Apparently, Everyone Either Wants or Has an iPad


The iPad was released internationally recently, and with that, came yet another record for the iPad. In just under 60 days, the iPad has sold over 2 million units. From the fancy Apple press release:

CUPERTINO, California—May 31, 2010—Apple® today announced that iPad™ sales have topped two million in less than 60 days since its launch on April 3. Apple began shipping iPad in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK this past weekend. iPad will be available in nine more countries in July and additional countries later this year.

“Customers around the world are experiencing the magic of iPad, and seem to be loving it as much as we do,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We appreciate their patience, and are working hard to build enough iPads for everyone.”

Translation: People are buying more iPads than they can make.

This is a pretty big deal, as the iPad has sold more than the iPhone in the same period of time. But more importantly, it’s a pretty big statement about the product itself.

When the iPad was first introduced, the tech community collectively said, “bleh. No USB, no Flash, no thank you.” Yet there they all were, lined up on opening day, plunking down a credit card for their new purchase. And a few days later, some people returned them, and a few people returned them so they could buy a 3G model a month later. There were quite a few iPad doubters out there, and this proves them wrong.

I think though, my personal experience with the iPad is clouding my judgement a bit. I bought my mother an iPad for mother’s day, and she can’t stop talking about it. I was at her house on Sunday, and she wanted to play with my iPad so she could check out the Barnes & Noble app. She’s working on figuring out a way to sync all of her devices, and for that, I’m working on a MobileMe subscription for my mom. It’s completely changed the way she works and does things, and now you can’t get it away from her.

This is just my experience, but if my mom loves it this much, there have got to be others who do as well. Two million sold in under two months means that not only does Apple have another hit on their hands, but it’s here to stay.


Kokou Adzo

Kokou Adzo is a stalwart in the tech journalism community, has been chronicling the ever-evolving world of Apple products and innovations for over a decade. As a Senior Author at Apple Gazette, Kokou combines a deep passion for technology with an innate ability to translate complex tech jargon into relatable insights for everyday users.

7 Comments

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  1. The iHaters say that Apple can only sell 2 million iPads because all the loyal Apple fanboys already bought them. However, there are still a lot of fanboys to go since there must be at least 70 million iPhone and Touch users, so if only 10% of the loyal fanboys buy iPads this year, it could still amount to 7 million iPads being sold in 2010. It doesn’t appear as though Apple is going to have any competition in all of 2010 which is wonderful. Apple will be able to put a lock on the tablet segment of the industry.

    As far as the iPad doubters are concerned, they’re just idiots. Most of the analysts were way off about iPad demand. Most consumers that try the iPad fall in love with it. Apple will definitely sell 3 million iPads this quarter if Foxconn can produce them fast enough.

  2. Well seems to be true. I have seen people who called the iPad a silly toy. This same person said they could not imagine why anyone in their right mind would want and iPad. After going to an Apple store and actually using an iPad for a bit totally change their mind and want to buy an iPad.

  3. My wife is a technophobe (with a PhD). She floored me when she announced that she wants an iPad.

    This article is right on the money. Apple understands that profits come from selling lots of devices to regular people and whether geeks buy or not is irrelevant.

  4. Well I’ve had mine for about a month now. I got it in NY, or rather my brother picked one up for me on a trip. A good friend who does software dev for an elctronics company here in the UK, is a regular visitor. He likes playing with my Macs and appreciates the ‘nix based OS, the build quality and system stability. Despite everything, he just won’t buy a Mac. He has no money worries and his employers buy his kit for him. But he is a serious gamer and even a MacPro is hobbled in his opinion by the lack of really top end graphics cards. like I say, he has no money concerns since he would gladly pay the price of a Mac just for the best graphics card. He’s a serious geek.
    Since the iPad arrived(16Gig wifi only), he spends more time on it than talking – and believe me he is a great talker over a few beers. We disagree over a lot, endlessly. The usual route to sorting the argument is normally the web, but only after lengthy round-the-house disagreements. Lately, he just picks up the iPad, often in mid sentence, to settle a point or get more ammo to back up his side. Then it was checking email followed by logging into his various machines to check something or other. The other day, I caught him out playing a couple of games whilst I was cooking some supper and in and out of the study. It was obvious to me straightaway just why he was doing all this stuff – it’s because the iPad is instant on, instant access, instant result… instant everything.
    He was in line last Friday at our local Applestore to get his own. He now goes everywhere with it.
    I have a silent wager that he will have a Mac within 6 months and a developer’s account within the year.
    After all the discussions about ‘the halo effect’ of the iPod and iPhone, which has certainly worked, I reckon Apple have produced the perfect ‘halo storm’ with the iPad.
    Happy days

  5. @fring, who said, “I have a silent wager that he will have a Mac within 6 months and a developer’s account within the year. After all the discussions about ‘the halo effect’ of the iPod and iPhone, which has certainly worked, I reckon Apple have produced the perfect ‘halo storm’ with the iPad.”

    It may happen that way; however, I think that most people have gotten the “halo effect” backwards. They think Apple’s new products bolster the reputation of its older products. I think Apple’s established products give instant credibility to its new products. THAT is why people are willing to stand in line on the first day for a untested product. The critics dismiss these people as “fanbois”.

    The “web anal-ists” keep looking (hoping?) for a competitor to produce an “iP(roduct) killer”. Some think better specs is all it takes. The “haters” think all it takes is better “marketing”, and as they keep ranting reveal they have no concept of what marketing is.

    A short history lesson: In 1980, Apple had one successful product line, the Apple ][; the Apple /// was a flop. IBM entered the market with the IBM PC, which captured the “#1” spot based on the “halo effect” provide by IBM corporate reputation. Microsoft rode to success on IBM’s coattails. Apple produced a second flop, the Apple Lisa, and a second success, the Apple Macintosh. Apple failed to knock the halo off IBM. Microsoft, on the other hand, stabbed IBM in the back and stole the halo in the OS/2 – Windows escapade. Since then, Microsoft has squandered the halo by not delivering on it’s promise. By the time Vista rolled out, people began to see the truth of “The Emperor’s New Clothes”.

    The “new” Apple has built a reputation of delivering – not promising; while Microsoft is becoming known for promising and not delivering (kind of like John Sculley’s Apple and OS/8). Apple enhances its reputation by continuing to deliver – to the point where people eagerly await and anticipate its next delivery.

    It takes a “big” person to admit to being wrong in the past, and that is what it would take for your friend to switch to Macintosh now. On the other hand, I wouldn’t be surprised if your friend stands in line for the next iProduct.

  6. After it sold 50,000, they said, “That’s the fanboys; it’ll collapse.”

    After 100,000, same thing.

    After 1 million, they said it again “Oh, that’s the entire fanboy market; watch sales slow down now.”

    So, if any of them are saying it now, they need to refresh their memories.

    They’ll keep saying it until everyone, even they have one!