Apple’s iPad has been performing exceedingly well in the tech space. In fact, the device is easily the most popular tablet on the market, and few of its competitors have even a hope of catching up to it anytime soon. The main reason for that is quite simple: Apple understands what consumers and even enterprise customers are really looking for in a tablet. And it has gone out and delivered that to them without leaving out many of the other features they really desire. The result has been success, and a jump start in today’s tablet space that will likely keep Apple far ahead of the competition for quite some time. But Apple’s success in the tablet market isn’t all due to its decision-making. Quite the contrary, the iPad is successful today in part because of the mistakes the device’s competitors have made attempting to capture some of the market the tablet has gained. In an effort to beat Apple, the company’s competition has lost its way. And now, the iPad is succeeding because of it. Read on to find out about some of the mistakes Apple’s iPad competitors have made, and why those issues continue to hold devices back today.
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1. The Price Is Too HighThe worst thing companies can do is offer a tablet that’s too expensive. Unfortunately, Samsung did just that with its Galaxy Tab. The device retails for about $400 with a two-year contract and $600 without one. That might be right in the same spot that Apple’s offering its iPad, but considering the Galaxy Tab runs the wrong operating system and it’s much smaller than Apple’s option, it’s actually priced too high.
2. Small DisplaysWhen Dell announced its Streak tablet, the company said that the product would launch with a 5-inch display. Since then, the device has lost all chances of catching up to Apple’s iPad. And few consumers have opted for the device. Although the Streak also suffers from an outdated operating system, the fact that it boasts such a small display is an issue. When the iPad comes with a 9.7-inch display, why would Dell think a 5-inch version would work?
3. An Unknown FocusThe last thing a company should want to do is confuse customers. Apple certainly doesn’t with its iPad. But RIM is doing just that with its upcoming PlayBook. The company says that it’s for enterprise customers, but its ads seem to say that it’s designed more with consumers in mind. The result is an air of confusion that will likely hurt PlayBook sales.
4. No 3GThat’s not the only issue with the PlayBook. RIM’s tablet will also lack 3G when it ships next year. In other words, folks hoping to access the Web while away from a Wi-Fi network won’t be able to do so. Apple’s iPad, meanwhile, boasts 3G connectivity built-in. Realizing that, RIM must find a way to bring 3G to its tablet — or else.
5. Where’s the App Store?Apple’s iPad is such a winner in today’s mobile market because it supports over 300,000 applications available in Apple’s App Store. Because of that, users can get much more out of the device than they would without the marketplace. However, some of Apple’s competitors, will not support applications out of the box. That’s an issue. And it’s one that those vendors should consider going forward.
6. The Wrong Operating SystemThe last thing companies should want to do is offer the wrong operating system in their tablets. But that is what every single Android vendor, including Dell, Samsung, and others are doing. As Google pointed out recently, Android 2.2 is not ready for tablets. Android 3.0 will be the OS designed with tablets in mind. Until that operating system ships, not a single Android tablet should be made available.
7. The Wrong CompanyPart of the reason Apple has been so successful in today’s market is the company’s name recognition. People simply know that if they get an Apple product, a certain level of design and quality comes with it. But the same isn’t true for all of the iPad’s competitors. The JooJoo tablet, for example, has absolutely no name-recognition. And that alone makes it a bona fide loser in today’s mobile market.
8. The Wrong CarrierAs important as 3G connectivity is, if a company doesn’t offer the mobile broadband connection from the right carrier, it’s simply not worth working with. That’s precisely why the Galaxy Tab’s partnership with Sprint and T-Mobile make little sense. Those carriers might appeal to some customers, but they’re few and far between. Apple has it right — stick with AT&T and Verizon Wireless.
9. MobilityMobility obviously matters to customers that are trying to get their hands on a tablet. Because of that, it doesn’t make all that much sense for a company to want to sell a netbook as an iPad alternative. Netbooks are certainly more mobile than laptops, but they don’t compare to tablets. If mobility is key to consumers -- and it is -- netbooks just don’t fit the bill.
10. HypeApple’s success in the tablet space has been mainly due to its ability to build hype for its products. The company knows how to drum up support, it knows how to get noticed, and it does it. But the same isn’t true for most of its competition. Dell is a major firm, but where is all the Streak talk? Why has everyone forgotten about the PlayBook? Simply put, Apple gets hype, and its competitors just don’t.
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