Apple Introduces New 7.9-Inch iPad Mini Starting at $329

[DP812]

Have to say I'm loving the teenage angst in here and other threads concerning this predicament. People---the mini is being offered to provide a competition vantage point in that segment. I believe it's generally 'an iPad for your kid'. It's not designed to be the latest and greatest because the market that apple is going after here are not the tech weenie savvy people.

I'm aware of that. In fact, that's exactly what I was expecting. But the problem is at the price, it's not worth it, not when I can get a used iPad 2 for cheaper with more storage and it has all the capabilities of this one. If it at least had retina, then I could understand the price.

 

[kas23]

Nothing surprising about the announce today.
I kinda expect no retina display : apple won't introduce another screen resolution thus fragment their overall ecosystem.
Pricing is about right.
We all want cheaper pricing (sub $300)..,but this is real life + Apple. ..;-(
Gonna ditch 7" android and get one ;-)

This isn't a matter of fragmentation. They didn't blink an eye when they changed the iPhone 5's resolution, I can't see them holding back with the iPad Mini. It's a matter of money. A Retina Display would have eaten into their bottom line and a lack of RD also provides a reason to have people upgrade a year from now...when they do offer a RD on the iPad mini. And they will.

 

[Darth Stig]

One handed use??

I've seen this touted as offering one handed use...from Apple, no less. How does that wash with the recent iPhone 5 advert stating the iPhone 5 is perfect for one handed use (implying the Samsung Galaxy SIII and other wider androids aren't) based on hand mechanics? Just not seeing the seamless marrying of the design/manufacturing/marketing departments anymore. I'd like to see the iPad mini updated to retina display at least - to make it more marketable in it's segment...but hope that won't happen until next October. Lot's of groans from recent up-daters to the New iPad (sorry, iPad with Retina) around the office...and by recent I mean anywhere from 2-7 months!! Apple couldn't release the iPad mini and hold off on the iPad with Retina for another 16 weeks?

 

[JGIGS]

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.

Hey smart guy

http://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/overview/#video-ipad-mini-features

Go to 2:20 and listen to Sir Ive "pick up and USE!!! in one hand" You can't pick up and hold the current ipad in one hand?

Watch and listen to a video. Its really not that complicated.

 

[pr5owner]

The Nexus is a bit crappy, though - that's the deal breaker.

the iPad mini is a bit crappy, though - that's the deal breaker

what a ridiculous comment, even for an opinion.

Nexus 7 has...

Better PPI and Resolution
Better Processor
Better GPU
Better Price
Better Capabilities (NFC,GPS, etc)

Open so you can flash whatever software you want or keep it stock
not limited to what baseband or OS version apple tells you to use, go forward or back with radio and operating system versions
immediate updates from Google
this year on my nexus ive gone from 4.0.1 > 4.0.2 > 4.03 > 4.0.4 > 4.1.0 > 4.1.1 > 4.1.2 all with bug fixes, features and every single version has had better battery life
how many has the ipad/iphone had?

 

[kas23]

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.

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.

If I'm following correctly, you seem to be going back and forth. Nevertheless, I think you're Apple's favorite customer. Even though you don't need one, and admit so yourself, and are "turned off" by it, my money is on you buying an iPad (Mini or Full) within the next few months.

 

[Judas1]

I don't see anything wrong with the price. What's wrong is the screen resolution. Its not a resolution that can be used much longer - its too outdated and small. Hence why they need to divorce themselves from it as soon as possible. They do not need to do pixel doubling, to the same resolution as the ipad 3 & 4, just something better than 1026x768. It'll be a hassle for developers to update their apps for the new resolution, but its a better option than sticking with this old resolution. Apple had to manufacture the new 7.8 screen anyway. They were not recycling the part, so keeping it the same resolution was backward thinking (or greedy thinking, in trying to prolong the ipad 2.) The future is in high res screens.

 

[KdParker]

Yeah, waiting for this new and "perfect" product (which may *never* be released) is always better than buying today and enjoying until the day the *supposed* product is launched.

Apple is such an easy purchase - buy today, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy, and tomorrow when they release a superior product, sell yours and buy the new one, and consider the price differential a rental cost (which will amount to not a lot).

Then again, you could walk the path of least joy and happiness, and yet still claim the high ground of moral superiority in your demanding of perfection in products, which one can argue never actually occurs (an interesting conversation in its own right).

wow...

