iPad – one of the most awaited gadgets of the year was finally launched by Apple on the midnight of Saturday, April 3, 2010.   It was the day of Easter, but for Apple fans, it turned out to be a Christmas day.  Apple sold 300,000 units of iPad within few hours of its launch.

Customers began arriving from midnight in anticipation of their tablet computer to the Apple stores.  And they were rewarded with free cartons of coffee from Apple Workers in the  morning.  The customers have seemed to love the new device.

In terms of the product launch, the  marketing departments and analysts are using sales numbers to estimate success of the iPad launch.  Going by estimates from ‘Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster’, iPad has managed to sell close to 300,000 iPad’s in the United States on its launch day .

Apple has not said anything about the launch day sales figure for iPad. Munster found these numbers by calling all the stores.  His research says that 19 of 20 Apple stores were sold out at seven thirty pm for iPad on its launch day.  If the figures are correct then this is nothing short of incredible!

The worldwide sale of iPad is anticipated to touch 7.1 million by the year end.  Sales are expected to double next year and then to reach  20.1 the year after that, as per research firm predictions.

The press reviews of iPad are favorable.  The iPad’s design, multi touch interface and applications compensate for perceived limitations.  And it should be in huge demand for early adopters. Continue Reading »
iPad launched with 300k sales

Estimating a sweeping impact, vendors and analysts in the tablet PC industry believe that the Apple iPad could be well on its way to launch a new industry just like the iPod did with MP3 and the iPhone did with smart phones.  The iPad is predicted to invigorate the worldwide tablet PC market which is estimated to be around $1.3 billion US dollars.

Analysts feel that iPad will be the driving force in the tablet PC industry.  Apple has already revolutionized the smart phone and mp3 market.  The same can be expected with tablet PCs.  Researchers at ‘iSuppli’ estimate world wide sales of iPad to reach 7.10 million in 2010 and 20.10 million units in 2012.

The touch screen design of the iPad will convince customers that one does not need a keyboard for data entry and computing;  that you can actually use a tablet PC for data entry rather than a paper or pen.

Customers from construction sites are having a renewed interest in tablets. They feel that Apple is legitimizing the potential of tablet PCs.  It is also raising the bar on all that tablet customers expect.

iPad truly is the’ next big thing’ as it is one such  computer that does not require training.  No extra folders and final icons floating around, no inexplicable setup screens.  Its appearance will allow people to accomplish tasks with ease from enjoying to creating content and from playing to communicating.

Change is inevitable and it is happening now!  The iPad embraces solutions.  It puts music, photos, movies and documents into specialized task oriented databases along with a task oriented fully modal interface of iPhone.  This along with fabulous applications lets you do everything for pleasure and work.  It is a realization of ‘universal information appliance’.

Many people still find it baffling to manage Windows and Mac OS.  The iPhone interface works splendid with your kids and your grandma alike.  These people who find PCs to be cumbersome and complicated are embracing the iPhone.  Everyone will soon dive  into this new epoch of computing. T he iPhone invasion has started this transition.  The iPad will continue it.

Yes it will not happen overnight nevertheless it will pick up fast.  In a years time we are expecting Google to come out with something almost similar to iPad and sure enough you can expect I Mac and MacBook Pro to come out with something resembling iPad OS in the coming years.  We can look forward to smart instant search databases with the ability to store all documents with metadata.

No syncing, no complications, no hassles.  That’s the future with tablet PCs like the iPad.

We know everybody is waiting for the upcoming launch of iPad, and must be wondering where they can buy iPad and iPad accessories.  Well, as per a recent announcement from Apple, the iPad will follow sales model of iPhone during its launch period.  What that means is that iPad and Apple branded iPad accessories would be available for sale only through Apples direct sales channels and select retail locations which have Apple assistance.  And this comes with no bundling and zero discounting.

Recently, speaking at Goldman Sachs annual technology conference, San Francisco, Apples Chief Operating Officer, Tim Cook announced that iPad would launch in online education, retail & other direct sales but might also include Apple assisted sales by partners such as Best Buy. So as per the Apple sales strategy, they want to restrict the sale of the Apple iPad to Apple’s online store during the short honeymoon period. After the honeymoon period is over, Best Buy will carry Apple iPad and accessories, just like other Apple products.

This left room for suggestion that iPad sales could be offered by AT&T stores too who are the wireless partner for Apple in United States.  The iPad will also be offered by Apple’s premium resellers.

Cook revealed that he had been personally using iPad for close to 6 months and felt that once consumers experience iPad for the first time they will find it hard to buy a Netbook. He denigrated the Netbook calling them merely cheap laptops.

He claims the experience of using an iPad to be absolutely incredible adding that Apple can’t wait to start shipping the device He also claims the browsing, photo and email display of the iPad are the best available today!

Cook is not too concerned that iPad sales would cannibalize sales of other products of Apple like Mac or iPod touch.

We wonder if this selling strategy will leave third party sellers like Amazon, Small Dog, Power Max and Mac Mall to sell only iPad accessories and the add-ons. Will Apple be able to mass market iPad without third party channels is a question on everybody’s mind.  Meanwhile, Cook believes that the $499 iPad is at an incredible value!