What the iPad's insides reveal about Apple's design advantages
Sure, we all know that many companies want to follow Apple's lead in designing elegant, useful, and fun products like the iPad. Apple's winning design strategy is more than about what meets the eye, however, according to new research by IHS-iSuppli, made public this week.
iSuppli analysts tore down the iPad, iPad with 3G, and the iPad 2 with 3G models, as well as five other competing tablets. Analysts then compared each device's components. The analysts concluded that many of the design advantages of the iPad are the result of Apple's tight control of its product development process.
In other words, while the iPad's beauty and efficiency may be reflective of the unique design visions of CEO Steve Jobs (and senior vice president of industrial design Jonathan Ive), Apple's meticulously managed design process is just as powerful.
Here are three innovation lessons for companies looking to emulate or analyze Apple's design tactics, gleaned from iSuppli's findings:
- Tight control of design saves money. Apple doesn't spend a lot on outside design consultants for research, prototypes, or other design services.
- Creating proprietary technology allows for more control in multiple areas of product development. For instance, Apple has designed its own application processors, rather than rely on technology by third parties, as other tablet-makers do.
- Tight management of design allows for careful component selection, which can lead to achievements in aesthetics and performance. Apple's designers were able to find an extremely sleek, long-lasting battery, which in turn led them to create a slim, reliable device.
Interested in how the insides of the iPad compare to those of other tablets on the market? Check out iSuppli's spreadsheet comparing information on the iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab, the Motorola XOOM, the RIM BlackBerry Playbook, the Asus Eee Pad, and the HP Touch Pad.
And for more insight on the rivalry between Apple's iPad and Android tablets, check out CNET blogger Brooke Crothers' Q&A with iSuppli's Wayne Lam.
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com