New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Apple Executives Optimistic About Future of iOS, Expect Tablet Market to Surpass PCs

Thursday June 2, 2011 9:59 am PDT by Eric Slivka

Business Insider reports on a new research note from Goldman Sachs analyst Bill Shope covering a recent meeting between Shope and Apple executives Tim Cook, Ron Johnson, and Peter Oppenheimer. According to Shope, the executives expressed considerable optimism regarding the future of iOS, particularly when it comes to the iPad. In fact, Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook reportedly noted that the company expects tablet sales to surpass PC sales over the next several years.
Shope says, "the company appeared more overtly optimistic on the long-term prospects for the iOS platform than it has been in quite some time."

Why?

For one, Cook said, "he sees no reason why the tablet market shouldn't eclipse the PC market over the next several years," according to Shope's note.
Apple's iPad of course currently dominates that tablet market, and while its share will almost certainly shrink as more competitors come to market, most observers expect Apple to continue to lead the market for years to come.

According to a separate article relating information from the note, Shope reports that Apple is once again touting its preference for an "integrated" ecosystem for iOS over the "fragmented" one it sees for Google's Android platform. Apple's executives reportedly suggest that while the Android approach may yield market share gains over the short term, but the the fragmentation will ultimately weaken the platform and degrade the user experience.

To that end, Apple argues that the true measure of a platform's value should be measured by how well it supports the entire ecosystem surrounding it, and with the company having paid out over $2 billion to App Store developers so far, it believes that it offers the most successful and sustainable model among mobile platforms.

Related Roundup: iPad
Tags: Goldman Sachs, Bill Shope
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Don't Buy)
[ 169 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
ECUpirate44
101 months ago
The iPad or any tablet for that matter will never replace my laptop. Typing for an extended time on a touchscreen is just not practical.
Rating: 13 Votes
Avatar
leroypants
101 months ago

Hence the reason for the iPad Keyboard Dock :D or you can use a Bluetooth Keyboard with it.



Yeah, why carry a lap top, when you can carry an ipad, a keyboard dock and a card reading attachment.

I love my iPad just cos its more portable than a laptop and it was awesome at a wedding I went to recently, which I shot the photos for my cousin. I was able to show him & the guests all the snaps like 5 mins after i'd took them on my iPad



I know the feeling, it is completely impossible to do that with a laptop.
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
INeedAMacBook
101 months ago
Can't wait to see what iOS 5 does for iPad, especially iPad 2
Rating: 7 Votes
Avatar
theelysium
101 months ago

The iPad or any tablet for that matter will never replace my laptop. Typing for an extended time on a touchscreen is just not practical.


I agree for me personally (or until they beef them up) tablets will not replace my computer, but my iPad2 does a great job of replacing my computer on the go. If I need to do some serious work though, it's back to my computer.
Rating: 7 Votes
Avatar
Andy-V
101 months ago

I think tablets are great, fun, useful devices. I mean, I love my iPad, but to me, it will never replace my computer. It replaces it in some ways, like casual internet browsing, but if I'm going to do some hardcore word processing or video editing, I'm going to want my laptop there.


This is just it. Tablets should be seen as a complement to laptops and desktops NOT a replacement. Just like laptops didn't replace desktops, tablets simply wont replace laptops. There's room in our lives for all three.
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
deannnnn
101 months ago
I think tablets are great, fun, useful devices. I mean, I love my iPad, but to me, it will never replace my computer. It replaces it in some ways, like casual internet browsing, but if I'm going to do some hardcore word processing or video editing, I'm going to want my laptop there.
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
BLACKFRIDAY
101 months ago

Funny how the measure of the platform changes once Android starts shipping tons of units.

That being said, I do tend to agree with that statement. Android is blowing up big right now and things will even out soon enough. I think (and hope) that iOS 5 will blow our minds.


huh?
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
Dooger
101 months ago

iCal'd for future claim chowder.


https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=12601017&highlight=#post12601017

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=12477364&highlight=#post12477364

Your iCal must be filling up with your petty little vendettas.
Btw, is there not a forum ruling on repetitive posting? You don't wanna get stuck in Time Out again, do you?
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
localoid
101 months ago

Well, although laptops didn't replace desktops, they certainly became just as powerful, popular, and ubiquitous as desktop PCs. And a lot of the other predictions in the article certainly came true: laptops became thin, light, have high-resolution displays, and have (had) standard card architectures for expansion. They also dropped to the predicted $1,000 price point (and then some, of course) making them useful in all the markets listed in the article (e.g. students, professionals, vertical markets).

Laptops were a fledgling technology back then much like tablets are today. Who knows what will happen? Look at the picture of the laptop of 1987. We laugh at that now. Will we look back at the likes of the iPad in another 25 years and laugh at how crude and clunky it was?


Unsurprisingly, the articles published over the last 30+ years, that have predicted "product X will replace product Y", have been penned by a "futurist" that just so happens to be employed by a business that manufactures product X.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
bushido
101 months ago
isnt it ironic how u cant use a iPad without a computer tho?
Rating: 3 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]