“The iPad has been under fire a lot in the media lately. Some journalists have harped on ‘declining iPad sales’ and how ‘the iPad hasn’t evolved'” and various other ‘the iPad is doomed!’ blather and hysteria,” Jim Lynch writes for CIO. “But I recently got an iPad Air 2, and I couldn’t disagree more with the anti-iPad articles and comments that seem to be all over the place online.”
“I stopped using the iPad a while back, right around the time I got my iPhone 6 Plus. At that point I felt that I wouldn’t use the iPad much since I also had a MacBook Pro and an iMac. With the iPhone phablet I just didn’t think I’d really need an iPad,” Lynch writes. “I could not have been more wrong.”
“My experience has me feeling quite skeptical about all of the anti-iPad articles in the media and the accompanying comments by some readers who are sure that the iPad’s days are numbered because sales are falling off, or that Apple has forgotten the iPad, etc. I disagree with all of that and I think some of it has to do with the usual need for media outlets to generate page views by engaging in some silly Apple bashing,” Lynch writes. “The iPad is alive and well, and I love using mine.”
Read more, including a bit about MacDailyNews, in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The iPad holds records as the fastest Apple product to hit 10 million shipments (during its first year); 100 million (3rd year); and 250 million (5th year). The devices are built to last and they are not subsidized like iPhones, so the sales cycle is longer – more like a Mac than an iPhone. So, the iPad is currently in a bit of a pause. With new potential features like iOS 9 split-screen multitasking, a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, an Apple smart-pen, and the IBM MobileFirst for iOS enterprise alliance, iPad’s future is very strong.
And, thanks for the mention, Jim!
Yep, even tough the wife is complaining, those 2 first gen iPads we have are still going strong. Been used 3 to 5 hours a day over 5 years? Bit longer on the cycle sure
You know that I can’t stand it when you call me ‘Tough” Luc. You’re going to have it tough tonight when you want some. You will have to use your iPad again to surf the net for inspiration.
I didn’t use the first two iPads as much as I wanted becuase of the weight. Now that I have an IPad 2 Air, I use it a heck of a lot more. I also have the Intel Mac Pro from 2006 as my primary PC. I have never (knock on wood) had a hardware problem. If it wasn’t for the fact that the latest OS’s won’t run on it I’d never upgrade. But it looks like I am finally going to have to. Will be looking for the minimal model to run the latest OS.
If you want to keep it viable for a few more years, install a new hard drive. That’s the first thing to wear out.
When you replace the hard drive . . . put in a SSD (Solid State Drive) . . . A whole new computer!
They are worthwhile, but the work that I do requires a Mac and specialized 3rd party apps. My iPad is basically used around my house as a web and e-mail portal, and for watching Dish network and Netflix on my deck. There are a few iOS apps that I use, but I really see the iPad as a “consuming device” , as opposed to a “producing device” Thats just the reality for me, and when it comes time to replace it, I will go Macbook Air for mobile use because it can do so much more. The touch interface on iOS just isn’t conducive to the apps that I use. don’t get me wrong, iPads have their place, but the majority of the apps can’t do what I need. But good for those who can use them.
If it had a Finder-like capability I’d be much happier.
I have a cellular iPad air mk2 and it has pretty well replaced my MacBook and I also use my iMac a lot less than I used to.
The iPad is certainly the preferred device for web browsing, short e-mails and on-line banking, primarily because it can be used anywhere and it has such a lengthy battery life.
Of course the iMac remains the go-to device for anything a little more demanding and the iPhone is the most portable device, but the iPhone is used a lot less than it used to be because the iPad is often to hand and does so many things better than the iPhone.
I hope they never put a Finder on the iPad. I hope they leave the iPad’s wild wild west approach alone, otherwise it’s just another mac, for which we should have 6 core, 8 core machines as iMacs. 27″ and 32″ ‘ers, make it hard for a thief to steal one un-noticed.
Wild wild west approach, the developer makes app work the way they want, within the structure of the os. It’s different. Keeps our minds working. The iPad needs a 16 hour battery.
“again”? first slap, then kiss… zero credit.