Posted on by Frank - Follow me on Twitter

ipad Has The iPad Excessive Hype Ruined Potential Interest?

I think the word has been spread around the internet to the point of nauseam about Apple’s new iPad.  I always support Apple’s new products because I am a huge fan of theirs.  However, the big mistake made with this product was the marketing.  I mean, first Apple says, “It might come out soon,” then they say, “We’re pulling the idea,” now it’s released.  Can they make up their mind?  I think they may have lost potential customers with their flip flopping decisions as to whether or not the iPad would be released.

So, there’s no secret anymore, the iPad has officially been released and we are hearing the technology world go crazy and everyone is writing about it.  I’m a huge fan of new technology and always have been, but my initial thoughts on the iPad when I first looked at it were…”this is a mix between an iPod Touch and laptop.  I couldn’t see the value in owning one for myself at this point.  Does that mean I will never get one?  No, not at all.  However, I don’t plan to go rushing out the door for one anytime soon.  It doesn’t do anything that meets my needs to a higher degree than what I already have.

I have heard some say it resembles the Kindle.  Fine, I can agree with that as well.  Although, the Kindle is another piece of technology I never wanted to own.  The only reason and I mean ONLY reason I could possibly consider the iPad as a potential piece of technology I want to own is that it was made by Apple.  Other than that, branding aside…it just doesn’t do it for me. I think the biggest issue for me with the iPad is it received too much attention before it was anything at all.  Apple was indecisive and for the first time I was questioning whether or not they new what they were doing with a product.  Technology is always going to be hit and miss with some people, but what I am seeing in the early stages of this launch is a good amount of people aren’t interested in the iPad.

Apple, you shouldn’t have let word get out about this product so quickly because there were too many issues early on.  I think your aggressive marketing may be a downfall to this new technology.  With your other products you have always marketed just right, but will this slip up lead to less demand for the iPad?  Personally, I don’t think it will.  Apple’s name is too well known and respected that consumers are always going to want the latest and greatest thing from Apple.  Hey, who’s to argue?  They do make produce great technology!

What are your thoughts about the iPad?  Do you like it and would you buy it? Or, do you view the whole situation as I do and that Apple’s hype could be its worst enemy in this situation?

Further reading:

10 Reasons You Should Buy A Mac

Would A Netbook By Apple Be Smart?

Technology Innovation Huge In 2010

The Future Of Technology

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Posted in Apple, Technology | Comments (7)

  • http://www.vigthegeek.com VigTheGeek

    I, for one, am anxiously awaiting the ability to order one just as much as I was the announcement. The iPad is a bit of a disappointment. It doesn’t do all the things it could have done. Neither did the iPhone the day it came out (I remember… I waited on line. Had the 6th one in South Carolina).

    The iPad has so much room to grow. That screen size allows us developers (I’m one of those too) to utilize the screen and the highly successful touch-based OS to do very exciting things.

    I wish it had a camera. I wish there was a way to replicate e-ink for the books. I wish it multi-tasked. I heard all that anti-iPad rhetoric and agree.

    Apple has set the bar SO high hat we fault them when something doesn’t meet our expectations at inception. These are expectations we’ve set because they’re quality engineering has allowed us to. Because they’re innovative and move swiftly, we don’t notice that none of their products shine immediately.

    ~Did the iPhone 2G do everything that the 3G S does now?
    ~Did the original iPod do everything that the iPod Touch does now?
    ~Does the iPod Nano even resemble the original Nano?
    ~Look back at Mac OS X Kodiak or Cheetah and then at Snow Leopard. The same?

    If everyone was waiting for product that everything they’ve ever wanted all at once, then you were setting yourself up for failure and it’s your own fault.

  • http://www.mytechevolution.blogspot.com Jon Sheline

    Hey Frank…good points.
    In my view, the rumors that come before an Apple announcement like this are the “unofficial” web chatter of millions of tech enthusiasts, which I’m sure Apple appreciates for better or worse because it’s publicity.
    The “official” ads haven’t even begun yet (that I’ve seen), and my thought is that they will market this successfully to the target market…not that they have given a concrete statement about what that target market is.
    I find it interesting that they’re actually comparing it to Kindle…because as devices, they’re very different. Kindle does eBooks, iPad has an eBook (oops, I mean iBook) store and application plus a host of other functions.
    It’ll be interesting to see how it all shakes out. Right now, I have no idea whether I would buy it or not…I’ll need to see it out and about before I can make that decision.

  • http://www.socialtechzone.com Frank

    I couldn’t agree with you more on this one. The iPhone definitely didn’t do all of the things it does today when it was first released. The hype did put a damper on the interest to consumers I believe, but I don’t think that will stop them from buying it. It’s an Apple product and I think it looks fantastic as most Apple products do.

    There are some features in it like a camera, video, etc., that users and developers still want to be done to the iPad and I agree it does have a ton of room to grow and I think it will only get better. Although, at this point in the game, I’m not rushing out to get one. I need to give it some time. You do need to give a new product room for improvement because otherwise you won’t be satisfied and will not stick around to see the product grow.

  • http://www.socialtechzone.com Frank

    I am seeing it out as well Jon. It’s too early in the game for me to be jumping on the band wagon. I think I’m going to wait to see how the iPad grows before considering to invest money into the product. I agree that the product will be marketed to the correct market. Apple doesn’t really make mistakes in that realm of business. The chatter definitely does help spread the news about a new product and there’s no doubt that a company appreciates that, but I wonder who’s really to blame when a product gets over hyped to a point where consumers aren’t as interested when it is officially released?

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  • http://www.chatipad.com/ iPad Forum

    im loving the ipad personally. what do you think of it now? was it upto your standards?

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