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Apple Said to Have Developed 7-Inch iPad Alongside Current Model

No "either/or"

I don't get this hang-up some folks have about "there is not going to be any 7" model because I don't need it". Well if so, good for you. For a lot of us, there is really no "either/or" - for my work I need (and will buy) BOTH a 7" AND a 9.7" iPad. Definitely - and I'm not alone here!
For Apple's bottom line that's not bad. And to talk about "cannibalization": For a device that still can't be produced in big enough quantities to meet demand (iPad still not launced in Scandinavia!!) that might actually be a good thing. Maybe they would be able to get it on actual shelves in more countries than the US (not with "7-9 days delivery"). If screen production is the needle's eye, get another screen size and make twice as many.
I want a big iPad for newspapers/bed time reading and a smaller one for paperbacks and web surfing on the go. Don't let the droiders get away with that market, Apple. Sell twice as many instead.

- Does the 7" fit in a pocket? Of course it does, only not a jeans pocket. Winter coats (what we use in Norway 1/3 of the year) have big pockets, suitable for paperbackes - and 7" iPads! ;o)
- The screen in that size will look awkward? Trust me, no: trust Apple: If/when they release a 7" the screen and icons will be perfect. They've had a few years to ponder, evaluate, try out... these guys don't release immature products.
 
BRLawyer said:
The only question is: WHY the heck would someone want to buy a 7-inch iPad when there are already 2 Apple-produced multitouch devices with 3.5 and 9 inches? To fit it in cargo pockets?

This rumor makes absolutely no sense in terms of market segmentation; I call it pure BS.
Click to expand...

For the same reason we have 13", 14", 15", 16" and 17" laptops (I'm sure there's more sizes out there too). One size does not fit all 100%. Someone who will use an iPad in the home most of the time will want a bigger screen, but someone who'll use an iPad mostly on the road will want a smaller screen/device that can fit into a small bag or large pocket, but that is still bigger than a typical smart phone (otherwise, what's the point). There will always be those who are more on the go, hence ~5"-8", and those who only need portability every now and then, hence ~8"-12".

Just like laptops, we will see a barrage of sizes available by this time next year. I got no problem with that. The more options to us, the better ;)
 
BRLawyer said:
The only question is: WHY the heck would someone want to buy a 7-inch iPad when there are already 2 Apple-produced multitouch devices with 3.5 and 9 inches?
Click to expand...

Same reason why people buy 15" MacBooks Pros, when there are 13" and 17" models available. One size (or two sizes) may not fit all.

My guess is that some non-zero percentage of customers are finding the 9" iPad a bit too heavy for long sessions of ebook reading. Little old ladies with better than average eyesight and lots of spending cash?
 
If you are a full grown adult, browsing on the 10" is fairly practical. I still have to zoom sometimes to click small links on some sites so I wouldn't really want to go smaller. With the current screen I can type with it on my lap and read it but going much smaller would be hard and the keyboard in portrait mode is just a little cramped and the 7" would be a similar size in landscape mode. A smaller screen may well be a little cheaper but really not worth it IMHO.

Sent from my iPad.
 
firewood said:
Same reason why people buy 15" MacBooks Pros, when there are 13" and 17" models available. One size (or two sizes) may not fit all.

My guess is that some non-zero percentage of customers are finding the 9" iPad a bit too heavy for long sessions of ebook reading. Little old ladies with better than average eyesight and lots of spending cash?
Click to expand...

The iPad should be made lighter (and bigger), not smaller.

Without support, it is too heavy for even a little moment.
 
Chupa Chupa said:
I don't know. Why would someone buy a 47" TV over a 50"?
Click to expand...

Because you may prefer one manufacturer over another and that's the only size available around what you're looking for. No different than the people looking for a ~40-50" tv - there's models out there at 40", 42", 46" and 50" to choose from - narrow it down by brand, model, features and price within your preferred size range. For example, if a 50" HDTV that I'm looking at only has 720p vs a 47" HDTV that I'm also looking at who has 1080p for the same price, I'd go for the 47" ;)


Chupa Chupa said:
How many football games have been lost because the final field goal went inches left of the goal post. We live in a niche world where it either fits a consumer's need or it does not. If it does not there is no compromise. The credit card does no come out.
Click to expand...

Options are good for us, consumers. Otherwise, we'd all be wearing the same size 34 waist pants, drive the same size car and live in the same size house. Too much for some and not enough for others. Different sizes gives us the chance to buy something closer to our individual needs, no less, no more, and that's a good thing any day :)
 
I for one would like to see this 7 inch iPad, i had the 9 inch and it just felt wrong to hold, but thats just me, the choice factor is a nice thing to have.
 
cube said:
Not all interchangeable lens cameras are DSLRs.
Click to expand...

I figured that out and deleted that part of my post right as you posted yours :)

I guess it can be a low cost option to an SLR for some...
 
