A new study suggests that when it comes to tablets, Android users aren’t so loyal to one OS. Infoscout is noting that their research suggests up to 40% of iPad purchases this Black Friday were from Android users. While interesting, we find a few glaring issues with that claim.
Starting with Infoscout, we take an admittedly small sampling of receipts to task. They’re noting that the research is based on 90,000 receipts for iPads, all via their “panel of Android and iOS users” who report their shopping habits. That doesn’t represent a wide swathe of consumers, nor does it show a wide array of establishments. It’s also U.S. only.
There is also the implication that Android users are buying iPads for themselves. We all have friends or relatives that prefer iOS, while we may prefer Android. A purchase doesn’t represent that there is fractionalization in the tablet market. It also doesn’t hold negative connotations, as many users are simply OS agnostic.
Google is a company of services, and most Google apps are available on iOS. The study makes mention of this spelling trouble for Chromecast, but we just don’t see that as plausible. The Chromecast app is available across platforms, and has no additional benefits on either mobile OS. Apple does have their Apple TV offering, but it’s not in the same discussion as Chromecast, which is still finding its way.
The iPad — Air or mini — is a great device. Even if 36,000 Android users purchased iPads over the weekend, that’s a small sampling of people specifically reporting their habits. It’s also a matter of preference, wherein one device doesn’t represent trouble either way. While we think Android tablets stack up nicely to iPads, it’s more important to get what you like. You’re the one using it, after all.
VIA: BGR
well this article was massively completely useless
It is not a matter of not being loyal as it is a matter of Google not producing jack shit in regards to the new Nexus 10v2! Oh, I waited patiently, even saw a moment where the existing Nexus 10 was removed from Google Play, but all for naught. Soooooo…Apple iPad Air 128GB it was and is. Google can kiss my ass. So damn disappointed with Google on this one.
There isn’t a good enough Android tablet that can compete with iPads.
Well, that’s simply untrue. Google’s customization alone trumps Apple’s iPad. The biggest issue I had is that my wife wanted another tablet to replace her original iPad. I convinced her to wait for the new Nexus 10—Google more than let me down and my wife was sick of waiting. Hence, the staid, orthogonal grid based OS iPad was replaced with another boring and staid iPad.