Online retailer Retrevo surveyed site visitors about what they want and don't want from an Apple tablet. Price was a major factor, Retrevo reports, as were connectivity, battery life, e-reading capabilities and even solar charging for the mobile device.
If visitors to the Retrevo Website are any gauge, price will be a major
factor in the success of
the tablet or slate device Apple is expected to
introduce on Jan. 27.
Retrevo, an online electronics retailer, surveyed 500 visitors to its site
between Jan. 16 and 20 and asked what would encourage or discourage them in purchasing
an Apple tablet. According to 70 percent of respondents, a price point over
$700 would be a deal-breaker, while a deeper-pocketed 30 percent would still be
game. (In a similar Retrevo survey in November, only
36 percent said they'd buy an Apple tablet for over
$600.)
When asked what features an Apple tablet would absolutely need to have to
make them buy one, 75 percent of the January participants said a battery life
of more than 6 hours. Thirty-nine percent named 3G or similar connectivity as a
must-have, and 28 percent wanted an e-book store with a big selection.
However, Retrevo found that women voted slightly differently from men, with
38 percent saying an e-book store is a must-have feature, while only 25 percent
of men felt the same.
"Women also expressed a stronger interest in seeing iPhone features on
a tablet, with a 46 percent rating iPhone features high on the list compared to
35 percent of men,"
Retrevo wrote on its blog.
"Women also indicated a stronger interest in solar charging, with 40
percent of women wanting to see solar power on the tablet, compared to only 33
percent of men."
Solar power?
"Retrevo asked consumers what features they'd
like to see on a
tablet. No. 1 on the list was solar charging, which beat out a forward-looking
video camera and 4G connectivity," Retrevo wrote on its blog.
A camera for video conferencing was voted for by 24 percent of respondents,
22 percent voted for WiMax or LTE connectivity and 19 percent said they'd like
the slate to have two screens, like a book-or like
the e-reader Asus introduced in September.
And what, aside from a high price, would turn consumers away from an Apple
tablet?
A required monthly data plan would be a major barrier in the eyes of 44
percent of respondents, according to Retrevo, and 34 percent said an
AT&T-only 3G contract would be a deterrent.
Aaron Vronko, CEO of Rapid Repair, which
tears down devices, told eWEEK that he expects the unsubsidized price of
the 7-inch slate to be about $750, and for a 10-inch
version to have a price point near $1,000, also unsubsidized.
"I think they'd want broad 3G coverage, so I don't think an exclusive
AT&T tie-up is likely," Vronko said. "They may release it for
multiple carriers right out of the gate, otherwise they may go with
Verizon."
Vronko also expects Wi-Fi connectivity, e-reading capabilities and a long
battery life that could potentially offer up to 30 hours of e-reading time.
Which means those Retrevo shoppers aren't likely to be disappointed.
Email
Print
