Underwhelmed
US consumer electronics price comparison site Retrevo surveyed its members on their thoughts about the Apple iPad before and immediately after its launch. It recently published those findings and they confirm a level of consumer apathy that is unusual for a big Apple launch.
26 percent of users were aware of the iPad, but were not interested in buying one before the launch, that proportion doubled once everyone was armed with the facts about the product, implying Apple failed to make a compelling case for buying the iPad.
Using an arbitrary measurement of hype on Twitter, Retrevo calculated that the launch of the iPad generated almost as much buzz as president Obama's state of the union address.
While the launch was polarising, with a rise in the number of people who definitely wanted one too, Apple doesn't seem to have captured the public imagination with the concept of the iPad as a mobile Internet device.59 percent said they wouldn't pay the extra $130 for 3G.
Elsewhere, Tech Trader Daily reports the conjecture of analyst Craig Moffett that Apple has been developing a new subscription model for TV, with the target platform being the iPad. He imagines docking the iPad to use it like a regular TV when you're at home, then being able to watch the telly when you're on the move too, over 3G.
