Why the IPad Will Continue to Lead the Tablet Market

Since its first-generation debut on April 3, 2010, Apple Inc.’s iPad computer tablet has not only demonstrated an aggressive ability to compete in a fast-paced consumer market, but has repeatedly succeeded in outperforming and outselling its rivals. Much like the iPhone and smartphone industry, the iPad has helped to reshape and, ultimately, redefine the electronic tablet market in America and around the world. And now, with the release of the thinner and faster iPad 2 this past March, sales of the iPad are expected to skyrocket. For its 2011 third quarter financial report, Apple reported record revenues and earnings, with 9.25 million iPads sold during the quarter. According to Apple, this is a “183 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter.”

So what is it that makes the iPad so successful and attractive to consumers? What does it have (or, in some cases, not have) when compared to other tablets out there on the market? And, most importantly, will it continue to dominate.

1. The iPad is slowly replacing the personal computer for many Americans.

Unlike any other tablet out there, Apple’s iPad has successfully encouraged countless consumers to think twice about spending money on a PC, whether it be a laptop or desktop. And why not? The iPad user has access to many of the great features that were once only accessible in a computer format with Apple’s MacBooks. Programs and applications such as Pages (Apple’s word processor) and Keynote (Apple’s slide presentation program) are available in full functionality on the iPad and operate just as smoothly as they do on the Macs. In fact, many high school and college students, as well as businessmen and women, are creating their documents and running their slideshow presentations on iPads.

And if you’re worried about using the iPad’s touchscreen keyboard, you can always purchase the bluetooth wireless physical keyboard from the Apple store and connect it to your iPad via the device’s bluetooth connection. This is a great option for users transitioning from PCs and Macs, who prefer to stick with a physical keyboard.

In addition, the iPad features all of Apple’s other great standard iOS apps, including FaceTime (now on the iPad 2, which features a front-facing and rear camera, like the iPhone 4), Mail, iPod for playing music, iTunes for purchasing music and countless apps, Safari for browsing the web, Notes, Contacts, Calendar, Game Center, a Photo album for storing pictures and several others.

Printing? Not a problem. With a slew of connector cables available at Apple retail stores and at Apple.com, as well as the iPad’s handy USB ports and wi-fi connectivity, printing documents, web content and notes is as easy as pie.

Now, I know you’re probably thinking, “Well that’s all great, but there are plenty of other tablets out there with the PC-like qualities, printing options, etc., even the front and rear cameras.” And while this is true, there are many additional reasons for the iPad’s popularity among consumers and its continued success. It should also be noted that many Apple Mac users (whether they own one or not) who were already familiar with programs such as Pages and Keynote, were more likely to stick with Apple’s OS when transitioning to a handy, portable tablet.

2. The iPad runs on Apple’s successful iOS software.

Apple has taken the app world by storm with its iOS (operating system), and it all started with the iPod (Touch) and iPhone market. Consumers fell in love with the design and functionality of things like the App Store and iTunes.

Furthermore, one of the primary reasons for the success of Apple’s iOS, is that Apple is both the developer of iOS and it is the manufacturer of the physical devices that run iOS (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad). This cannot be said of rival operating systems currently on the market, such as the Android operating system (an admittedly formidable foe), which was developed by Google but runs on dozens of devices manufactured by dozens of companies such as Samsung, Motorola, LG, HTC and many others. By maintaining control over both its OS and its devices, Apple has the final say on what applications and third-party developers it will allow to enter its App Store and sell applications to users. This keeps the App Store experience safe, trustworthy and fun.

3. Consumers prefer the construction and design of the iPad 2 over rival tablets.

Few tablets on the market have come close to giving the iPad 2 a serious run for its money like the recent Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, which runs on the aforementioned, and highly successful, Android OS. Both tablets are similarly priced, starting at around $500.

Although the Galaxy Tab 10.1 (which has performed much better than the previous Galaxy Tabs), is just a hair thinner and lighter than the iPad 2, its plastic construction just can’t outshine the smooth, polished, refined aluminum enclosure of the iPad 2, a design which, in true unibody style, made the Apple MacBooks so popular. There’s just something about the feel of aluminum in your hands that gives you a confidence in the durability of the device. Not to mention, it looks great in terms of design and visual appeal.

As far as buttons and ports go, there aren’t many differences to report between the two tablets, although the buttons on the iPad 2 jut out just a hair further than those on the Galaxy 10.1.

4. The iPad remains the most user-friendly tablet on the market.

In a March 2011 Prizefight, CNET editors pitted the iPad 2 against the Motorola Xoom (pronounced “zoom”). The Xoom runs on Google’s Android OS and, like the Galaxy, offers great Google apps, including a nice interface with Gmail.

Unfortunately, the Xoom just couldn’t outperform the iPad 2 in terms of user-friendliness. One CNET editor, Donald, noted that with the Xoom, “some of the UI [user interface] decisions seem to deliberately obscure functionality. Whether it’s the power button on the back, the two-finger gesture for tilting maps, or the Tron-like navigation icons in the lower left corner, intuitive control doesn’t seem to have been a primary concern.”

However, when analyzing the iPad 2, Donald had this to say: “The iPad is a reaction to the windowed confusion of the conventional desktop. If both my mom and my 3 year-old can use it, it’s a keeper.”

CNET editor Eric noted the nice improvement of Android’s Honeycomb OS (which is running on the Xoom tablet), but also said, “it’s still not as simple or easy to pick up as iOS.”

5. The iPad has access to more applications than any other tablet.

If there’s one thing Apple knows how to do better than any other company out there, it’s how to provide its users with access to countless applications through a user-friendly App Store. With over 90,000 available apps in the iPad App Store, no one else comes close.

A few of the most popular apps provided by Apple itself include Pages, Keynote, Numbers, Garageband (which is a standard part of the Mac OS), iMovie (also standard on Mac) and iBooks (for purchasing novels, textbooks, etc.). The iPad is great for reading books & news.

Thousands of highly rated apps from third parties are also available, in great categories from business, productivity, and entertainment to games, education, lifestyle and social networking.

With iPad 3 rumors already circulating across dozens of tech sites and gadget blogs, there’s no reason to think that Apple’s control of the tablet market will let up anytime soon. The iPad 2 is currently the fastest tablet available, running Apple’s dual-core A5 chip and the iPad 3 promises to be just as fast, if not faster. In the opinion of this “techie,” the Motorola Xoom and BlackBerry PlayBook just won’t make it. And we all know the recent fate of the HP TouchPad. Enough said.


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