Almost everyone in America today has a perfectly good and functioning television set. But when Apple releases its yet-to-be-confirmed connected HDTV, nearly one in three consumers will still line up to get their hands on Apple's "next big thing."
Although most Americans have a 7-year upgrade cycle with their living room television, Apple's debut product in this category will inspire millions of people to buck that trend and get the TV as soon as it's released.
A new study from Piper Jaffray shows that approximately 30% of survey respondents (folks who currently are NOT in the market for a new TV) said they would indeed purchase the Apple HDTV as long as it is priced at or below $1,500.
"The level of interest generated by the ecosystem potential shows how powerful the Apple ecosystem has become, as demonstrated by the fact that 67% of all survey respondents interested in the TV owned an iPhone, iPad, or both," writes veteran analyst and Apple watcher Gene Munster. "The bigger theme that is emerging from this data point is Apple is becoming less a product and more of a platform company that consumers find increasingly more difficult to leave."
As of this writing, Munster and his firm believe the Apple HDTV won't materialize until at least next summer, although a public confirmation and demonstration of the forthcoming product could come early in 2013.
Source: Barron's
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