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20 Predictions for the Apple iPad

2010 February 4
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by Greg Satell

In response to my article about the Apple iPad on Sunday, a reader posted this fantastic list of predictions on LinkedIn.  Although, he prefers to remain anonymous, he agreed to let me post it here.

Here’s the list. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

  1. It will make you want one.
  2. It will be missing something “essential”
  3. It will have at least one really surprising feature
  4. It will single handedly re-monetize a waning industry
  5. It will be Time Magazine’s device of the year
  6. It will have a long battery life.
  7. It will standardize at least one new technology
  8. Steve Ballmer will say it’s too expensive and too limiting
  9. Companies will start playing catch-up. Their products will be deemed “iTable/iSlate” killers.
  10. All other products will be compared to it in reviews.
  11. At least one major critic will hate it on principle alone, then he’ll actually try it for a week and then it will become his main machine and he will write a story on his transition.
  12. People will sarcastically say it does everything including making you coffee. This will somehow never get old.
  13. At least one company will make an absolutely ridiculous and useless peripheral for it.
  14. A group of people will say they’re waiting until it has x feature before they buy it. It will get x feature and they will still not buy it.
  15. Almost all cases for the device will be expensive.
  16. It will somehow be used in the military.
  17. You’ll eventually get over it’s name..
  18. Analysts will claim that it bridges the iPhone to Mac group, thus helping the ‘halo’ effect, without any evidence.
  19. Early adopters will be heart-broken when v2 of the product comes out.
  20. People will say Apple did an upgrade of the device too quickly. Steve Jobs will say get over it

Let me know what you think.

– Greg

13 Responses leave one →
  1. February 4, 2010

    It will, at some point after field testing, be widely used in the health sector.

  2. February 4, 2010

    Daniel

    I think you’re probably right.

    – Greg

  3. February 4, 2010

    I predict they will introduce 2 new sizes for the iPad – Maxi and Mini.

  4. February 4, 2010

    Love the list. So humorous but very realistic at the same time.

  5. February 4, 2010

    Gopal,

    It is a great list. I’d love to share the guys name. He really did a great job with it.

    – Greg

  6. Mike permalink
    February 4, 2010

    @DG — those iPad jokes just never get old (hint: I’m being sarcastic; yes, they do and yes, they are).

  7. February 4, 2010

    It’s a rare gizmo indeed when waiting for version 2 isn’t the most cost-effective strategy (re both money and time). So, best factor in the cost of next year’s upscale model. Or muddle along til then with your notebook and iphone for another year.

  8. February 5, 2010

    Funny and insightful list here! Certainly this has been the case with almost every product Apple has produced.

  9. leigh permalink
    February 5, 2010

    I’m looking forward to the iPad nano. Oh wait…they launched that a few years back right?

  10. February 11, 2010

    I am reminded of the Dilbert cartoon in which he’s carrying a pager, a phone and a fax on his belt (among other tech items). Will we be hauling phones, pads and pods around in an iPurse soon?

  11. February 11, 2010

    Cheryl,

    Good (and funny) point. I think the iPad will be mainly a media device that will replace a netbook (but not a laptop).

    – Greg

  12. September 19, 2011

    Fascinating to re-read these predictions now that V2 is out and see just how right (predictable?) they are…

  13. September 19, 2011

    Yes. I wish I was the one that made them:-)

    Greg

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