Teens won’t buy the iPad

by Sam Bell on 30th January, 2010

Comments

There are many reasons why I personally won’t be buying Apple’s latest ‘revolutionary’ product, though one thing really worries me: Teens just aren’t going to buy it. Aside from being another unnecessary product to add to the portfolio, here’s the three reasons why I’d bet the iPad will be a flop with the under-20s.

1. It just doesn’t look right

We can normally count on Apple to turn out another visually stunning product each year, and each one is normally an order of magnitude better-looking than the previous. This is the first year when Apple have released a product that’s noticeably ugly. Remember those rumours of what it would look like? When they all just looked like a badly stretched iPhone? Well it turns out Apple had similar ideas. We’ve ended up with an oversized iPhone body, with a ha-yuge border, and a slightly updated version of iPhone OS 3.0. So, for creating the most visually unappealing product in quite some time, top marks for creativity.

2. The Flash point

While this has been repeated almost too many times to bear, it’s just so crucial it has to be said again. Now the absence of Flash may not be Apple’s fault, but surely they must have been able to come up with some way of negotiating this one. Without Flash, forget video sites like Vimeo, blip.tv, and streaming video too. This really is a deal-breaker, in a device designed with a main purpose of browsing the web, disruptions to the flow of the web just can’t help matters, especially with an audience of users who expect the web at their fingertips. The whole web.

3. Not even a camera

This one may sound negligible, but not having a camera really lowers the value of the iPad. Though no-one in there right frame of mind would expect to use this as a camera for their holiday snapshots, a forward facing camera could have been awesome. We could have had video-calling (of sorts), Photo Booth, and even used sites like DailyBooth or Ustream (if it wasn’t for point 2). But sadly it wasn’t to be; Apple have decided that all we wanted was a giant iPod Touch.

Although the concept could have been phenomenal, a tablet perfect for casual use, glazed with the perfectionist approach that we’ve come to know and love as Apple, but I feel we’ve been let down here. Instead of carefully considering the things that could have made this the be-all and end-all of lightweight computing, a seemingly rushed attempt has left us with a device that lacks the key components that could have created its success. And what’s perhaps even more disappointing, is that even though teens don’t need it, I don’t think we’ll want it either.

  • I am going to have to completely disagree. Maybe they didn't make it for "geeks" but they made it for the average human being. Most people only need facebook, youtube, and a decent word processor. It is perfect. Cheaper then a laptop, better then an iPhone. The only thing I would like to see is iChat ported to iPhone OS *crosses fingers for 4.0*
  • Liam
    Basically the iPad fails in so many levels ( despite that still reckon they will still sell millions.. its apple!).. I reckon we should revive the crunchpad idea or be it a different name , get a team/community together and prove that a bunch of us can come up with a better product than the WORLDS so called biggest "mobile" company.
  • To some extent, I don't think apple was designing it for teens.

    It seems to be aimed at the middle-aged media consumer.

    Overall, it is lacking some features, but I'm still considering because of the (relatively) cheap 3G connection. That's the only reason I'd buy it.
  • I completely agree, It's not for teens at all. However, it seems to me that the youth market hasn't been considered at all, nor has any thought been given to creating a truly 'magical and revolutionary' product. There was so much potential.
  • damien49
    why apple just made a bigger iPhone and not a true new innovative product - i couldnt tell you because im just as lost as everyone else
    http://www.freeitunesgiftcodes.com posted an article on how disapointing the iPad is and it seems they arent they only ones who think so
  • goodrichard
    I really think you've missed it, Samuel. I've read a lot of comments about how the iPad is thin, sleek and lightweight. Pretty broadly, people agree it looks great!

    For all your clammoring for Flash, it's still a slow, buggy, crash-prone piece of software that only enables websites to pollute the web with advertising. Plus, I honestly don't think it's as widely used as you think. ...and funny, as nicely designed your site is, I don't see any Flash.

    I DO share your concern about no front facing camera, but let's let Apple work that out with V2 before we piss all over the platform.

    The iPad is a great device that we can count on to provide a high quality user experience. In actuality, it is precisely the reasons you cite that the iPad is great! It won't crash, it won't lag, and it won't be filled with viruses.

    It's going to be a great coffee-table web browser for anyone to pick up and browse the web, or with the new iBook application, download and read a book.

    So, to the extent teens don't have coffee tables, don't appreciate a computer that doesn't crash, and don't like to read books, perhaps you are right. I, for one, think teens will appreciate everything the iPad has to offer.
  • Personally, whilst I see all these points to be substantial reasons as to why SOME teens may not buy it, I myself (Should I have the money) Will be. Yes, there are some negatives towards the iPad, but look at the positives about it:

    -The 3G version
    -The clean interface
    -The size (Simple to carry in a bag, and easy to get out and use when needed)
    -The backwards compatibility with iPod Touch and iPhone applications, allowing you to basically do everything that the iPod touch could, with the addition of the larger, cleaner interface with a bigger keyboard, and better screen.

    To be very honest, I think the iPad may look like a large iPod, but this is the first model, and with new models we could see flash, a camera, a smaller border, and maybe even bigger flash memory sizes. Forget the Sony PSP, the iPad is the whole world in your hands, because it does just about everything you need, and more.
  • damien49
    haha im not buying the iPad. im getting it Free from http://GetaFreeiPad.blogspot.com
    even though it has flaws i dont care cause im getting it free
  • Well I personally like the design of it, and the flash point of it is because it runs the iPhone OS and it can easily be integrated with the next version of the iPhone OS. And alot of things can happen in 60 days. And personally I see there being no point in a camera. Whats the point in having a camera on a tablet.
  • damien49
    im a teen and i might have bought the iPad but it doesnt have flah so thats a no no
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