iPad Price drop

[shigzeo]

Apple COULD lower prices on the already well-priced Apple iPad. Think carrier subsidising. There might be other ways too, but the current model of 130$ plus for 3G connectivity does seem over the top. One is reminded of the original iPhone launch which was tempered with a 200$ price drop after only a couple of months to market. AppleInsider has more.

[Aeaea]

Yeah, I was caught in the earliest adopter camp on the iPhone, but I didn't mind (being able to show it off when it was brand new was loads of fun, and I guess worth a paying a premium). It was nice of Apple to refund $100 later though. It eased the pain a bit.

I question if Apple will lower the price on the iPad. They probably have room to play on the high end, that's a lot to pay for more memory. And I agree @shigzeo, $130 for 3G does seem a little over the top too. I guess we'll see how quickly they fly off the shelves in March/April. A killer app or loads of irresistible content at launch could help that happen. Right now people are a little underwhelmed and many will take a wait-and-see position before purchasing. Apple will need to address that or the launch could come off as a huge PR flop that could be difficult to recover from.

As I've said in other threads, I'll bet Apple has some big surprises in store for us before launch.

[shigzeo]

I am really, really thinking to get the non-g one, but again, in Korea, I expect it to debut late and for a 50% price increase. I may buy it on my way back from Canada or Japan in the summer. You are probably right: Apple will surprise us just as they did with the iPod touch and iPhone. I think they are really behind this product and that is a good thing. It isn't just a small computer (MacBook Air).

[Aeaea]

What's worrying me lately is not so much whether the iPad price may drop, but all the developers rushing to "upgrade" their current apps to the iPad -- I'll bet it isn't that difficult. I highly doubt there will be any discounted pricing for owners of current apps to a big brother iPad app. In fact, I predict the iPad apps will cast more because they're bigger.
Will I want to buy a new bigger Star Walk or Navigon Mobile Navigigator? How about my games which will look so much nicer on a bigger screen (compared to the pixel doubled iPhone version). I can see myself getting very discouraged (or poor) at this new world. <sigh>

[VejOut]

I highly doubt that Apple will lower the prices before the launch now that they've already been announced. It wouldn't surprise me if they lowered them for second gen though. I certainly won't argue if they do lower the prices before the initial ordering begins.

[shigzeo]

You are right. The assumption is that Apple COULD lower prices if the iPad doesn't sell well at its 'current' price. However, I expect it to initially sell well and the next stage of demand to be fuelled by how well Apple can harness 3,2 (or iPhone OS 4.0) to work the machine to its best light. They will have to sell this as a middle salesperson rather than a worker or a model - a hard sell for certain people.

[Thunderclaw]

They probably will drop the price a little farther down the line. I read an article recently that states that the iPad only costs around $250 to make. So right now, they're making a 200% profit.