Dell: Apple iPad Will Lose to Android, Windows Tablets

Just when you thought it was safe to pick up an iPad, Dell claims Apple’s days as the tablet industry’s big kahuna are numbered–and I’m sure you’re totally surprised.

Meet Dell’s global head of marketing, Andy Lark, who didn’t mince words about Apple’s prospects during a recent chat with CIO Australia. While Lark acknowledged the iPad’s meteoric rise and role in catalyzing the tablet market, he says it’s already doomed to fail in enterprise adoption.

“I couldn’t be happier that Apple has created a market and built up enthusiasm but longer term, open, capable and affordable will win, not closed, high price and proprietary,” said Lark. “[Apple has] done a really nice job, they’ve got a great product, but the challenge they’ve got is that already Android is outpacing them.”

He’s not wrong–Android is outpacing Apple. Nielsen reported earlier this month that Android sales pulled ahead of Apple and Blackberry in the U.S. between November and January, staking out 29 percent of total market share compared with Apple and RIM’s 27 percent each.

And the notion that “closed and proprietary” models have inescapable shelf lives should resonate with fans of “open and affordable.” Apple’s iPad isn’t cheap, even if Android-based alternatives like Motorola’s XOOM and Samsung’s Galaxy aren’t doing the anti-iPad price argument any favors.

Of course Lark’s claim that an iPad with a keyboard, mouse, and case costs between “$1500 and $1600″ is flatly specious. You can pick up an iPad with WiFi and 3G for as little as $630 (and at most $830). Everything else can be had for just a couple hundred more.

And Lark’s comments seem to clash with Forrester Research CEO George Colony’s prediction last week that Apple would become a $200 billion revenue giant by the end of 2012, making the company bigger than either HP or IBM, or “the largest technology company in the world.”

Then again, we could write this off as another misplaced “consumer” vs. “enterprise” kerfuffle. The iPad appeals primarily to consumers at the moment. While Apple may have designs on enterprise deployments, that’s a different playbook entirely, with vastly more complex and often proprietary requirements all its own.

More on TIME.com:

Dell Outs ‘Inspiron Duo’ Tablet/Netbook Hybrid

Apple’s iPad 2: It’s Still the One

So Long First-Gen iPad, We Hardly Knew You

lancedal

Ipad and all tablets today are just TOYS. Let me break down the consumers this way:
1. People who don’t need laptop with lots of money
2. People who don’t/may need laptop with some money
3. People who need laptop + have some money
4. People who need laptop + lots of money.

#1&4 are the main tablet buyers today. Not many out there (think about total population vs. # of unit sold)

#2&3 are the majority of consumers. They’re unlikely to buy a tablet because it’s a useless device. By useless, I mean limited or not productive at all.

Let’s put on the record this prediction: If someone come up with a tablet+keyboard that is in ONE unit AND thin AND powerful enough to be productive (by that I mean get work done instead of playing). Then that system will win. In other words, unless it can replace a laptop, not many will buy.

Now, keep in mind that Apple will do well because they have their own loyal customers. However, it won’t be because of their iPad. You just can’t serve very one with a proprietary system (and I don’t think they want to). Apple rather stays in their high-margin market like their laptop/desktop business. And BTW, develop your own chip, write your own software, making your own product is a dream in the design world. However, it may not make much business sense in a long run because you can’t expect to squeeze more margin out of yourselves every quarter.
C. Arthur Young

Hmm. Ok, I’m not a doctor, but the same argument has been made about all Apple’s products and it’s closed, but integrated system.

In terms of units sold, PC’s outsell Macs, as far as I know. But it’s pretty much accepted that Mac OS is more stable and intuitive than any of the crap doled out by Windows. And the machines are more attractive and easier to use.

To say that the iPad is a toy, is to say that the 65,000 odd apps don’t have any commercial applications – which simply isn’t true. The tablet war is all about who can make the experience the most appealing. The software makes the device and the IOS makes the experience – Apple is winning both those battles.

As for the other post : “If someone come up with a tablet+keyboard that is in ONE unit AND thin AND powerful enough to be productive (by that I mean get work done instead of playing). Then that system will win.” Isn’t that a laptop rather than a tablet?

Anyway, I think we all know with the addition of GarageBand and iMovie on the iPad 2, the implication is that the iPad is only a couple iterations away from replacing laptops. But to replace laptops too early would be cannibalistic. Not good business sense. And presently demand it far outstripping supply for the iPad.

Add to that the iPhone and Apple have again won another battle. They don’t have to make a smaller iPad, because the iPhone IS a smaller iPad and I certainly use it for work. Now that the Ipad has GarageBand, along with some interesting apps like InkPad, invoice apps and such – I will be using it for work!