Final answer:
Apple's entry into a market with high demand and prices for netbooks and notebooks with the iPad likely affected competition in terms of pricing, and feature differentiation, and could have ultimately shifted consumer preferences and demand.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Apple introduced the iPad the price of and demand for netbooks and notebooks were high. As a result, Apple was entering into a competitive market, where they had to convince consumers that the iPad was a superior or complementary product to existing devices. The introduction likely had several impacts:
- Initial competition with netbooks and notebooks might have led to price competition, potentially driving down the prices of all devices as they vie for market share.
- Differentiation of product features and consumer benefits would have been necessary to shift demand from netbooks and notebooks to iPads.
- Long-term, the iPad's entry into the market could have initiated a shift in consumer preferences, leading to a decrease in demand for netbooks and notebooks if the iPad provided a better fit for their needs.
This scenario is a classic example of how innovative products can disrupt existing markets and consumer behavior, which is core to the study of business and economics.