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Steve Jobs Criticizes 7-Inch Tablets, Says 10-Inches Minimum

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Apr 12, 2001
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Steve Jobs made a surprise appearance at today's financial results conference call for Apple's Q4 2010 results. Jobs commented on a range of topics including the fragmentation seen on Android as compared to the iPhone.

Of particular note, Jobs commented on the influx of tablet competitors that are flooding the market, and criticized the 7" tablet size, saying that it was too small.
Commenting on avalanche of tablets heading to market. Just a handful of credible entrants. Almost all use 7" screen, compared to iPad at nearly 10" screen. 7" screen is only 45% as large as iPad's screen. Hold an iPad in portrait view and draw a horizontal line halfway down. What's left is a 7" screen...too small. There are clear limits to how close elements can be on the screen before users can't touch accurately. We believe 10-inch screen is minimum necessary.
Click to expand...
This effectively kills persistent rumors that Apple was planning on creating a 7" iPad in the near future. Apple has been known to experiment with different form factors and has even been suspected of creating multiple prototypes to throw off competitors.

Article Link: Steve Jobs Criticizes 7-Inch Tablets, Says 10-Inches Minimum
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/10/18/steve-jobs-criticizes-7-inch-tablets-says-10-inches-minimum/
I would have to agree. After using a 7" tablet, I find that it's just too cramped for applications.
 
Jobs makes it official: No 7" iPads coming.

From the Earning Report that just (actually still is) took place, this is what Steve Jobs had to say...



5:26PM "Let's talk about the avalanche of tablets. First, there are only a few credible competitors. And they all have seven-inch screen. This size isn't sufficient to create great tablet apps."

5:27PM "And this size is useless unless you include sandpaper so users can sand their fingers down to a quarter of their size. We've done extensive testing and 10 inches is the minimum tablet size."

5:27PM "Given that tablet users will have a smartphone in their pocket, there's no point in giving up screen size. Seven inch tablets are tweeners -- too big to be a phone, and too small to compete with the iPad."


http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/18/...-for-revenue-earnings/?sort=newest&refresh=60


So that settles it.
 
About time the 7in rumour was killed. 7in is simply not big enough and not worth the hassle.

My wife wanted 10" and I gave it to her. (iPad that is) ;)
 
If I want ultimate portability and an itty-bitty screen space, I have my iPhone. The iPad is for home browsing/email/games. My desktop is for my serious work. 7" makes no sense.
 
Well then. It seems as though I'll never own an iPad now. That's fine, I'll be more than happy with my new MacBook Air!
 
LOL, he just totally dissed all of the coming competitors who went with 7" to save costs and because Apple was sucking up the supply of 10" screens.

How'd you like to be in the final stages of a 7" me-too tablet, and the whole world is about to reprint Steve's diss of the form factor...
 
tinman0 said:
About time the 7in rumour was killed. 7in is simply not big enough and not worth the hassle.

My wife wanted 10" and I gave it to her. (iPad that is) ;)
Click to expand...

My girlfriend wanted a 12" and I gave her my 10 inch ipad instead. 10 inches is good enough...because size really does matter!
 
he tested them 7 inchers...

I'm sure Steve tried the 7" iPad before. That's why he's so SURE that 7" screens are not good enough....
 
Finally we get some clarification about the whole 7" tablet thing, I couldn't see our turtlenecked superhero deciding on anything smaller than 10". :D
 
The consumer will be the judges. To me the 10" seems about right, but I wouldn't want to bet against 7" or 5" until I actually used and held one... I can understand why someone would want the additional portability, yet still be able to read/surf (comfortably).

it is nice that Jobs made a statement about the 7" rumors, though.

P.
 
To those who talk crap at us 1st gen ipad buyers and say things like "You should have waited for the 7inch" etc etc

In the words of Nelson muntz from the simpsons

"Ha ha"
 
i want a 65 inch tablet that can act as a TV and super light weight.

the 65 inch can also be used similar to the Microsoft Surface touch.
 
I was wondering if I was the only one that heard that. Yea he totally just said there is no 7" iPad in the near future.
 
A 7" iPad might[/b[ work if it had a retina class display... but mainly a slightly more portable book reader.

I can understand Mr. Jobs' decision, as it's too much loss for the effort to create such a device.
 
Uhmm...the iPhone is less than 7"

:confused: The iPhone is smaller than 7" and there's not much it can't do.

If clicking things is difficult on 7", it must really hard on on a 3.5 inch.
 
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