iPad Usage Report

Mashable summarized a report by Resolve Market Research on initial characteristics of iPad buyers. Some interesting results:

- The second largest demographic group purchasing the iPad is 45+ (after 18-45). This older demographic is largely new to purchasing Apple products.
- 37% of customers intending to purchase an iPad are new customers to Apple (no iPod, iPhone or Mac legacy).
- The two devices least likely to be purchased after an iPad is purchased are eBook Readers and portable gaming devices implying that the iPad can cannibalize the market for Amazon's Kindle and Nintendo DS and Sony PSP.
- Most people still feel that owning an iPad is a discretionary, luxury purchase.

Ultra Mobile PC's and Ultra Mobile Devices at CES

I've finally gotten around to writing about an area which I'm working working on, developing ultra mobile products. These are small portable devices which add ubiquitious Internet access and other functionality to consumer electronics products.

Here are some links to coverage of Ultra Mobile devices from CES:

Engadget has a good summary of Ultra Mobile PC's at CES.

Here are three ultra mobile devices which I am currently leading development teams for:

This device is a next generation Ultra Mobile PC which was first unveiled in Intel CEO Paul Otellini's keynote speech at the Fall Intel Developer Forum, San Francisco during September 2006. This design incorporates a swiveling display to reveal a thumb keyboard below it. It is designed to provide consumers a portable way to take the Internet along with them wherever they may go.

A second design is designed to be used by middle school students ages 11-14 as lightweight, rugged portable learning PC to be used in the classroom, home and in-between. It incorpates a number of features to improve the surviability of the device while being carried around. One design innovation is the padded fabric cover which serves as a protective cover, a hinge for the display and keyboard pieces and a stand. This device should not to be confused with Intel's Classmate PC project which is meant for developing markets.

This third design is a concept of an ultra mobile device designed for car navigation and entertainment but which can be removed from its car dock and used a portable Internet terminal.

I'll continue to add more comments about these and other devices as they get closer to introduction.