Why Apple's iPad is in big trouble

[TM99]

10. Possibly.

I still have an iPad 1st Generation. Yes, it is stuck at iOS 5.1.1, and it does everything I need it to do in my project studio.

Most of the soft synths, drum machines, and samplers are out of date, but I don't really worry about that. After all, I still own several hardware Akai, Emu, Yamaha, and Ensoniq samplers!

As a backup portable DJ device with ION iDJ2Go, it is useful enough, however, once I got my Elitebook Pro running Windows 7 x64 set up with a Stanton SCS.3m and 2x SCS.3d's and Mixxx, it pales in comparison.

I really see no need to buy another newer iPad.

And interestingly enough, my partner who is a professional graphic designer as well as an accomplished mixed media artists just bought a Surface Pro. I was a little surprised at first as she seemed to be interested in my iPad enough to get a newer one. She did her research and the cost to benefit analysis and decided on the Surface Pro.

Why? She has 128GB on-board space, 4GB of memory, can install an additional 64GB microSD card, and it has a regular sized USB 2.0 slot for an external CD, hard drive, or flash drive. Can an iPad do that? Additionally, she can use full versions of Photoshop, Manga Studio EX, Sketchbook Pro, and Corel Painter X3 instead of more limited iOS apps. Finally, the Surface has full Wacom digitizer support so all of her pens work perfectly out of the box.

So her normal workflow on the PC is complimented by workflow on the tablet when she wants to be mobile in her studio or out for a hike sketching the wildlife. The iPad and most Android tablets are consumption devices first and content creation devices second. Microsoft actually got it right with the dual strategy of the Windows RT surface for consumption and Windows Pro for creation. I see them taking a strong lead here. Couple that with Android's dominance in other countries unwilling to pay the Apple tax, and yes, the iPad is very much in trouble, new display or not.