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I think you're giving people a lot of credit.

I think most people buy Apple because they want to be Apple people.

That's not to say Apple's not a quality product; it is. But there are those who buy it for the quality, those who buy it because they prefer the OS, those who buy it because it integrates with the rest of their hardware, and then the remaining 70%* who buy it because it's fashionable.

*statistic made up on he spot.

But see, most **** that fashionable people buy has been ****. The iDevice era is the first time they've gotten quality. Remember when Jeep Cherokees were the rage in Japan? LOL
 
I think you're giving people a lot of credit.

I think most people buy Apple because they want to be Apple people.

That's not to say Apple's not a quality product; it is. But there are those who buy it for the quality, those who buy it because they prefer the OS, those who buy it because it integrates with the rest of their hardware, and then the remaining 70%* who buy it because it's fashionable.

*statistic made up on he spot.

I can guess where you pulled that statistic out of. :D

Just call it the iPad Air, and it will fly off the shelves. ;)
 
For everyone making the assumption that the device will not feature 3G/LTE:

ipad-mini-image-2.jpg


Looks like the cutout we're used to seeing for data?

Personally I think they'd be crazy to only release wi-fi models. One of the big selling points of a smaller iPad will be portability. Along with portability comes connectivity on-the-go.

There is no logic involved here. It's about product differentiation. Apple wants you to own as many of their devices as possible. Ever wondered why we haven't seen 3G/LTE on their laptop line, like on many PC laptops support? It's because Apple wants you to buy their iPad. They just won't give you 'the perfect product'. Greed is destroying that. No matter what Jony Ive says...
 
(I of course agree with you, but)
If you think a 7.85" iPad could deliver the same user experience as a 9.7" iPad, are you also smoking something?
Are you under the assumption people will think the two sizes are interchangeable? Is someone saying that? Of course they are different. That's the point.
 
If a device is narrow enough, you can grip it completely using one hand. For example, the iPhone or iPod touch. Having a wider bezel would not make it easier to hold cuz you don't hold it that way.

So if making the bezel narrower allows an iPad mini to be grasped with one hand in a similar way, it helps. The iPad itself is much too wide to be held with one hand, so you rely on grasping the bezel.

As an owner of 7.7" tablet myself I can assure you that nobody (but Shaquille O'Neal) is going to hold this thing like they hold a phone.
 
Are you under the assumption people will think the two sizes are interchangeable? Is someone saying that? Of course they are different. That's the point.
errr, the whole point of making an iPad-slightly-mini with a 4:3 screen at the same resolution would be for iPad apps compatibility.
Different way to use it and situations (portability would be better, etc), ok, but that will still be an iPad with same apps.
Or you imply devs will target either both size or specifically one only, and then, welcome fragmentation.
The whole idea of this 7.85" would be to prevent that exactly.

What's your point?
 
It's about product differentiation.

Funny you should say that, since the prime targets for an iPad mini to compete with don't have 3G/LTE (for the most part, anyway). Sounds a lot like a differentiating feature to me that Apple could market the hell out of?

"The Nexus 7 is great when you're camping within wi-fi range of your house. The iPad mini can camp anywhere."

As for cellular data on laptops, it really doesn't make a lot of sense given the current climate of $/GB, but we can argue that another day.
 
I think Daring Fireball may be engaging in some wishful thinking with his speculation. That’s OK, I enjoy doing the same :)

Yeah he is drinking lots of kool-aid by the end of his article.

He assumptions are that the iPad mini is going to be the "touch" versus the Nexus 7 as the "iphone". