iPad sales top million units (now two million)

[hugh]

Apple announced yesterday that it sold its one millionth iPad last Friday, more than twice as fast as the original iPhone.

The iPhone took 74 days to reach the magical milestone versus just 28 days for the iPad. The iPad was released on April 3rd and sold 300,000 units on its first day of sales.

“Demand continues to exceed supply and we’re working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more customers.” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO.

Apple said iPad users have downloaded more than 12 million apps and 1.5 million books for their devices. The App Store now has over 200,000 apps for sale including over 5,000 iPad specific programs.

[BGY11]

While it is a milestone, I can't help but wonder how this would have played out if both models would have been released on the same day. Also, the fact people aren't tied to a cellular contract when purchasing an iPad somewhat makes this an apples-to-oranges comparison.

While probably a small fraction of overall sales, I wonder how many of the devices have ended up outside the US.

[99semaj]

I bought one today second-hand from a coworker in the US...he wanted a 3G model. There's probably a lot of 'recycling' like that going on.

As for the product being 'magical', well I just dunno about that. It's a big iPod Touch, so I'm pretty much used to everything it's capable of. For $400 no tax, though, I thought I'd give it a try.

[PokerChip]

99semaj, I'm quite certain you will revise your opinion of the product once you really start using it.

IMHO, the "giant iPod" designation is a little bit unfair to the iPad. It would be like comparing a 20" TV with a front projector on a 110" fixed screen. Yes, its basic functionality is the same, but the user experience is totally different.

Also, in response to BGY11's comment, a lot of the projections are calling for at least 50% of iPads sold to be 3G units. I am also including a link to a roundup of sales projections from so-called "analysts" dated Feb. 17, following the product announcement. It shows rather interesting numbers, the underlying theme being that iPad sales will likely widely exceed expectations from at least 75% of those analysts.

http://ipad.org/ipad-sales-estimates/

[hugh]

Okay, we have gee I love or hate the iPad threads already so lets stick to the topic at hand here please

a lot of the projections are calling for at least 50% of iPads sold to be 3G units.

Once I realized that you can buy wireless access on a month by month basis, the idea of a 3G unit sure became more appealing and I am sure that is true for many others.

[Cisco99]

Originally Posted by hugh

Once I realized that you can buy wireless access on a month by month basis, the idea of a 3G unit sure became more appealing and I am sure that is true for many others.

It's certainly more convenient because of the transparency of web access. However, once the Novatel Mifis get "un-recalled" they provide a viable alternative to the 3G iPad for those of us who plan on keeping the wifi version.

It even has an advantage: 3G ipad owners are already discovering that some apps throtle back the video quality when accessed through 3G. A wifi iPad wouldn't do this when connected to a wfif hotspot/3G bridge like the Mifi.

Also, I'm not sure if the 3G iPad has the same HSPA upper limit as iPhones but I suspect they do. The mifi can use the faster HSPA+ speed where available.

Of course the mifi + iPad is a bit more money. But imho, I can readily commit to a 1-yr contract although I would balk at 3 years. A 1-yr contract brings the cost of the mifi to $129 which puts it + an iPad in the same ballpark as a 3G iPad.

There's also the data sharing available through wifi hotspot apps for Android or jailbroken iPhones.

I have no intention of "upgrading" my wifi iPad to a 3G version.

[Tikker]

I don't see how the ipad = big iPod comparison is invalid. It is basically the exact same machine In a bigger box. Same software same interface same apps.

[NeilN]

Different iPad-specific apps. You won't get the iWork suite on the iPhone and we'll see more and more apps have different iPhone and iPad interfaces like Wolfram Alpha and IM+.

[Cisco99]

Originally Posted by Tikker

I don't see how the ipad = big iPod comparison is invalid. It is basically the exact same machine In a bigger box. Same software same interface same apps.

The iPad is an iPod just like a Canon 5D Mk II is a big version of the iPhone's camera... just like how a Smart Car is a slower Porsche 911... just like a 17" CRT is a smaller 50" plasma...

Yes, the iPod touch, iPhone and iPad share a similar OS and they use some of the same apps. The difference, quite simply is the iPad's much faster performance and the fact that the size of the iPad makes using the device for reading books, watching movies, Word Processing, etc., actually functional and not just the "making-do" curiosity those activities are when done on tiny iDevices.

The comparison is not invalid, it's just irrelevant.

[Tikker]

Similar? Identical os

yes the ipad has more horsepower currently but it's no where near the ridiculous comparisons you've provided. We have both in our house. It's a big iPod

[james99]

I agree, it's a big Ipod Touch.

[Cisco99]

Originally Posted by Tikker

Similar? Identical os

yes the ipad has more horsepower currently but it's no where near the ridiculous comparisons you've provided. We have both in our house. It's a big iPod

In that case here's an iPad wallpaper I found that you might like:





Watch many video or read many books in your iPod? I never did but my 12 yr-old always thought videos on it were pretty kool...shrug.

[Tikker]

That's 99% of what I do with my touch actually heh.

I've read a couple dozen novels on it, watch some video via air video and rarely some live tv via my Hava.

Now for magazines or comics or the like, that's where the ipad shines. It's a much better form factor for that. More comfortable than the laptop. Actuly, more natural is the feeli guess.

[Cisco99]

Originally Posted by Tikker

That's 99% of what I do with my touch actually heh.

I've read a couple dozen novels on it, watch some video via air video and rarely some live tv via my Hava.

Now for magazines or comics or the like, that's where the ipad shines. It's a much better form factor for that. More comfortable than the laptop. Actuly, more natural is the feeli guess.

Well you have more tolerance for reading on tiny devices than I do. I read Michael Crichton's Timeline that came free with a windows PDA about 12 years ago and followed that with the first Harry Potter book on it. That was the last time I read a book on anything that small.

I didn't really take e-books seriously until I got my (recently sold) Sony reader. The size of the "page" matters to me.

The same applies to videos. The iPad's screen is roughly the same size as the Air Canada back of the seat screens I've watched movies on frequently. Anything smaller than that I find to be no more than a curiosity I'll try once just to see. I've never managed to watch anything longer than a brief podcast on my iPhone.

In both of these cases I need a certain size before I'm comfortable with it. That might be just me but I suspect the size of the screen is a threshold deciding factor for many others.

PS... I haven't read comics for decades but I just finished reading the Ender's Game series on the iPad. It really does comics extremely well. I might just become a graphic novel regular

[admin]

As of this past weekend sales hit two million units.

That's a million a month. RBC Capital is predicting over 8 million by the end of the year. That's over $4 billion in sales for a product no one knew about at the beginning of the year!