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It doesn't matter what the iPad 3 has. It will sell millions.

Summary: Speculation is running rampant over what we might see driving the next iPad coming soon from Apple. Truth is it doesn't matter what's inside, what will be driving sales are apps.

James Kendrick

By for Mobile News |

Those of us in the tech community can be pretty funny at times, buzzing with speculation about what the next big thing will have under the hood. We get all atwitter at the thought of super components in a new gadget, and how that will give all our lives meaning.

Case in point the iPad 3 or whatever Apple will call the next iPad coming up. You can't turn a corner on the Internet without bumping into one speculation or another about what we might find inside the next iPad. Truth is, for the millions who will end up buying the iPad 3, it doesn't matter what it has inside. It's what it can do that will drive sales just as it always does.

It might have a "retina display", "quad-core processor", or a "super hi-res camera". Those things are nice and geeky and we like to think about them. It might only have minor differences from the iPad 2, such as more memory or longer battery life. None of that will drives sales as we like to think, it never does with Apple products.

What will get millions of consumers opening their wallets for the next iPad? Quite simply, what you can do with it, as the marketing program Apple will launch with the iPad 3 will detail for us. You can make music with the iPad. You can listen to music, even buy music with the iPad. You can watch movies of all sorts. You can dream of things and do them with the iPad.

See also: Top Android tablet apps -- early 2012 edition

You can buy and read books anywhere with the iPad. Even better you can interact with books on the iPad. You can learn things in new ways with the iPad. Whatever makes you feel you are using your spare time better, you can do with the iPad.

In other words, what will sell millions of new iPads is the same thing that sold all of the iPad and iPad 2 -- apps. Apps to make all of the aforementioned things happen. Apps to make common things happen in new and innovative ways. As the ads have told us for years, there's an app for that. And they will sell millions of iPad 3 tablets. No matter what's under the hood.

Related:

Topics: iPad, Mobility

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39 comments
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  • RE: It doesn't matter what the iPad 3 has. It will sell millions.

    Yes. Even it is just a wooden pad and you need chalks to write on it, as long as it is an Apple product, it will sell millions.
    yoroto
    Reply Vote

    • I seriously "doubt" that is true. However even if it were

      @yoroto ... true I would ask you one simple but key question. So?

      Pagan jim
      James Quinn
      Reply Vote

      • Hmmmm...

        @James Quinn If it were an Apple Slate it would be from a single quarry in Italy and come in a pristine white box with 64 pastels shades of chalk wrapped in origami cellophane.
        ShockMe
        Reply Vote

      • Nice...

        @Shockme

        That would actually sell without the Apple Logo, but of course, it would sell even better with it! (I'd want one just for the chalk in the origami cellophane, but I would never part with the amount of money things like that get sold for!)
        michaellashinsky@...
        Reply Vote

    • RE: It doesn't matter what the iPad 3 has. It will sell millions.

      @yoroto

      Why start a flame war? Grow up.
      gribittmep
      Reply Vote

    • Ya. The article is right that it will sell....almost certtainly...

      @yoroto

      But your right about the reasons why.

      To this day I only see these toys in any significant level of use while someone finds themselves stuck on a train/bus/subway using it to play a game or read a book. In this day and age you would expect that someone could have thought of a cheaper way to do it then for $500.
      Cayble
      Reply Vote

      • Time for reflection

        When I find myself stuck on a train/bus/subway I reflect on how I have $500+. Seriously, it is a time to think about the day, life in general. It is your brain that makes you smart, not your phone or your pad. Use it.
        cwallen19803@...
        Reply Vote

      • I have the cheaper way...

        I asked a friend for his old smart phone and he gave it to me. (I ported it to Android, it had Windows 6.5 and it sucked!) I do not have a data plan. I use it for the same thing I used my last phone for, phone calls, texting, and games, (but the games are much better,) and it didn't cost a cent.
        michaellashinsky@...
        Reply Vote

  • That's the most logical thing said about the next iPad

    and it's so true.
    Michael Alan Goff
    Reply Vote

  • RE: It doesn't matter what the iPad 3 has. It will sell millions.

