Apple has had huge success in getting the iPad into the hands of senior executives and board members since the launch of the device two years ago. But, Joe Kremer, Dell Australia’s managing director, will not give up on the tablet computing race. He says “shiny” devices like the iPad are too difficult for business to support.
Financial Review via MacDailyNews:
The PC industry has now pinned its hopes on the upcoming launch of Microsoft’s Windows 8 software as its final chance to hit back at the iPad. The biggest advantage that devices running this software will have is that they integrate more easily with the desktop and notebook computers that employees are already using to do their jobs.
PC makers have tried to fire back at the success of the iPad with little success. The iPad still accounts for about 75 percent of all tablet sales, and is the only game in town for corporate buyers.
Referring to the iPad, Mr Kremer told a media and analyst briefing in Sydney on Wednesday: “People might be attracted to some of these shiny devices but technology departments can’t afford to support them.
“If you are giving a presentation and something fails on the software side it might take four days to get it up and running again. I don’t think this race has been run yet.” (Four days? What part of his anatomy did he pull that figure from?)
Despite initial resistance from IT departments, the iPad has become a big hit with a growing number of companies. They have been issued to senior executives and board members so they don’t have to carry huge amounts of paper around with them. If the devices are lost or stolen, they can be tracked and remotely wiped. Thus preventing sensitive business information from falling into the wrong hands.
Among competitors, only Samsung has had any success with consumers. Samsung’s success has been limited, and has failed to put a meaningful dent into the iPad’s success. Others who have failed to compete with Apple’s popular device include Hewlett-Packard’s TouchPad, which was terminated just six weeks after its introduction, and Research in Motion’s PlayBook, which has contributed to massive write-downs at RIM because of slow sales.
