Though our own reader poll and the sellout of the new iPad strongly suggest otherwise, at least one gadget site says its readers are not interested in buying the latest version of the device.
Only a quarter of readers polled on gadget news aggregator Drippler who own first-gen iPads plan to upgrade and about the same percentage of iPad 2 owners plan to pony up for the next iPad. (The site wouldn’t reveal exact numbers behind the poll but says they have predominantly U.S. readers who are gadget hounds.)
Matan Talmi, Drippler CEO, told Cult of Mac that pretty much any way you slice the data, the result is that iPad owners are happy with the devices – by keeping ones they have in hand or because they plan on buying them again.
“Since 48 percent of users who state they want the new iPad already own a previous generation iPad, we can point to very high satisfaction rates, ” Talmi said. “Not only that, but 45 percent own an iPhone, so people are generally satisfied with Apple and iOS products.” For example, despite the $199 price tag, only 10 percent of gadget-happy Drippler readers had any interest in buying the Kindle Fire.
Talmi admits he’s also on the fence about the new iPad, for reasons that will sound familiar to owners.
“I personally own the iPad 2. I have the wifi version and I don’t use the iPad camera much. Since it’s really fast enough for me, I guess the main benefit of the new one will be the screen resolution. I haven’t decided yet, but I’m hearing the new screen alone will probably get me to buy it. ”
What about you, readers, any holdouts?
Nicole Martinelli is a San Francisco freelance writer who heads up Cult of Mac Magazine, our weekly publication available on iTunes. You can find her on Twitter and Google+. If you’re doing something new, cool and Apple-related, email her.
21 responses to “Are iPad Owners Too Happy With The Device To Buy A New One? [Poll]”
As an iOS developer, I only need to support the retina display for the New iPad. Xcode 4.3.1 included an iPad retina simulator so why bother buying a new iPad just to test that?
The only reason I’m upgrading is because of the retina display. My iPad 2 does everything I want it too. I was just disappointed that it wasn’t released last year. Now that I have a retina display and LTE, I don’t see Apple making any changes in the next 2-3 years that would make me want to upgrade.
I’m ok with staying on the iPad 2 WiFi edition. It has no telephone on the LTE edition so there’s no point in me upgrading to that nor am I willing to install a third party to use the telephone. I’d settle for an iPhone 5(S) when my contract is up.
Don’t know about iPad 2 owners being “happy”, but the iPad is too freakin expensive!! Especially in this economy!
It costs under $400 to manufacture, yet retails for up to 100% markup!
100% markup is actually the standard in retail.
I Pre ordered the “The New iPad” OR the IPAD 3 or whatever they want to call it. I don’t own a iPad until now. I am glad I have waited until now to get one. The display alone is the selling point for me and the hopes of faster 4 Gen connectivity speeds. It sits in Kentucky right now on a UPS truck.
I have an iPad 2. What I really wanted was a 128GB version iPad 3 becuase my iPad 2 is full. I don’t think it’s worth spending £659 for another 64GB model. I think the speed and screen on the iPad 2 is good enough for me to hang on and see what the iPad 4 brings next year.
even if it costs $250 to make a $500 iPad, companies still have to have profit to pay employees, research and development, etc. Apple is not making a net profit of $250
I have an iPad2 and have no plans to upgrade. Until I see the new iPad and hold it in my hands. Then, all bets are off.
: /
I was gifted an iPad (wifi 32gb) and Ipad 2 (64gb +3G) and now I am so close, not to replacing my iPad 2 (I sold my original iPad), to picking up a 32gb Wifi iPad 3…just waiting to see that Retina Display in person and then I will be kicking my self for not pre-ordering. Then I will have one iPad for home and one for Work (second monitor, Tv, Etc…)
I guess where I sit right now is I am so satisfied with my iPad2 I hesitate to buy a new version because I am worried I will not be as satisfied with it, which makes no sense to me at all given the perfect track record I have had with every single of one my apple products.
ever buy a ralph lauren polo? production cost = $1-5 MAX , sale price = $79, markup = 7900 – 1900%
retail markups are insane on almost all luxury items, the fact that apple is only charging double production cost is quite cheap compared to most retail products
Same here. I’m upgrading from a 1st gen iPad. The only reason I am is the display and the fact that my current iPad isn’t supported for all software. I won’t care to upgrade when they add a somewhat faster processor and other incremental upgrades (in comparison with the transition from iPad 2 to new iPad).
I have a 16gb wifi-only first-gen ipad and have no desire to upgrade. It works great for everything I need it to do, and I think I’m a pretty heavy user. All my art-making + music apps work great, games are smooth and look good, and streaming movies are fine. It seems patently absurd to spend a bunch of money to replace something that’s a sold, stable, everyday device. I mean really, is Mobile Safari or iBooks _really_ going to look that much better on a Retina display?
Is this why so many apps crash?
dont want to loose my jailbreak. so i just dont know. might wait till a jailbreak is released then get it a month or 2 late. but i sure would like to wait in line this friday… then not open it? don’t know, its hard.
before the iPad 2 came out i sold my iPad 1 for $450, before the iPad 3 came out i sold my iPad 2 for $450
at a cost of $50 per year i stay up to date, not bad for $500 per 10 years? much better to do it incrementally and use the latest technology vs update after large gaps in time and let your old technology depreciate
im not saying theres a huge upgrade every time , but from a purely money saving standpoint its more economical to update every time then to delay
“In this economy” Is it really that bad anymore? There is a panic every few decades and we are on the road to recovery.
Actually I’m happy enough with my iPad 1. I only use it to show family pictures. Anything else I need, I take along my MacBook.
I WANT A NEW MACBOOK PRO TO COME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It hasn’t had a big update in ages!!!
I know. Its almost as if Apple has more costs then just the manufacturing ones. So weird. I thought the developers and graphics designers and hardware designers and sales people and accountants and middle managers and receptionists and so on were all working for free.
Plus, I am pretty sure its a sin to want to make a profit, so that can’t be it.
And god knows that even though they can’t keep up with demand at the current price, they should just sell them for less anyhow. Because, you know, people like TechUser just want it.
I totally agree with you> I was thinking the exact same thing, and then I went ahead and pre-ordered one anyhow. No self control.