Blu101 said:
I figured that out and deleted that part of my post right as you posted yours :)

I guess it can be a low cost option to an SLR for some...
Click to expand...

It is not about the cost. Leica has never been low cost.
 
7" iPad could be a great product, but I'm not sure what the hook is.

Is it a big iPod, a small iPad or something new? Don't forget the apps. The iWork apps would be very hard to manage on a 7" iPad, for instance. it's NOT just the size of the output it's also the size of the input we are talking about. The iPad is really beginning to justify multitouch as a forward looking interface and not just a gimmick. It's largely because of the size of the screen.

It would NEED to be high density if it's meant to be a small iPad, but I'd almost rather the 7" device be a BIG iPod or iPhone. I think the functionality and approach would be closer to those devices at that screen size. To facilitate compatibility it could work with the retina setup and match the retina display resolution. Should still look nice and it maximizes compatibility with iPhone apps that are already taking advantage of it.

It would be a handy device at that size. The iPad without some sort of case isn't grippy enough.

Maybe if the 7" was sold as the ultimate facetime device and reader... maybe a flip top :apple:-branded case that acts as a shade in sunlight.

To me the 7" demands a killer service that it performs better than the current iDevices. Besides small groups of people with specific needs (cramps hands -- too small -- too big), I'm not sure what it should/will be.

What I REALLY want is an iPad with a higher density screen resolution and maybe even slightly larger. It would also need to be faster and have more RAM to pull that off, so... it's probably not happening until 2012 at the earliest.

Going past the deep end, I also wish Apple would develop a malleable touch screen that can programmatically raise up sections of the touch surface at about 4x the size of a pixel or smaller. You could then have buttons that actually push and "keys" that you could feel the separation between -- but only when needed --and it wouldn't interfere with the picture! That would be insanely great, even if nearly impossible. :D
 
wirelessmacuser said:
I agree that 9.7" is indeed way too big for many of us.

In my case I travel frequently for business and pleasure. I'm already carrying a 15" MacBook Pro, because the type of work I do requires the resources and nothing else will do. Ad in my iPhone 4 which for obvious reasons is also a must have. For "casual use" of net browsing, grabbing the news, etc I want a 7" iPad. I have zero interest in one from another company, yet Apple will force my hand if they maintain their usual greedy position of selling the current model only, because they make more money.

Why wait? Why not lead?

A 7" iPad would fit perfectly in my already heavy laptop bag, and it's been carefully packed with only the bare essentials and NO heavy paper files, I do everything digitally. So bring out the 7" as an additional model and income stream for Apple. Everybody wins.
Click to expand...

I could make a pretty good argument that Apple hasn't even finished getting it's supply chain for the iPad fully ramped up. Adding additional form factors to the iOS product line makes sense, but Apple needs to get its current production bottlenecks out of the way first, and even then, Apple still has to account for the yearly upgrade cycles, in this case for the iPad v2 and the iPhone G5.

Going back to the iPod line, Apple has no problem at all with killing a successful design and replacing it. See the Nano and shuffle lines.
 
???

Why does a 7" iPad have to be an upcoming product? There's a line from the movie CONTACT - "Why build one when you can have two for twice the price?" They couldn't settle on size in the R&D phase so built two to evaluate in the real-world which was the more practical, and whichever one earned more points was the model to be produced. Simple as that.
 
skellener said:
Yeah sure, a 7" iPad is just "waiting in the wings" but an announced product like the iPhone 4 White still hasn't been released. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly.

Where is the white iPhone?

To stay on topic, a 7", though interesting to some I can't imagine will be released anytime soon when the 9.7" is selling so well. Maybe part of a v2 iPad release, but not now - they have no *real* competition yet.
 
BRLawyer said:
The only question is: WHY the heck would someone want to buy a 7-inch iPad when there are already 2 Apple-produced multitouch devices with 3.5 and 9 inches? To fit it in cargo pockets?

This rumor makes absolutely no sense in terms of market segmentation; I call it pure BS.
Click to expand...

Everybody has different needs BR.
 
Wouldn't a 7" iPad cause all kind of nightmare scenarios when it comes to selling apps. For example I really don't think it will be a joy to work in iOS Pages when the screen is scaled back some 25%..
 
"The iPad is the one of the best selling devices in history"

Says who? Apple? And all devices that have ever been created on this earth?...or just ones by Apple. And who's to say it won't suddenly screech in sales in Feb 2011 for an unforseen multitude of reasons?

Puh leaze.

The iPad may CURRENTLY be selling well (and "well" is defined by who?)...but I still don't know a single person that owns one...or wants one.

I'm waiting for a few more revisions...just like how the iPod has exploded in features and storage while also dropping it's price. The iPad right now offers me zippo as an owner of an iPhone 3GS, a desktop (yes, a Mac), and a laptop.
 
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