    Its not what it can do or what apps it has that make it sell, its strictly the name/logo on it.
    Loverock Davidson-
    Reply Vote

    • I seriously "doubt" that is true... However even if it were

      @Loverock Davidson- ... true I would ask one simple question which is the following. So?

      Pagan jim
      James Quinn
      Reply Vote

      • RE: It doesn't matter what the iPad 3 has. It will sell millions.

        I think he, like a lot of people, don't truly understand why people are loyal to Apple and buy its products. I haven't had an iPad or iPhone. My sister has an iPad 2, so I have seen its use. I had an iPod Touch for a while.<br><br>It was awesome.<br><br>Anyway, just figured I'd throw my 2 cents in.

        Edit: Or in other words, he just doesn't get it.
        Michael Alan Goff
        Reply Vote

      • RE: It doesn't matter what the iPad 3 has. It will sell millions.

        @James Quinn

        Relax Jim... It was just a statement of his opinion. Therefore your "So?" is even less useful than his opinion.

        Before you respond with another "So?"... My answer is... So What?
        Badgered
        Reply Vote

      • I LOVE to argue. What with being Irish and by nature

        @Badgered ... a contrarian. So I'm always relaxed and with a good fight even more so:) Also it is a valid question for many use this justification for Apple's success. So what does it matter to Apple or me and Apple fan the reason for sales numbers being as they are as long as the sales number continue to grow?<br><br>Pagan jim
        James Quinn
        Reply Vote

      • RE: It doesn't matter what the iPad 3 has. It will sell millions.

        @Michael Alan Goff

        I think Loverock, of all people, understands obsessional loyalty more than most here.
        msalzberg
        Reply Vote

  • RE: It doesn't matter what the iPad 3 has. It will sell millions.

    I agree. One Apple sales person tried to sell me a MBP once because I asked him when he thinks the new ones will be coming out. I was merely curious and wanted to chit chat, but he kept insisting I get one now because the specs that are available now are all I'll ever need (which is partly true)..however, he didn't stop to think that I want the new MBP only because I want the *new* MBP.
    Jly02
    Reply Vote

  • RE: It doesn't matter what the iPad 3 has. It will sell millions.

    People are sick of useless apps and ipad is not going to sell too well this time. Those not so thinking crowd who are willing to pay rip-off prices for apple products may buy a few ipad.

    Windows 8 tablets will rule starting this fall and android tabs will bite the dust by end 2012.
    owllnet
    Reply Vote

    • RE: It doesn't matter what the iPad 3 has. It will sell millions.

      @owllnet I don't see how Apple and Android can be slowed down by MS. Steve Ballmer was making fun of iPhones, iPads and other things. Windows Phone 7 is a very good example. Even if it is as great as MS claims it to be, why are users not biting? Windows 9 tablets may succeed or may end up like the Zune, but one thing for sure is that the younger generation do not care much about MS (other than the male dominated XBox?), they prefer their iPhones and Androids instead.
      GoForTheBest
      Reply Vote

    • RE: It doesn't matter what the iPad 3 has. It will sell millions.

      @owllnet
      I remember just a little over a year ago, in these very same forums, members singing praise to the upcoming Android tablets with Honeycomb and how it would be, iPhone vs the sum of all Androids or Mac vs PC's circa 1980's, all over again. Apple was doomed back then and I'm hearing the same echos this year.
      Oh well, we'll just have to wait and see.
      MG537-23482538203179240121698430309828
      Reply Vote

    • RE: It doesn't matter what the iPad 3 has. It will sell millions.

      @owllnet

      Right and I have some swamp land I'd like to sell you.
      gribittmep
      Reply Vote
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