What do you think? Should Apple release an iPad Mini?
I say yes. This is what I am imagining. A 7.95" tablet starting at a pricepoint of $300. Obviously in order to get the price that low, some minor compromises will need to be made. Things like non-retina display, inferior cameras, etc. Think of what the iPod touch is to the iPhone.
There are SO many groups I can think of that would benefit from the smaller size, weight, and price of such an iPad. And for those of you talking about any technical hurdles, these are just minor things that Apple can overcome. They are a smart company.
Here are a few prime examples of uses for a slightly smaller/cheaper iPad.
Education- with the new textbook initiative, Apple will really try to push iPads into the classroom. $300 vs $500 will really make a huge different in penetration into the school system. They will then also be lighter and less weildly for elementary school kids to carry around with them. Screen size would definitely be sufficent for such small hands.
Children- parents just don't typically spend $500 on "toys" for their children. The limit seems to be right around the $300 pricepoint of video game consoles. Instead of getting their kid an Xbox for Christmas/birthday, they will get an iPad mini. Again, the small size is probably even better for kids.
In business- so many businesses have been implementing iPad initiatives for employees. Sure the price would help, but I'm mostly thinking about the size. Imagine waiters taking your order on an iPad mini. Imagine retail employees becoming mobile cashiers walking around with iPad mini's to help you check out (or order out of stock items for you from anywhere around the store). Things like that, smaller would make them much more mobile and more like a clipboard.
The kindle fire lovers- a lot of people love what the kindle fire is about. Portable, inexpensive, good reader, good for casual games/browsing. Remember what is so great about the iPad in the first place? It's basically a computer-lite. Well this is an iPad-lite. Some people just don't need all that the iPad is. It's hard to convince someone looking at a Fire to spend an extra $300 for something they don't need, but an extra $100 to get the iPad name? That's do-able.
And that's just the beginning of the possibilities... but I dunno, that's just my take. What do you think? Yes or no?
I say yes. This is what I am imagining. A 7.95" tablet starting at a pricepoint of $300. Obviously in order to get the price that low, some minor compromises will need to be made. Things like non-retina display, inferior cameras, etc. Think of what the iPod touch is to the iPhone.
There are SO many groups I can think of that would benefit from the smaller size, weight, and price of such an iPad. And for those of you talking about any technical hurdles, these are just minor things that Apple can overcome. They are a smart company.
Here are a few prime examples of uses for a slightly smaller/cheaper iPad.
Education- with the new textbook initiative, Apple will really try to push iPads into the classroom. $300 vs $500 will really make a huge different in penetration into the school system. They will then also be lighter and less weildly for elementary school kids to carry around with them. Screen size would definitely be sufficent for such small hands.
Children- parents just don't typically spend $500 on "toys" for their children. The limit seems to be right around the $300 pricepoint of video game consoles. Instead of getting their kid an Xbox for Christmas/birthday, they will get an iPad mini. Again, the small size is probably even better for kids.
In business- so many businesses have been implementing iPad initiatives for employees. Sure the price would help, but I'm mostly thinking about the size. Imagine waiters taking your order on an iPad mini. Imagine retail employees becoming mobile cashiers walking around with iPad mini's to help you check out (or order out of stock items for you from anywhere around the store). Things like that, smaller would make them much more mobile and more like a clipboard.
The kindle fire lovers- a lot of people love what the kindle fire is about. Portable, inexpensive, good reader, good for casual games/browsing. Remember what is so great about the iPad in the first place? It's basically a computer-lite. Well this is an iPad-lite. Some people just don't need all that the iPad is. It's hard to convince someone looking at a Fire to spend an extra $300 for something they don't need, but an extra $100 to get the iPad name? That's do-able.
And that's just the beginning of the possibilities... but I dunno, that's just my take. What do you think? Yes or no?
