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General discussion

Will anyone buy the Touch anymore?

Apr 9, 2010 3:06AM PDT

Now that iPad is live, is there going to be any real demand left for the Touch? I've always felt that the iPhone's added features, connectivity and functions kept the Touch's popularity down; now that iPad brings a humongous touchscreen to the table, is the Touch line doomed to for a final trip to the waste heap?

I played with the iPad at the local Apple Store yesterday, and I have to admit that I was impressed by the device. Nicely responsive and very much a Touch only jumbo sized. But I felt that was actually an extremely good thing, considering the sorts of tasks that we ask our iPod Touches to do. The added real estate is VERY nice to have and use, even though the virtual keyboard still sucks and the fingerprint smudges are ten times more evident than on my little Touch.

But I also had the feeling that had the iPad been available when I bought my Touch, I NEVER would've even bothered looking at the smaller Apple device at all. I know the Touch's form factor gives it an edge in portability, but the iPad's overall functionality due to its size--even if it means reduced battery longevity--seems to me to just crush any reason for the Touch to continue to exist in Apple's lineup.

Discussion is locked

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Sure they will
Apr 9, 2010 3:33AM PDT

It's diminutive size may be the preferred form for many folks still. And the price point isn't disruptive to typical disposable income patterns. In this sense it won't be going away simply because there exists a device w/ a larger screen. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater just yet Wink.

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Size does matter
Apr 9, 2010 7:39AM PDT

You know that old saying, "size matters." Well girls aren't the only one's saying that. And in this case, it's smaller that is better sometimes. I can't fit an iPad in my pocket. Plenty of people don't want to pay $90 a month for service. Wi-Fi service is spreading like wild fire. And no way will I let my 4-year old play games on my iPad. But I have no problem letting her play on my iTouch.

I see plenty of reasons why an iTouch is still legit Happy

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Perhaps, but...
Apr 16, 2010 10:48PM PDT

I can also see the synergy in justifying owning an iPad AND iPhone, whereas there's little to inspire anyone to buy a Touch and iPhone. Despite the Touch's size relative to an iPad, if the iPhone continues to be as popular as it is and does go to Verizon as everyone seems to be expecting, its small form factor (relative to this argument) addresses the portability issues that the iPad is lacking.

Yes I can see how SOME might want the Touch regardless. But I can also see how many others might be swayed to just go ahead and pick up the iPhone instead, especially if it migrates to other cell carriers. I do question whether or not that 'some' is quantity enough to warrant keeping the Touch line around in Apple's lineup, which is why I posed the question in the first place (plus the fact that I was deeply impressed by the iPad...). The Touch very much seems like the odd one out to me, at least from a continued product feasibility standpoint.

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Intention
Apr 14, 2010 10:43PM PDT

The iPad works great as an entertainment device, but it's not exactly the pocket friendly music player that you would listen to while walking down the street. I bought my iPod touch primarily as an MP3 player and the internet, e-mail, app features are fantastic extras (that admittedly I'm now using more than music).

The iPod Touch should still be the best option Apple have for a flash-based MP3 player with all the iPhone goodness with non of the overpriced contracts.

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Way too expensive an option
Apr 14, 2010 11:19PM PDT

Is the iPad really worth the extra $400? Unless of course one is after a bigger screen size. Its just the on-board music output is better in the iPad.

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Price will surely come down (n/t)
Apr 15, 2010 6:34AM PDT

n/t

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iTouch=no monthly fees
Apr 20, 2010 11:21AM PDT

I'm an elderly cheapskate. My generous daughter gave me a $400 first gen iPod touch. I use it constantly for email and Google searches without paying any fees. When this one breaks I'll probably buy another one for myself. Unless I start wearing extra jumbo cargo pants I can't see how the iPad would be as useful for me.

Steve Joba and I are both aware that my demographic contributes almost nothing to AAPL revenue.

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Good one ;)
Apr 21, 2010 5:58AM PDT

I'm still waiting for my daughter to be old enough to actually get a job so she can buy me an iPad Wink.

It's amazing how convenient they are with so many of the same apps available as the iPhone but w/o the extra data plan requirement. It sounds like we use it the same way you do. I may be a bit younger, but I'm also a bit of a cheapskate Wink

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Valid point for some instances and users, but...
Apr 23, 2010 11:04PM PDT

...for the majority the iPhone is THE viable solution as the Swiss Army knife of devices, monthly fees notwithstanding. In a better world (no AT&T), I would own an iPhone over the Touch+Android combo I now run with. Yes I can see that there's still a segment of the market who would want a (relatively) small do-all device without the phone and associated costs, but again...the iPad's size makes app functions so much more usable and enjoyable than what the Touch is capable of. The Touch now only has its relative "petiteness" to sell itself; given that the user experience is degraded from that of either the iPhone and iPad, is its smallness really enough to keep it sustainable and relevant? I still think 'no'.

