What evidence is that based on? Did Steve Jobs come to you in a dream last night?
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Apple Introduces New 7.9-Inch iPad Mini Starting at $329
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What evidence is that based on? Did Steve Jobs come to you in a dream last night?
iPhone 5 gets an A6 and this stays with the A5?I guess we already know something about what we can expect with the next iPad Mini update.
Nothing to be confused about. Totally expected, since this is Apple. As you said, guess what will be in the next update... but could have been there already from the start.
So this product is meant to compete in the market segment, at 50% over the going price, and it's meant to be less than the best they have... because it's for kids, and they don't notice. By you logic, only an idiot would not buy a much cheaper competitor tablet, because it's 'an iPad for your kid'.
I guess the bit I'm missing is the fact you're starting off with the notion that one only buys Apple stuff because "it's the best", because nothing else makes your argument make sense.
I'll chime in, just my 2 cents...
Being on the road a lot for business this past month, I bought a Kindle Fire HD 7" to keep myself occupied. I had originally gone in to get the Kindle Paperwhite but Best Buy wasn't stocking them yet and, as the KFHD was only $80 more at $199, I thought, why not. It wasn't bad. I felt like it was a little heavy but, after checking the specs of the iPad Mini, I see that it's only 85 grams heavier.
I downloaded Netflix and HBOGO apps and side-loaded some episodes of The League onto it to watch while bored at night at the hotel. I read books that I had read on my old Kindle (given to my mom) but didn't really like the bright LED screen. I bought one or two apps (Angry Birds Space) but wouldn't go any farther than that because I already had bought a decent amount of game apps for my iPhone which are universal. I didn't feel like buying a bunch of apps for a whole new OS.
The main thing that attracted me was the price. At $199, it's almost an "easy" purchase. At the time I bought the KFHD, iPad Mini rumors were starting to firm up. I wanted one but, at the rumored price point (now shown to be true), I was turned off. Now that it's been announced I'm just as turned off. It's $130 more (almost twice as much) than the Kindle Fire HD. Is the iPad Mini a better product? Probably. Does it do anything different? I really don't think so. It may do some (most) things better. Yes, all of my iPhone/Universal apps will work on an iPad Mini. Sure, I can not play all the games I don't play on my iPhone on the iPad Mini.
I guess, now that I'm back at home more often instead of on the road, I wonder if I really need either. I ended up returning the Kindle Fire HD after about 3 weeks because, to be honest, it was laggy, it was a chore to use it to surf the internet and, I didn't feel like investing in a bunch of Android time-waster apps that I already have on my iPhone and don't use enough as it is. Also, being so used to iOS, I felt like trying to do anything on it just wasn't as easy as it should be, like the majority of stuff on the iPhone is.
I may end up getting either an iPad 2 or an iPad Mini simply for the fact that, as an architect, I've always wanted to create a portfolio I could load onto it that would be interactive. Also, it's a great presentation tool. My boss and a few coworkers use them. Also, I didn't see any "iMovie" or "iPhoto" apps for the Kindle and I think I would use those.
To be honest though, I would probably be better off replacing my Mac Mini with the smallest MacBook Air and using that both at home (with my large external display) and on the road.
$329 isn't a huge amount of money but an iPad Mini isn't going to be an "easy" purchase. I already have an iPhone 4 and it really doesn't seem logical to buy a product that's 2 or 3 times bigger that does basically the same thing as my phone (which I'm now calling the iPad Micro-Mini-Small 4).
At $199 or $249, I would have snatched one of these up in a heartbeat. I think you'll hear a lot of people saying the same thing and staying on the fence a lot longer or buying something else. The Kindle Fire HD is not a terrible product and, for someone that already has an older Kindle (even if they also have an iPhone), it's an easy upgrade. I think that a price drop for the iPad Mini may actually happen as well. There's no way that they wouldn't still be making money selling this below $299.
Thanks for listening.