Just didn't buy one since I didn't think my family had a need for it until the family laptop went kaput a couple of weeks ago.

Didn't realize I was claiming 'the high ground of moral superiority'. Whatever that is.

 

[DakotaGuy]

If you want to be "premium" you have to have a premium product. That would be higher resolution than the $199 options, not lower.

The options for selling a product are to be the cheapest or be the best. Apple usually shoots for the latter, but in this case they ended up with neither.

But Apple has something that those Android tablets don't have and that is an Apple logo on the back. This thing will sell like hot cakes even if it doesn't appear to be a good value compared to it's competition.

 

[pr5owner]

All this complaining really reminds me of when Apple introduced the first Macbook Air. Overpriced. old tech. Said to fail. Nobody will buy it.

And where do we stand now?

people did complain, it sold like crap, they dropped the price from 1899 or some ridiculous price to $999 and got rid of that junk toshiba 1.8" drive

now its selling better, but apple laptop and desktop sales are somewhat dismal anyways, apple sells far more mobile class devices that PC class devices.

 

[kas23]

Hey smart guy

http://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/overview/#video-ipad-mini-features

Go to 2:20 and listen to Sir Ive "pick up and USE!!! in one hand" You can't pick up and hold the current ipad in one hand?

Watch and listen to a video. Its really not that complicated.

Yes, and we should view whatever Sir Ive says as Gospel. It's not like he's a biased observer or anything. I'll believe it when I see it. Besides, if your holding the Mini with one hand while watching a movie on it, you're still technically using it.

 

[DakotaGuy]

I don't see anything wrong with the price. What's wrong is the screen resolution. Its not a resolution that can be used much longer - its too outdated and small. Hence why they need to divorce themselves from it as soon as possible. They do not need to do pixel doubling, to the same resolution as the ipad 3 & 4, just something better than 1026x768. It'll be a hassle for developers to update their apps for the new resolution, but its a better option than sticking with this old resolution. Apple had to manufacture the new 7.8 screen anyway. They were not recycling the part, so keeping it the same resolution was backward thinking (or greedy thinking, in trying to prolong the ipad 2.) The future is in high res screens.

Actually going with the lower resolution is genius. I think we can all pretty much assume the next iPad Mini will have a Retina display and guess what? All the people that bought the first Mini will go out and buy the Retina. Apple has this figured out!

 

[ITS ME DAVID]

the iPad mini is a bit crappy, though - that's the deal breaker

what a ridiculous comment, even for an opinion.

Nexus 7 has...

Better PPI and Resolution
Better Processor
Better GPU
Better Price
Better Capabilities (NFC,GPS, etc)

Open so you can flash whatever software you want or keep it stock
not limited to what baseband or OS version apple tells you to use, go forward or back with radio and operating system versions
immediate updates from Google
this year on my nexus ive gone from 4.0.1 > 4.0.2 > 4.03 > 4.0.4 > 4.1.0 > 4.1.1 > 4.1.2 all with bug fixes, features and every single version has had better battery life
how many has the ipad/iphone had?

Yet it used crappy android phone apps on a tablet hich it retarted the iPad mini will outsell and be way more popular then any nexus product.

 

[JGIGS]

Yes, and we should view whatever Sir Ive says as Gospel. It's not like he's a biased observer or anything. I'll believe it when I see it. Besides, if your holding the Mini with one hand while watching a movie on it, you're still technically using it.

If you read my original post its not about taking anything as gospel. Its how they are marketing it as a differentiating feating from a regular sized ipad.

What's not cool is saying you can't use a 5" android handset with one hand, bashing android and saying that's why you made the iphone 5 only 4".

If you watch the video I think they actually mention one handed use twice and show the person thumbing at things and not just watching a movie.

As much as I like owning and using apple products, mostly because of how well they are made, I don't like the arrogance they have at times and some of the things they say and do. Double speak being the biggest pet peeve.

 

[Ankaa]

Hey smart guy

Hey genius. Besides that I already had seen this video and d'accord with kas23....there's your problem. As a female I tend to have smaller hands...

 

[Beeray]

They had me at hello...

...Lost me at $329

Haha, me too

 

[DakotaGuy]

If you read my original post its not about taking anything as gospel. Its how they are marketing it as a differentiating feating from a regular sized ipad.

