Every time there's been a possible rumor about a smaller iPad, there's always a lot of people that post that they'd buy one. Not "the masses", no, but that's just here at MacRumors. Most people aren't techies and thus don't hang out here.
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Apple's 'iPad Mini' Media Event Reportedly Scheduled for October 23
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Every time there's been a possible rumor about a smaller iPad, there's always a lot of people that post that they'd buy one. Not "the masses", no, but that's just here at MacRumors. Most people aren't techies and thus don't hang out here.
I won't know until I see it and hold it, but I certainly would have considered it in place of at least some of the four Kindles I've purchased for myself and my family. Certainly, size and weight have been factors in my Kindle preference. I also have an iPad ("The New"), but 99% of my book reading takes place on the Kindle, which comprises 80% of my tablet use.
I agree that the smaller iPad will find it's place. And size and price will have a lot to do with it. I won't be surprised if it takes sales away from the current iPad.
Honestly we've clamored so much that we're out of air. Many of us are also busy fondling our new iPhone 5 and have just let that distract us for a moment.
Personally I'm readying my credit card for a purchase I've been waiting to make since the release of the original iPad. Should this turn out to be that I'm just asleep having a nightmare and there is no iPad Mini, I'll finally feel comfortable picking up that Nexus 7 that's been tempting me.
Considering Google and Amazon are selling their tablets at cost what do you think is a price that isn't "too much"?
Wow, it's hilarious to read the people that are still convinced this iPad Mini is NOT coming. "No way! Why would people want a lighter, smaller, more portable tablet! Fools!" For the same damn reason people want a 11" over a 13" MacBook Air. Options!!!!!!!! Get it through your heads, please. You're buying choice is not the choice of all people around the world. It's good to have options. I personally might not buy a Mini tablet however after long periods of use I find the 10" iPad 2 to be heavy so I could see where a smaller tablet would be nice.
By that logic this should be a HUGE success (and I do mean huge).
Desktop that is also a battery operated Tablet. (More like the old accounting columnar pads though!)
http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/sony-vaio-tap-20/4505-3118_7-35477655.html
Ummmm....yes. That's called good publicity and marketing departments. You don't get ahead in the business world by being nice and polite to your competitors. Any company that was in Apple's position would have done the same thing.
Uh, a lot of people want it to use as an e-reader. You'll notice that the large Kindle DX failed (partly because of poor software) and there's a reason there isn't a 3-4 inch Kindle. For reading, 6-7 in is a good size, like having a paperback. Reading on the iPad 3 is not as comfortable as reading on an ereader that is less than 10 oz (some are even 5-6 oz). There is a large market for ebook readers now and that's primarily what I'd want the iPad mini for.. a more capable ereader, good with pictures in books and stuff that e-ink isn't good at.
And they would be called all sorts of nasty names by MacRumors users and accused of trying to steal Apple's thunder, etc.
The Google/Amazon concept is to make a profit on content sales, while pricing the viewer device at cost. I'm sure, between margins on iTunes and iBook sales and mark-up on equipment, Apple could probably price the mini at a price point that is more in line with the (perceived) competition.
A simple "yep" or "nope" from Jim Dalrymple isn't guessing, it might as well be coming from Apple themselves. When he makes those comments, it happens.
By some people, sure. There's always some people that will overreact to any situation, just as the person that made the original comment about stealing Microsoft's thunder did. They're on both sides of the aisle, even though you might like to pretend they're not. It's just that most of them don't hang out here, so you don't see them.
The only reaction I can control is mine, and no matter which company planned an event like this, I'd call it good business. Then again, I work in advertising and marketing, have a brain, and know how to use it.
I know what their strategy is. And honestly I think these cheap priced tablets could be bad because its creating a race to the bottom and OEM's won't be able to compete. Or if they try to compete we'll end up with inferior devices to try and reach some artificially low price point.
It's not personal, it's just business. What were you expecting a "kumbaya" moment? Apple and Microsoft are competitors. Of course each is going to do what they can to soften blows of each other's products. Amazon and Google too. It would be negligent if they didn't when the opportunity arose.
This I agree with it. The public will determine if it's successful or not. if such a device is indeed released.
I am not saying it is or is not coming. I am just saying it has had an unusually low (ie none) number of proper part leaks. Pretty much every new Apple device released in the past 10 years or so has had a ton of part leaks before the release date. I am just being realistic here.
Also too much choice is a bad thing. Take Apple in the 90's. So many computer options, so many newton options etc etc. Jobs came in and scrapped most of it. A good thing. I personally there is a optimum level for choice. Enough for the customer to be happy and not too much so the company is making too many different models. It's a fine balance.
There is also a large market for netbooks. But that does not mean it's wise to enter that (or any) market simply because it exists. Apple knew entering the netbook market was a very bad idea. And I agree with Apple on this point. So Apple invented the iPad as it's answer to the netbook market.
My point? Just because people want something, does not mean it's good business sense to go and make it. You want X feature today. But after a few years of R&D to make a product with X feature, does the public still want this feature? No way of telling.
Apple do what they are good at. Making products with features you have do idea you needed initially but after a little time with them you wonder how you ever lived without it.
Well the Nexus 7 seems be selling pretty well. I'm not into Android, but I don't have my head in the sand either.
Sorry, don't own a single Apple product that i *NEED* for one task or another, that cannot be accomplished with a much cheaper alternative (OK, maybe my ipod).
And to use your analogy, if somebody runs out every year to get the newest model "high-end power tool" while their 10 month old high end power tool is more than capable of doing everything they need, but just isn't the new one, then yes, those people are only doing it for status and not utility.
I don't know, I'm thinking Apple is making a killing on the devices. They are manufactured and assembled in China, the QC lately is somewhat suspect [at least from the number of folks here complaining about this and that being wrong with their iPads], I don't necessarily think the actual quality will suffer much, just Apple's margin.
It certainly didn't hurt the flat screen TV market, a TV that would have cost $5k 6 years ago is now under $1000.
I don't think they need to price the device at the exact same price point as a Kindle Fire HD [$199 or $249] but they don't need to blow everyone out of the water either. I think a 32GB 7" iPad priced at $399 [and that's $150 above the 32GB Kindle Fire] would probably do very well. IMHO
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Bezos is free to claim that his tablet business will make profits at some nebulous future and you are free to believe him despite lack of proof, but math is simple. You cannot make money by selling low margin items after selling low margin hardware and magically make yourself a high margin business. Amazon values market share over profits margins. If you like Amazon, you gotta be OK with that approach.
In digital products, Apple puts a ceiling on prices, as it is a well known, large company operating in many countries. Its margins are not very high on that front. Therefore, Amazon cannot have a lot more margin out of selling the same commodity goods. The printer/cartridge, console/game and razor/blade business model would not work very well if the follow-on sales in ink cartridges, blades or video games had low margins. (Besides, Amazon's design costs per tablet are bound to be higher as it does not sell as many as Apple or Samsung, both of which sell their hardware in many countries, not just in the US and UK.)