Being on the road a lot for business this past month, I bought a Kindle Fire HD 7" to keep myself occupied. I had originally gone in to get the Kindle Paperwhite but Best Buy wasn't stocking them yet and, as the KFHD was only $80 more at $199, I thought, why not. It wasn't bad. I felt like it was a little heavy but, after checking the specs of the iPad Mini, I see that it's only 85 grams heavier.
I downloaded Netflix and HBOGO apps and side-loaded some episodes of The League onto it to watch while bored at night at the hotel. I read books that I had read on my old Kindle (given to my mom) but didn't really like the bright LED screen. I bought one or two apps (Angry Birds Space) but wouldn't go any farther than that because I already had bought a decent amount of game apps for my iPhone which are universal. I didn't feel like buying a bunch of apps for a whole new OS.
The main thing that attracted me was the price. At $199, it's almost an "easy" purchase. At the time I bought the KFHD, iPad Mini rumors were starting to firm up. I wanted one but, at the rumored price point (now shown to be true), I was turned off. Now that it's been announced I'm just as turned off. It's $130 more (almost twice as much) than the Kindle Fire HD. Is the iPad Mini a better product? Probably. Does it do anything different? I really don't think so. It may do some (most) things better. Yes, all of my iPhone/Universal apps will work on an iPad Mini. Sure, I can not play all the games I don't play on my iPhone on the iPad Mini.
I guess, now that I'm back at home more often instead of on the road, I wonder if I really need either. I ended up returning the Kindle Fire HD after about 3 weeks because, to be honest, it was laggy, it was a chore to use it to surf the internet and, I didn't feel like investing in a bunch of Android time-waster apps that I already have on my iPhone and don't use enough as it is. Also, being so used to iOS, I felt like trying to do anything on it just wasn't as easy as it should be, like the majority of stuff on the iPhone is.
I may end up getting either an iPad 2 or an iPad Mini simply for the fact that, as an architect, I've always wanted to create a portfolio I could load onto it that would be interactive. Also, it's a great presentation tool. My boss and a few coworkers use them. Also, I didn't see any "iMovie" or "iPhoto" apps for the Kindle and I think I would use those.
To be honest though, I would probably be better off replacing my Mac Mini with the smallest MacBook Air and using that both at home (with my large external display) and on the road.
$329 isn't a huge amount of money but an iPad Mini isn't going to be an "easy" purchase. I already have an iPhone 4 and it really doesn't seem logical to buy a product that's 2 or 3 times bigger that does basically the same thing as my phone (which I'm now calling the iPad Micro-Mini-Small 4).
At $199 or $249, I would have snatched one of these up in a heartbeat. I think you'll hear a lot of people saying the same thing and staying on the fence a lot longer or buying something else. The Kindle Fire HD is not a terrible product and, for someone that already has an older Kindle (even if they also have an iPhone), it's an easy upgrade. I think that a price drop for the iPad Mini may actually happen as well. There's no way that they wouldn't still be making money selling this below $299.
Thanks for listening.
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If you don't wanna spend the $499 and just want an iPad...wouldn't this do this for ya?
I'd get one but my iPad 2 is still alive and kicking.My argument has nothing to do with anything you stated. Except I will answer a query you had in your first sentence. I do believe, for the most part the mini will be a huge hit with the smaller segment of our society. Will others buy it, of course they will. My argument was simply that the specs for a smaller device need not be the best. The segment apple is now in competition with, for the most part, aren't demanding that way. Apple charges its premium, the way they always do. Every single product they sell is overpriced.....by a lot. Yet they sell millions of everything and their customers are for the most part, happy as clams. You can sit there in stew in your anger all you want, all I am saying is that is pointless.
Anyone else find it a little humorous that the apple puts down large Android phones at 4.8 - 5.2" as too big for use in one hand but brag how the ipad mini is just the right size that you can still use it with one hand?
Still seems like a cool device too bad no retina pixel density though. I like the narrow bezel. They need to do they with the regular ipad.
Still seems like a cool device too bad no retina pixel density though. I like the narrow bezel. They need to do they with the regular ipad.
