iPad mainly being used for internet browsing, entertainment
While businesses are still figuring out how to utilize the iPad in their day-to-day activities, the world’s most popular tablet is being used what Apple intended it for: Surfing the internet and consuming entertainment.
A new report by the Consumer Intelligence Research Partners shows that 27 percent of people primarily use their iPad for surfing the internet, while 40 percent use it for playing games and enjoying entertainment. “Entertainment includes watching video, looking at photo and listening to music,” the report says.
Business, however, came in fourth on the list at 13 percent among all iPad owners, but 16 percent among New iPad users (people that have Apple’s third-generation iPad with Retina display).
While the report claims to be rigorous and credible, it really depends on what constitutes as business. Is checking emails? If you’re a blogger, that could include reading dozens upon dozens of articles to brainstorm for blog ideas.
The standout business users purchased iPads with larger storage and 3G/4G capabilities. Those same users would also call themselves “dedicated” Apple users.
Will the iPad ever make its way into the business world? Of course, Apple advertises on its website that with an iPad, you can “see your business like never before,” plugging its Retina display. Apple has a bevy of apps that could be used in business, such as Keynote, Pages and Numbers, in addition to great third-party apps like “Analytics HD, QlikView and SAP Business Objects.
Slowly but surely, the iPad is making its way into the business sector. There are challenges, however.
“For many years, experts have been pointing to the eradication of the line between consumers and professional lives,” Carl Weinschenk points out at IT Business Edge. “This extends to life itself — with its increasingly flexible mix of work and pleasure — as well as networks and devices. “This study shows that this trend continues.”
Coming in behind Internet, entertainment, games and business is social networking, email, education and reading uses. The only thing that iPad users turn to their tablet for less than app use is shopping, according to the report.
July 24th, 2012
I use my iPad a lot for gaming, but I use it a lot for school things. It is a lot easier carrying my textbooks on my iPad than in my backpack!