Comments on: Marketing the iPad

By: ddurst

ddurst — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:29:30 +0000

(heh, looks like < and > aren’t escaped — since baggage still lingers with the canvas element —

By: ddurst

ddurst — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:27:37 +0000

I still call the iPod Touch the “iTouch” — shorter, easier, accurate.

And the concept that name implies pretty much has squatter’s rights over iAnything they could come up with.

I agree that Canvas would be a great name for something that is a new brand direction (though perhaps too much baggage still lingers with ) — which, so far, this is not. Giving them time, I expect things to be added to this concept (both because it makes sense based on recent company actions as well as the notion that this launch felt like something was pulled at the last minute); but by then, as you say, the connotative damage has been done.

The biggest concern, as a co-worker pointed out, is that the home button enforces a side as reference for interaction; not technically limiting, but aesthetically, emotionally so.

All in all, I agree with mihow — seems they just didn’t care this time.

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:37:12 +0000

i actually didnt really get it, i got to say (yet)

the main question i ask myself, when

when am i going to use it

otherwise, at home i have my large screen imac
at the office i got my mac pro
on the way i use blackberry for emailing, etc’
on planes i use my mac pro

the one thing that is nice is the at&t package you get, for $14.99. that’s pretty revolutionary (but that has nothing to do with the ipad actually, apple could have got it for ipod touch users beforehand)

given the amount of apple things i have, i must be missing something

my 2c

By: Wevah

Wevah — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:13:29 +0000

“The iPad will fill a spot for people who consume more than they create”

While I agree that they could have done better than “iPad”, I think that calling it “Canvas” would have implied creating over consuming.

By: alpyne

alpyne — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:31:59 +0000

This is precisely how I felt upon hearing the name.

Having let it sink in a bit though, I think that it does make sense for Apple to extend their existing brand equity rather than go with something completely new. Apple is taking a risk in creating this new product niche. Many have tried and failed before and the current economy doesn’t help, so it makes sense to play safe in this regard.

It’s clear that this is v1 of a much grander vision. There’s nothing to stop Apple doing the re-badging down the line when the juggernaut truly is unstoppable.

Finally, (while I too would welcome a break from i-everything, and would have loved Canvas), I think that a generic name like Canvas would always require the “Apple” prefix, IOW, “Apple Canvas”. Note that this is not a requirement with any of their other brands – iPhone, iPod, Macbook.

By: larke

larke — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:21:28 +0000

I’m really looking for some points of integration. I think that our iPhones should be able to “hook into” the iPad and offer a larger screen for video conferencing or, interactive calling where you and your calling partner are both looking at a yelp review or the movie listings. This would be an extension of the ability to “surf” while already in the middle of a call. If we’re going to build a full “i” life, there needs to be some intersection between all of these devices.

By: mihow

mihow — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:27:57 +0000

I think what frustrates me the most about this was that Apple has intentionally just shrugged off the female consumer. I am not one to get annoyed by stuff like this, so I’m a bit surprised that this bugs me even a little bit. But the whole decision with the name, as well as that marketing video—it just screams men were behind this.

“We market to men.”

And that pisses me off to some degree.

I know that someone will suggest that I’m overreacting, which is why I made it clear above that I am so not usually one of “those” type of gals. But, seriously. They screwed up with this one up. I’m irritated by not their ignorance—I don’t believe that they are—but by their arrogance. They really, really just didn’t care this time.

Thing is, I do. At least for now.

(But I’m sure it will pass.)