playing catchup.
And that doesn’t even mention the integration, software & cooperation between multiple devices.
Just having FaceTime/skype on the ipad would make it a worthy upgrade.