What's not cool is saying you can't use a 5" android handset with one hand, bashing android and saying that's why you made the iphone 5 only 4".

If you watch the video I think they actually mention one handed use twice and show the person thumbing at things and not just watching a movie.

As much as I like owning and using apple products, mostly because of how well they are made, I don't like the arrogance they have at times and some of the things they say and do. Double speak being the biggest pet peeve.

Apple is well known to say one thing and do another. Remember at one time Jobs made a mockery out of the idea that anyone would buy a smaller tablet then the iPad. It goes all the way back to when they claimed the CRT was dead only to introduce an eMac CRT a couple months later.

You have to realize that they say what sounds good to sell that particular product, but might change their mind in a few months when a new product is introduced.

 

[pig pile]

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.

you have trouble finding ANY logic? i don't make the slightest bit of sense to you? LOL

i've written 2 posts, that essentially say the same thing. i believe the tablet is being marketed for kids (for the most part). to compete with other tablets the same size (and roughly same specs, or close). with me so far? i don't believe the angst about retina means anything to the actual performance of the machine. the average user, especially IMO the directed market user (i.e. kids) won't be able to tell. try looking at a 42" 720p TV next to a 56" 1080p TV and tell me you can see a difference, some will claim they can---but in reality there is no difference to the eye. the ones spouting off about the nexus having better resolution just don't realize it doesn't matter. what matters (i believe according to apple) is responsiveness. the A5 chip would not carry a retina screen, plain and simple.

if your wondering about market share, then i guess you have to define the market. are we talking about market share in overall tablet market? or market share with just the 7" tablets? of course i can't predict the future. all i go on is whats happened in the past. high price or not, apple will undoubtedly sell alot of these machines, and in the process get rid of alot of extra A5 chips lying around LOL

----------

I'm aware of that. In fact, that's exactly what I was expecting. But the problem is at the price, it's not worth it, not when I can get a used iPad 2 for cheaper with more storage and it has all the capabilities of this one. If it at least had retina, then I could understand the price.

the problem with anything apple puts out is the price no? i mean come on....look at whats on offer in anything announced today and we can go search around and find some kick ass machine thats better for much less.

 

[allamoureux07]

Cellular and polished bezel

How do you guys think Apple will implement the plastc cellular part on the top/back of the mini without disrupting the smooth polished bezel in the new design? In the original ipad it wasn't a problem because there is no bezel, but if they intend for the plastic cellular part to go to the screen like the current one, I can foresee issues in that implementation. At least as far as cosmetics go...

Interestingly enough, they don't show any videos/images of this on their website....

 

[nutjob]

i've written 2 posts, that essentially say the same thing. i believe the tablet is being marketed for kids (for the most part). to compete with other tablets the same size (and roughly same specs, or close). with me so far?

Nope, you lost me right there. You're stating that like it's some sort of fact, yet it totally random, based on nothing. Why do you think that, because it's smaller? Ok, sure.

 

[JGIGS]

Hey genius. Besides that I already had seen this video and d'accord with kas23....there's your problem. As a female I tend to have smaller hands...

Ok smart girl and posse. (My apologies for using guy) Pay attention to the content of the video and consider that how its being marketed and positioned. That its still being positioned as small to USE with one hand.

Just don't come back with the hold rationale when USE has been clearly stated and even shows the user stretching his thumb around to tap commands.

Its both annoying that the big wigs make this statement since nobody could probably effectively use it with one hand, unless there first name is Green last name Giant, and because a few week earlier they say any screen larger then 4" is too large for one handed use.

I am I nuts or am I the only one that see's this as double speak and thus at least one of the two statements has to be a lie to consumers.

The crazy part is they don't have to make any of these claims since it has an apple on it. Its going to sell anyway.

 

[k995]

Typical recent apple: late to the market, underspeced device for a very premium price.

 

[nba1341]

Since the screen is 4:3 does this mean I need to go back to the 90's and copy over all my VHS's in order to watch full screen movies?

Last I checked since the 2000's a widescreen format was being used for all video content.

 

[skidbubble]

Funny how you need two hands to use and operate the Galaxy S3 but this device fits perfectly and is useable with one hand.

 

[ANMA dojo]

But Apple has something that those Android tablets don't have and that is an Apple logo on the back. This thing will sell like hot cakes even if it doesn't appear to be a good value compared to it's competition.

Apple.. good value? unheard of!