The disappointment, to me, isn't with the iPad alone. It's with the new move in the industry to non-upgradable devices and internet-dependent software.
I've enjoyed my iPad 1 since the day I bought it, and I haven't seen any need to replace it with a newer model. Neither the Retina Display nor the camera were particularly important to me, and I didn't have much need for more storage or memory.
Would I like to use iOS 6 on my iPad? Certainly. Do I need to? Not right now.
Over the next year or two, though, I'm sure there will be plenty of software that I'd like to use, but won't be able to. It's possible that some apps, like Netflix or Spotify, or some games, will reach a point where older versions won't work anymore, as they roll out features that require some update or another to play nicely with their servers.
What will happen if I have to restore my iPad to factory settings, or just accidentally delete some app? Will I still be able to re-install the version I need in two years, or five, or more?
Every computer reaches a useful end to its life at some point in time. The acceleration of that process due to a closed system that allows no upgrade to RAM or storage, and no ability to install software except through a centrally-controlled repository, frankly sucks.
Windows 8 shows that it's more than just Apple headed for closed systems. If current trends prevail, how far out are we from the closed model of the iPad being the standard for the industry?
I hope there will be some consumer backlash, and a company with a commitment to great technical and experience design takes up the standard of more open hardware and software as a competitive differentiator. I'd vote for them with my dollars.
This isn't a theoretical, and it's sadly not limited to the iPad. I've purchased the Apple suite of office programs (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) and I can't install them without updating to the latest version of Mac OS X. That's OK for me, but it's been a huge PITA for the non-profit I work with, which is always struggling to get working computers, let alone modern ones. Because they can't install Lion on their computers, software we'd bought for them simply won't be re-installable if I have to wipe the system clean for some reason.
I was fed up with Android bloatware enough to finally switch to iOS a few weeks ago, but the lock-in on both platforms (non-stock Android + iOS) is beyond aggravating and feels more like a shakedown at some points.
What annoys me: the expensive to replace batteries on iOS devices. My wife and I have new Samsung Galaxy III S phones and I was giving her a little lecture on recharging strategies for maximizing battery life (same lecture as for our iPads, BTW). Then I checked out how incredibly cheap Samsung replacement batteries are on Amazon. Husband fail, but recovery :-)
So, I asked her to be careful of her iPad recharging strategy, but recharge the III S at will. BTW, both devices seem to have about 10 hours of active use time between charges. Also with the III S's higher resolution screen I have started using it for watching Netflix, TED talks, etc., etc., so the battery life of my iPad may not be an issue.
What recharging strategies are you suggesting? I'm not aware of any need of strategies for modern lithium ion batteries aside from the storage case, so I'm genuinely curious.
It should be pretty well known by now that upgradable components in hand-held devices is a losing strategy. The mass populace of Consumers just don't care, they wan't something that Just Works, that's simple, pretty and light with a long battery life. Which appears to align with Apple's focus perfectly.
I think it's safe to assume that iOS devices aren't going to come with upgradeable internal components. They've got models at different price points and their 3rd party hardware ecosystems - which they plan satisfying the consumers use-cases until the next version rolls around again.
It may take YOU 20 seconds. It takes my mother upwards of five minutes to replace the batteries in a standard D-cell flashlight, and then another five minutes to do it all again because she didn't put all the batteries in in the same direction.
People really appreciate things they don't have to fuss with.
What if it was so much cheaper and not subsidized, like how desktops are? It could have been a different type of market, and maybe better for electronics altogether. That's how desktops were, anyhow. And the internet. Phones are getting to be like cages, though.
Talking to casual users, "my iphone/ipad is slow" was a reason they were motivated to purchase the newest model of iphone. When it comes to repeat purchases, I wouldn't find it difficult to imagine that responsible for double digit percentages of new iOS device sales.
Unfortunately for Apple, Steve Jobs is dead and the magic is gone. Now I hear those same users say they are "tired of the iPhone" and want something new. If Apple's competitors can deliver good Android experiences, they are going to get to keep those new users for a while.
Not sure why you got downvoted, because you're exactly right: anecdotes are meaningless. In addition, Steve Jobs may be gone, but he reportedly left Apple with four years worth of product ideas, and like you say, iPhone 5 was designed when he was at the helm. The only thing he would probably have done differently is that he wouldn't have signed off on Apple Maps in its current state. But that's neither here nor there.
"Over the next year or two, though, I'm sure there will be plenty of software that I'd like to use, but won't be able to."
FWIW, that's what I thought about my iPad1 when iPad2 came out, and again when New iPad came out. I'm perfectly happy to upgrade when needed (I bought mine early on when they launched here in Australia, so it's over 2 years old now, which is a fairly acceptable lifespan for tech gadgets for me), but so far I've still not bumped into any app I want to run but can't, at least not anything compelling enough to push me to spend money to upgrade. I suspect if I were more of a gamer, I'd be running into performance problems, but for all my use cases, iPad1 seems to be perfectly happy to run that apps I want - and short of some category-changing new app idea, I'm pretty sure all the apps I use will continue to work for quite some time yet, even if they get updated with new versions which require iOS6 which I'll miss out on.
I'm strongly suspecting now that the battery will need replacing before the device becomes unusable due to newer OS and/or software requirements.
Decentralized repositories aren't completely better, either. It's all about hybrids, being able to switch between the better and worse of different designs.
Steam is a centralized game store, but it doesn't necessarily lock you in. You can buy individual games from retail or from competitors. But you come to Steam, and it's comforting at least to know the choice is there if you choose to exercise it.
Second, the same problem is true for Android. How many smartphones sold last year will never see jelly bean? If my Atrix wasn't rooted, Id still be on gingerbread. These devices have a one-year, two-max "relevant life expectancy".
I've enjoyed my iPad 1 since the day I bought it, and I haven't seen any need to replace it with a newer model. Neither the Retina Display nor the camera were particularly important to me, and I didn't have much need for more storage or memory.
Would I like to use iOS 6 on my iPad? Certainly. Do I need to? Not right now.
Over the next year or two, though, I'm sure there will be plenty of software that I'd like to use, but won't be able to. It's possible that some apps, like Netflix or Spotify, or some games, will reach a point where older versions won't work anymore, as they roll out features that require some update or another to play nicely with their servers.
What will happen if I have to restore my iPad to factory settings, or just accidentally delete some app? Will I still be able to re-install the version I need in two years, or five, or more?
Every computer reaches a useful end to its life at some point in time. The acceleration of that process due to a closed system that allows no upgrade to RAM or storage, and no ability to install software except through a centrally-controlled repository, frankly sucks.
Windows 8 shows that it's more than just Apple headed for closed systems. If current trends prevail, how far out are we from the closed model of the iPad being the standard for the industry?
I hope there will be some consumer backlash, and a company with a commitment to great technical and experience design takes up the standard of more open hardware and software as a competitive differentiator. I'd vote for them with my dollars.