Analyst: Tablet will still remain niche
Summary
A researcher says holding a tablet in your arms takes too much effort for the casual PC user.
Topics
John Brand, Hydrasight research director, said in an interview with ZDNet Asia that Apple's much-anticipated device is not likely to "resurrect the tablet PC market".
The tablet, introduced to the market to much fanfare a decade ago, has remained largely a niche device for verticals such as healthcare. Retailers back then put it down to a lack of consumer awareness, but 10 years on, the device segment has not moved on to mainstream adoption.
Brand put it down in part to the tablet's form factor. "Users typically want 'passive' computing environments when they're seriously working. That means their effort should be focused on the work, not the machine," he said, explaining that tablet PCs, touted as "arm-helds", are meant to be cradled in one's arms like a clipboard.
"This position does not suit work styles of concentrated effort, especially for long periods of time," he said.
For more on this story, read "Analyst: Tablet will still remain niche" on ZDNet Asia.
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Of course the Apple fan-boys will revolt and claim hearsay then site iPhone and iPod sales as if that were relevant. It will flop like the Newton, Lisa, and Apple TV.
they sold around 6 million apple tvs since introduction according to most
pundits. not a phenomenal success like the ipod or iphone but hardly a
failure.
pundits. not a phenomenal success like the ipod or iphone but hardly a
failure.
Well of course Apple TV is a failure. I mean, Apple didn't sell like 50 million of them and that, by definition, is a failure. Of course Apple is still selling them, and developing the software, and making money off them, and companies are still trying to make their own versions of an "Apple TV like" devices in order to grab their own piece of failure.
But that's besides the point!
Here's the point. Since Apple has failed in the past then this new device must also be a failure, it just stands to reason. Because we all know the old saying "If at first you don't wildly succeed you should give up". And we can sound smart by predicting this failure ahead of time. We can then pretend we are smart because we predicted something without having any useful information and people will love us for our prognosticating abilities. And of course if we are totally wrong, as so many were about the imminent demise of the iPhone, everyone will forget how stupid we were within a few hours.
But that's besides the point!
Here's the point. Since Apple has failed in the past then this new device must also be a failure, it just stands to reason. Because we all know the old saying "If at first you don't wildly succeed you should give up". And we can sound smart by predicting this failure ahead of time. We can then pretend we are smart because we predicted something without having any useful information and people will love us for our prognosticating abilities. And of course if we are totally wrong, as so many were about the imminent demise of the iPhone, everyone will forget how stupid we were within a few hours.
Apple TV is the clone here. Get out of the reality distortion field.
Where the hell did that come from? Did I say it was? Did I say Apple invented DVR? I'm worried that your own distortion field is messing with your reading skills.
P.S. if you think companies are not trying to make devices like the Apple TV I invite you to check out Western Digital WD TV, they didn't even attempt to come up with a name to set them apart.
P.S. if you think companies are not trying to make devices like the Apple TV I invite you to check out Western Digital WD TV, they didn't even attempt to come up with a name to set them apart.
All provide everything an Apple TV could, just add Netflix.
Who doesn't have cable or satellite TV? Those companies already give you a box that connects to your TV and the internet.
What does Apple TV do that isn't already a filled role in most households?
Also, how many non-techy people actually know what an Apple TV is? I could ride the metro in Washington DC for an hour and not find a single person who knows what is, what it does, or why they should pay for it.
Who doesn't have cable or satellite TV? Those companies already give you a box that connects to your TV and the internet.
What does Apple TV do that isn't already a filled role in most households?
Also, how many non-techy people actually know what an Apple TV is? I could ride the metro in Washington DC for an hour and not find a single person who knows what is, what it does, or why they should pay for it.
It's a noisy little sucker. I would never use it for watching movies but that's just me. You are right of course, there are other devices that do much or all of what Apple TV can do. A media PC or Mac mini for instance, yes, those could do everything an Apple TV does. The wife killed that idea though, you know how it is
I don't know anyone who even talks about Apple TV, much less owns one, and I have plenty of techy friends.
I see no ads for this device. Where is the success? You say analyst provide this number but that's not the same as true sales figures.
At best they have a tiny fraction of the media PC/DVR market.
I see no ads for this device. Where is the success? You say analyst provide this number but that's not the same as true sales figures.
At best they have a tiny fraction of the media PC/DVR market.
Some of us actually buy more than one. Because what use is a home media server if you only have access in one room? What a waste. You might as well just hook up a media PC to it or, better yet, stick with DVD's.
"This position does not suit work styles of concentrated
effort"
that's why it is not supposed to be a device for work and
heavy input situations but for consuming media. idiot.
effort"
that's why it is not supposed to be a device for work and
heavy input situations but for consuming media. idiot.
How can the analyst say how successful something is when it doesn't exist yet?
No one has publicly announced what the iPad (the most likely name) will do.
It could redefine what a netbook is. It could be create an entirely new category of portable electronics not by what it IS, but by what it DOES.
No one has publicly announced what the iPad (the most likely name) will do.
It could redefine what a netbook is. It could be create an entirely new category of portable electronics not by what it IS, but by what it DOES.
Tablet is a content consumption device. Unlike a decade ago, there is lots more to consume and the demographics are different.
The issue will be price, not desire
The issue will be price, not desire
The responsiveness of the touch screen on many tablets has been a bigger limiting factor, I think. The other issue with anything touch is the fact that it dirties the screen with finger prints and smudges. As these issues are addressed, it may well catch on.
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