As been stated in many many other posts: there is a huge difference between USE and HOLD.
USE iPhone with one hand.
HOLD iPad mini in one hand.
It's really not that complicated.
A decent product but I fear it does not offer enough features to fend off competitors... adequate but not spectacular.
The iPad really needs a card reader/expandable memory/usb. It's practically a mini-computer for many people.
The iPad really needs a card reader/expandable memory/usb. It's practically a mini-computer for many people.
LOL! I'm not angry, I don't know why you think that, I'm just trying to follow your logic, and having trouble finding any logic.
Saying that Apple will sell lots of these isn't very helpful. It may or may not be true. You can't tell the future anymore than anyone else can. The more interesting question is why would someone buy this given the competition. Will Apple lose or gain market share? And for each of those questions: why?
It's called having an intelligent discussion.
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Yet it's priced "spectacularly".
Based on the reaction on forums such as this, it's pretty clear that announcing the new new a6x alongside the mini was likely a misguided decision. Such is life, whatever. Simultaneously, it benefits myself, and likely other customers.
I was stoked on a mini; especially after scoping out an acquaintence's nexus. It truly is a perfect compromise between pocket sized and slightly too cumbersome for daily schlepping (7" is like carrying a large format paperback)I was also aware that the previous iPad model was intended to carry the a6x. Now that they're telling me a mini, for whatever reason, will be a smaller iPad 2 and that the A6x is ready for prime time in the flagship model, I feel they may have given me a proper heads up. As in...a6x gets me closer to my goal: replace laptop. That power may be more important to me than desirable form factor.
For the Steve worshippers out there, I'm fairly certain his goal was to eliminate the laptop. Took me awhile to jump on the bandwagon, but I really get it (and I don't even own a tablet....but have used many).
And for the record, I see Android as finally finding itself with the "enthusiast pc over locker crowd". They hate all things Apple, a tad immature, but their dislike explains their attraction to google tablets. They're the guys and gals who are happy to re-write drivers for $7 pcie expansion cards: it's the cost of freedom. Outside of that realm, android is still a completely broken system that doesn't stand up to the average user's expectations. It's good for computer nerds, but a pile of poopy for those who need to actually use these tools as opposed to dick around and manipulate the frameworks.
The amazon and Barnes and Noble ereaders met my expectations, but I absolutely do not recognize their color tablets as anything worthy of consideration. Maybe this years lineup is infinitely improved? Don't know. Don't care. The garbage they released last year speaks volumes about their mentality...copy horribly and rush junk out in time for Christmas.
Not saying Apple is god. Saying, "can't you other companies come close? Tsk tsk."
I was stoked on a mini; especially after scoping out an acquaintence's nexus. It truly is a perfect compromise between pocket sized and slightly too cumbersome for daily schlepping (7" is like carrying a large format paperback)I was also aware that the previous iPad model was intended to carry the a6x. Now that they're telling me a mini, for whatever reason, will be a smaller iPad 2 and that the A6x is ready for prime time in the flagship model, I feel they may have given me a proper heads up. As in...a6x gets me closer to my goal: replace laptop. That power may be more important to me than desirable form factor.
For the Steve worshippers out there, I'm fairly certain his goal was to eliminate the laptop. Took me awhile to jump on the bandwagon, but I really get it (and I don't even own a tablet....but have used many).
And for the record, I see Android as finally finding itself with the "enthusiast pc over locker crowd". They hate all things Apple, a tad immature, but their dislike explains their attraction to google tablets. They're the guys and gals who are happy to re-write drivers for $7 pcie expansion cards: it's the cost of freedom. Outside of that realm, android is still a completely broken system that doesn't stand up to the average user's expectations. It's good for computer nerds, but a pile of poopy for those who need to actually use these tools as opposed to dick around and manipulate the frameworks.
