Endowing the Apple Tablet with Broad Appeal
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6. Appeal to enterprise users
The Apple Tablet doesn't necessarily need to be an enterprise device, but it
should appeal to the enterprise. At its launch, the Apple Tablet will sell
extremely well. Consumers will be picking the device up in droves. But as those
early adopters give way to laggards, it's the enterprise that could
significantly increase the device's sales. After all, if companies use the
device for certain tasks, employees will have a first-hand look at what all the
fuss is about with Apple's new device. That might be enough for those who don't
own the product to pick one up. Apple shouldn't underestimate the power and
influence of the corporate world.
7. Apple's support
It seems rather silly to say that any Apple device will require the company's
support to be successful, but when it comes to Apple, it's worth mentioning.
Consider the fact that both the Mac Mini and the Apple TV have quickly become
the "other" products Apple sells and it becomes clear that the
hardware company doesn't sufficiently support every product that it offers.
Steve Jobs has called the Apple TV a "hobby" on more than one
occasion. Will the Apple Tablet be just another home hobby device that users
boot up when they don't want to start up their hefty desktops? If Apple wants
the Apple Tablet to be a big success, it had better not treat it that way.
8. iPhone's intuitive multitouch gestures
A multitouch display is great, but it
provides little to no value unless it offers an intuitive experience. Apple
has done a fantastic job at doing just that with the iPhone. Users can zoom in
on different parts of the screen with two taps, and use the pinch feature to
quickly zoom in or out of different areas of the display. Those functions are
simple, but they add to the experience of using the product. Apple can't lose
sight of that.
9. A 3G option
The Apple Tablet will almost undoubtedly feature Wi-Fi connectivity. But
what if it also provided access to a 3G network? That would make it a much more
valuable device. Without 3G, the Apple Tablet is a Web-enabled iPhone that's
only useful when the user is within Wi-Fi range. But with a 3G option, the
Apple Tablet could be brought on trips, used practically everywhere and enjoyed
far more often than it would without 3G. It might force consumers to pay a
little extra per month, but they might be willing to do so if they knew they
could access the Web while on the go.
10. A vision
Unfortunately, the Apple Tablet finds itself in an awkward position in the
marketplace. It's not big or powerful enough to be a notebook replacement. It's
too big to be a netbook alternative. It's decidedly in the middle ground
between productivity and portability. Realizing that, the device needs a
vision. How does Apple want to market the device? How does it want consumers to
view it in the marketplace? If the Apple Tablet is to be successful, Apple will
need to answer those questions (and others) before the device hits store shelves.
