Apple kills it with new iPad lineup

[Timman_24]

I have to disagree... normalcy? really? That's bogus as you need model names to refer to distinguish from older models... or simply to just differentiate them. That has to be the biggest weak sauce from Apple thus far...

It is a fantastic naming scheme for most people. They walk into BB and say, I'll take an iPad. No need to remember what gen or the name of the month, just iPad. Techies will always refer to them by generation, so it doesn't really matter for enthusiasts. IMO, "normal" naming schemes are horrible for the general consumer. I'm even confused at times by videocard names.

[proxops-pete]

So in short, the name progression goes like...

iPad --> iPad 2 --> iPad

If Apple kept the same name generations after generations, that's one thing... but to go back and forth... to me it's just as confusing... but whatever...

[James]

It just means that next year we get a "new iPad2"!

[kpxgq]

So in short, the name progression goes like...

iPad --> iPad 2 --> iPad

If Apple kept the same name generations after generations, that's one thing... but to go back and forth... to me it's just as confusing... but whatever...

everyone and their mom is an apple expert though... just because of the ubiquity of apple and their genius marketing... my mom (who is a total non techie) asked me the other day if she should get an ipad2... the same woman who doesnt even know how to check emails wants an ipad2

apple made tech mainstream and cool much like what final fantasy 7 and WoW did for RPGs

[Timman_24]

So in short, the name progression goes like...

iPad --> iPad 2 --> iPad

If Apple kept the same name generations after generations, that's one thing... but to go back and forth... to me it's just as confusing... but whatever...

They want to annualize the iPad, so it is much better to nip the numerical naming scheme at the bud before they end up getting stuck with a preposterous naming scheme like Final Fantasy has. They may move to doing that with their other products as well (they already do this with Mac Book and the Mac Pro.)

[Timman_24]

apple made tech mainstream and cool much like what final fantasy 7 and WoW did for RPGs

I've talked about this with friends before. 10 years ago wanting a tablet like computer made you a star trek nerd. People that carried gadgets in the 90's were either big-time business execs or super geeks. Now, that Apple has made them cool, everyone wants a gadget.

That makes us real gadgeteers and everyone else posers/mindless consumers.

[ImaNihilist]

I've talked about this with friends before. 10 years ago wanting a tablet like computer made you a star trek nerd. People that carried gadgets in the 90's were either big-time business execs or super geeks. Now, that Apple has made them cool, everyone wants a gadget.

That makes us real gadgeteers and everyone else posers/mindless consumers.

As someone who went everywhere with an Apple MessagePad 2000 in 1997 I can confirm this.

TBH, until the iPhone came out I always felt that the MessagePad 2000/2001 had been the best PDA/handheld tablet. Even after 10 years. Everything else, including the BlackBerry, Windows CE devices, and Treo handhelds seemed like a step down from the MessagePad in most ways.

[MrDigital]

I still think about people talking on here about how the iPad was going to be an abstract failure every time I see sales numbers... anyways I'm getting a "new iPad". WiFi only version. While I think LTE is sweet I never go anywhere I would need cellular on my ipad, and besides my iphone can create a wireless network if I needed to get online anyways.

[Nabby]

I still think about people talking on here about how the iPad was going to be an abstract failure every time I see sales numbers... anyways I'm getting a "new iPad". WiFi only version. While I think LTE is sweet I never go anywhere I would need cellular on my ipad, and besides my iphone can create a wireless network if I needed to get online anyways.

I was a person who thought it was going to be a massive failure and now I'm here sitting pretty with and iPad 2.

[Steven P Jobs]

I'm currently using an iPad 2 and i'll upgrade to the new iPad for the display alone. 3G version as data is so much cheaper here than in America (€9 for 9GB per month, no contract)

Prediction: the new iPad will sell more units than the last two combined.

So I heard that the new model's name is not iPad 3 but "New iPad"?! Is this for real?! o.O

It's what Apple has done with their computers since the Intel switch, as well as with the iPods since forever. Last year's iMac is called "iMac", next year's iMac will be called "iMac", and people who care about this kind of thing can look up the model number in some menu.

I wouldn't be surprised if they started doing the same for the iPhone. In the long run even with a small product lineup the numbers begin to get messy. The only issue is that they're selling 3 iPhones side by side (3GS/4/4S) and probably will be in the foreseeable future.

[dyne]

I've talked about this with friends before. 10 years ago wanting a tablet like computer made you a star trek nerd. People that carried gadgets in the 90's were either big-time business execs or super geeks. Now, that Apple has made them cool, everyone wants a gadget.

That makes us real gadgeteers and everyone else posers/mindless consumers.