The amazon and Barnes and Noble ereaders met my expectations, but I absolutely do not recognize their color tablets as anything worthy of consideration. Maybe this years lineup is infinitely improved? Don't know. Don't care. The garbage they released last year speaks volumes about their mentality...copy horribly and rush junk out in time for Christmas.
Not saying Apple is god. Saying, "can't you other companies come close? Tsk tsk."
Why should I be?
I have been enjoying my iPad 3 since the first week it was out, and I will be happily using it for a long time. Or is Apple planing to shut my iPad down?
Thank goodness a voice of reason on here. My iMac (on which I'm typing this) is 5 years old, and it's filled with still years of wonderful!
I still have my ipad 1, still very happy with it, I saved my money and bought a macbook air, so they still got my money somewhere along the line, still use my iPad everyday, no reason to change.
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snap, mine is 4 years old, and have no need to upgrade, because its a little better, weird how applefans want, want, want all the time. Apple please dont make things for the sakes of it, if your going to do an upgrade make it a big one, instead of drip feeding us for the sakes of marketing and money !
HAHAHA...329 an Effin Joke
Tim Cook is Doping.......needs to be drug tested.
#@(....thats right cryptic for 329 $....
Tim Cook, he needs an ars0le, since he is full of Sheet.
Other than the fanboys and the ignorants, i see few people investing in this expensive gadget.
Tim Cook is Doping.......needs to be drug tested.
#@(....thats right cryptic for 329 $....
Tim Cook, he needs an ars0le, since he is full of Sheet.
Other than the fanboys and the ignorants, i see few people investing in this expensive gadget.
Cut their margins? Really? You're asking Apple to be not Apple with that statement!
Hello, why didn't they just cut their margins on other products to such a point that their were no profits to fund research into the new iMac?!
Have you ever studied pricing, or business models?
Please I'm not trying to attack or offend, but your comment ignores big realities.
First there is brand management and brand value. Apple isn't a cost conscious company, but is rather a company that produces products that have (perceived) value in the market, and they don't compete based on price.
Second, when you look at pricing models interesting things appear, and it's not linear or logical what you expect; by that I mean the fact you can sell 10 units at $100 per unit does not mean at all that you can sell 1000 units at $1, or 1 unit at $1000.
Apple and other companies look at these models and study them carefully, and they determine what price and at which quantity, they will realise the greatest profit they can. To complicate matters a certain company can sell 10,000 units of a product at price X, while if their competitor sells the same (or similar product) at price X, they will not sell 10,000, but rather 5,000 or 20,000. It's not so simple as you suggest, that reducing the price of the mini will realise greater market share and higher profits - that completely oversimplifies a very complex and complicated model and while I may share your desire to see the iMac get a lot of research funding and marketing promotional funding, doing so is not so easily realised by taking a few beans from the pile on the other side of the room.
Um, it's an iPad 2. 2 year old tech, which is over-priced. Apple post-SJ is leaving a bad taste in my mouth.
And if they did, wouldn't it seem a bit petty to people watching/understanding the whole patent war between the two companies??
I was holding off on buying an Amazon Kindle Fire HD for the iPad Mini that was revealed today. I'm a huge Apple fan, and was looking forward to an excuse to go Apple once again (have iMac, iPhone 5, and MBP). Really need a reader, not impressed with e-ink.
Well. Hmm.
I don't think I'll hold off any longer. Using the iPad Mini as the point of reference, for 40% less money, I'll buy the Kindle Fire HD. Sure, it weighs 30% more, and it's 42% thicker, but those are pretty minor details. I'm more interested in the 10% increase in battery life and the 25% increase in screen resolution. A lot more for a lot less, in my opinion.
Well. Hmm.
I don't think I'll hold off any longer. Using the iPad Mini as the point of reference, for 40% less money, I'll buy the Kindle Fire HD. Sure, it weighs 30% more, and it's 42% thicker, but those are pretty minor details. I'm more interested in the 10% increase in battery life and the 25% increase in screen resolution. A lot more for a lot less, in my opinion.
If you’re happy with your Nexus 7, and it meets your specific needs, then I say enjoy it and don’t look back! Perfectly legitimate.