The iPad and its footprint still seems the ideal augmentation to the iPhone's connectivity. Which leaves me thinking that the Touch is rather superfluous and redundant in all other ways except in possible capacity, assuming that Apple releases a 128GB version this fall. Smallness vs the iPad, larger cap vs the iPhone...enough for the Touch to live by? Seems more a niche filler to me, and these days 'niche' hasn't been Apple's 800-lb gorilla marketing focus.

Now all of my rather aimless lamenting--I admit that I was a bit bored when I first decided to start this thread--would change if Apple decides to augment the Touch with a bunch of new features that make it more 'special' compared to the iPad or iPhone...guess we'll see in the coming months.

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What Apple should have made...
Apr 28, 2010 9:43AM PDT

I have an iPod Touch and I like it. I am curious about the iPad, but it seems like a giantic iPod Touch, so one could easily ask if the iPad will survive because of this. What Apple should have made is an iPhone the size of the iPad! A Wi-Fi earpiece for phone functions and all the phone/Internet functions we need in a large format. Happy

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I like the iPad to have phone functions too
May 4, 2010 5:43PM PDT

I like the iPad to have phone functions too, maybe it will in the next version

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I think so...
May 10, 2010 12:21AM PDT

I still believe that the Apple iPod Touch will be patronized considerably but the same popularity it had before iPad came out in the market, probably it is for children and the iPad is for adults...

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silly
May 10, 2010 6:37AM PDT

what makes you think a diminutive size means it's a 'child's device' ?

Hopefully you do realize the iPod Touch can be used as a quick messaging device or even a VoIP/Skype phone over wifi(?) Hardly limited to kids, I'd say.

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I think...
May 16, 2010 2:27PM PDT

I think that the iPod touch is going to under go a price cut this September when he new ones come out. Not necessarily a large one, but possibly Apple will upgrade the gigs to maybe 80 or 128 or some (if it can be done, Apple will do it) and it will give you more gigs per $$$ than iPhone or iPad. So then someone who wants a mobile internet device that fits in the pocket without monthly fees, they will buy touch.
The iPod touch has been highly popular ever since it came out, I don't think it will go out just like that... shuffles on the other hand...

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What I don't like about iPad
May 21, 2010 4:45AM PDT

After reading reviews of the iPad, here is what I think I don't like about the iPad:

A Netbook functions as a tiny version of a computer, so you can load it with standard computer software (Office, etc), and for my wife and I, we would need the iPad to be able to log-on to our works remote server which requires an Intel type of processor (a new Intel Mac will do this). So it seems for work-related stuff instead of simply entertainment, an Netbook might fit the bill. Again, we love our iPod Touch, but now we need a small computer device we can use remotely for work, and the iPad just won't let us do this. I sure do love the inteface of the iPad, but I wish it was able to connect to our works remote server. Sad

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What software/hardware does your server require?
May 24, 2010 2:32AM PDT

I can VPN to several servers at work, and connect via RD to a few Windows boxes, etc. from both the Touch & iPad. Although it's not the same as from my laptop, having the built in Cisco VPN really helps along with halfway decent RD apps. Of course something more proprietary won't work on the iPhone OS unless there will be enough users to partially monetize the app development.

Is there a documents to go yet for iPad?

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Software Requirements
May 24, 2010 3:32AM PDT

Pedro,

All I know is that at my work, and my wife's, the requirement is to have an Intel computer, whether a PC or a Mac. I don't know the specifics on our servers, I can only go on what the IT people at work tell us.

Dan

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security
May 24, 2010 3:45AM PDT

Sounds like some sort of security requirement to me. We seem to be fine runing the secure VPN <shrug>.

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Will anyone buy the Touch anymore?
May 21, 2010 2:22PM PDT

The iPad is definitely an eye-catching nifty device. As mentioned, it is pretty much a Touch only jumbo sized. So perhaps it all comes down to size preference. Some people, like me, prefer going light and prefer to stuff all the gadgets in the pockets. I can't do that with the iPad. I think there still is a market for the Touch, rather diminishing though. It's easier and cheaper to get an iPhone now, with more people using it...I think that's where the Touch is losing.