Steve was famous for saying "people don't know what they want, until you tell them."

Producing easy to use, beautiful products doesn't hurt either.

[Timman_24]

I still think about people talking on here about how the iPad was going to be an abstract failure every time I see sales numbers... anyways I'm getting a "new iPad". WiFi only version. While I think LTE is sweet I never go anywhere I would need cellular on my ipad, and besides my iphone can create a wireless network if I needed to get online anyways.

I remember people pushing back against the notion that iPads would replace laptops and there were some that thought it was totally bogus as well, but I think those were the minority. I believe what we have seen is that most people don't need the full functionality of a laptop, or proper computer in general. Most people just need to surf the web, check email, and have a modest level of entertainment through mini-games. Tablets provide this without the overhead of a large chassis, keyboard, price, etc.

I've found that the iPad has made the netbook irrelevant, but has not yet replaced the laptop. In the next 2-3 years, I could definitely see iPads/Tablets taking on the full functionality of laptops (with the thin keyboard cases.)

I think the major advancement is going to be the melding of iOS with OSX, which will eventually happen. Much like what MS is doing with Win 8. Apps will be cross platform and such. The second major advancement will be the increasing power of ARM processors. We are getting close to having a PC experience on them for basic tasks such as surfing the web, but they need to be a bit more powerful to feel like a proper replacement. The final advancement is what Apple is doing with Siri, offloading processing power to server farms. Tablets will soon be powerful enough for any internet experience, but encoding/content creation will be too hard for years to come. Being able to offload intensive tasks could be the way to get around that.

What people have come to find out is that most people don't need the functionality of a laptop. In which case, the iPad/tablet is a perfect fit.

[Squirrel Meat]

I remember people pushing back against the notion that iPads would replace laptops and there were some that thought it was totally bogus as well, but I think those were the minority. I believe what we have seen is that most people don't need the full functionality of a laptop, or proper computer in general. Most people just need to surf the web, check email, and have a modest level of entertainment through mini-games. Tablets provide this without the overhead of a large chassis, keyboard, price, etc.

I've found that the iPad has made the netbook irrelevant, but has not yet replaced the laptop. In the next 2-3 years, I could definitely see iPads/Tablets taking on the full functionality of laptops (with the thin keyboard cases.)

I think the major advancement is going to be the melding of iOS with OSX, which will eventually happen. Much like what MS is doing with Win 8. Apps will be cross platform and such. The second major advancement will be the increasing power of ARM processors. We are getting close to having a PC experience on them for basic tasks such as surfing the web, but they need to be a bit more powerful to feel like a proper replacement. The final advancement is what Apple is doing with Siri, offloading processing power to server farms. Tablets will soon be powerful enough for any internet experience, but encoding/content creation will be too hard for years to come. Being able to offload intensive tasks could be the way to get around that.

What people have come to find out is that most people don't need the functionality of a laptop. In which case, the iPad/tablet is a perfect fit.

Agreed. Tablets still have a long way to go. I bought my Android tablet primarily for school. My gf loves it but she cant play her facebook games on it....i have a book for one of my classes on it which is awesome but my linux class uses testout which requires silverlight which neither android or iOS support so thats a no go. I bought a bluetooth keyboard for it which made a big difference for when im using it on forums and such but they all need to have available keyboard docks (like the ipad and transformer). They also need a print option for wireless printers built in natively. I had to download an hp app just to print on my wireless printer which kinda frustrates me. But for everything else its great. I can even watch netflix laying in bed with my lady with it. The kids love playing games on it and the battery life is awesome. But definetly still needs lots of work to smooth out the rough spots.

[Nabby]

Agreed. Tablets still have a long way to go. I bought my Android tablet primarily for school. My gf loves it but she cant play her facebook games on it....i have a book for one of my classes on it which is awesome but my linux class uses testout which requires silverlight which neither android or iOS support so thats a no go. I bought a bluetooth keyboard for it which made a big difference for when im using it on forums and such but they all need to have available keyboard docks (like the ipad and transformer). They also need a print option for wireless printers built in natively. I had to download an hp app just to print on my wireless printer which kinda frustrates me. But for everything else its great. I can even watch netflix laying in bed with my lady with it. The kids love playing games on it and the battery life is awesome. But definetly still needs lots of work to smooth out the rough spots.

iPad has AirPlay for printing. Printer has to support it or you can share the printer with bonjour from your pc or Mac. Like I have said before though I will not be in market for a new iPad in the foreseeable future. Next years update may be a different story.

[James]

... but my linux class uses testout which requires silverlight which neither android or iOS support so thats a no go....

That is just awesome. Your linux class uses MS tech. That made my day. lol