But you simply can’t say that any Android tablet truly matches the iPad, or even comes close, in the area of “great apps.” The selection is poor, and how well they work is poor. If you’re shopping between two Android apps, the quality of the app matters: you can recognize that one app is better than another (more powerful and/or easier to use and/or more stable and/or better supported with updates). Make that same kind of comparison between iPad and Android apps, and you really can’t deny the difference.
ArtRage, GarageBand, Procreate, Inkpad, Pages, Numbers, iMovie, Keynote, Textastic, iDraw, iTunes U, OmniGraffle, iPhoto, Bento, Omni Outliner, Diet Coda, Intaglio, Freeform, TouchUp, iTeleport, ReBirth. The list goes on—including far more games than Android. Where are the Android apps truly AS GOOD as these? Not “hey, it’s in the same category... we’ll count it” but truly as good? The only Android app that I have seen approach that level is Photoshop Touch. Reviews of performance on Android have been poor, but it may be good on some. So there’s one.
Where are the rest of the great apps? Where are the Android-ONLY great apps? I’d need something in return if I’m going to give up all the great iPad apps.
Imagine two Android tablets. One has ALL those apps and more just as good. The other only has what the Nexus 7 has, but the home screen can be customized more. You wouldn’t say the app-limited machine was better than the other Android machine. So you can’t apply a double standard when those very real advantages come with an Apple logo.
A tablet IS apps and nothing more. Quantity AND quality. Only iPad has them right now.
If someons’s specific needs are met without those great apps, and they're not worried about future needs either, then they can limit their choice and freedom and capability by going with Android, and may be happy with that. For me, being able to customize my home screen in certain ways on Android doesn’t make up for the inability to DO as much with the device. We're paying for what we can DO with something, not for specs on paper, after all.
Interesting
First...what does all this say about the other product lines if the iPad mini is indeed constructed to tolerances unheard of?
Beyond that flippant remark...I like the iPad mini, great concept, good execution, but c'mon...
A5 chip, 5MP camera and iPad 2 resolution? At THAT price point? I admit, I was expecting it to start around there given the recent iPod Touch update was $299, and also expecting it to be the final death knell for iPad 2, but I did expect Retina level pixel count as a minimum - even if all the other components were iPad 2 repackaged. Really wanted to update the iPad 1 with this...but not now!
And factory workers everywhere winced.
First...what does all this say about the other product lines if the iPad mini is indeed constructed to tolerances unheard of?
Beyond that flippant remark...I like the iPad mini, great concept, good execution, but c'mon...
A5 chip, 5MP camera and iPad 2 resolution? At THAT price point? I admit, I was expecting it to start around there given the recent iPod Touch update was $299, and also expecting it to be the final death knell for iPad 2, but I did expect Retina level pixel count as a minimum - even if all the other components were iPad 2 repackaged. Really wanted to update the iPad 1 with this...but not now!
Everything's amazing and nobody's happy.
Apple: "It's 20% thinner!
It's more than 50% lighter!"
iTroll: "But I want my Retina display
It's amazing how suddenly you can't live without something you only knew existed a few months ago.
YES plus one for sure on that one haha.... people will always find something to complain about, but I look at the positives and see a black/slate iPad mini in my very near future
any idea if this is using the Sharp IGZO display? Just curious, sorry if this has been asked before...I was at work all day and didnt find any mention of it.
my colleague bought the nexus
it crashed several times on the first of day
when i first saw it, i thought it was pretty cool
after the first crash, he was pissed and i was disappointed
i was really considering buying it but not anymore after the crashes
you copied and pasted this exact post on engadget which leads me to believe you are some kind of troll/spammer/bot
oh and also, your saying android or the nexus crashes alot? explain my 2000+ hour uptime on my nexus (Galaxy Nexus)
the only reason why i rebooted at 2300ish hours is because i went from Jelly bean 4.1.1 to 4.1.2 and that requires a reboot to finish the update.
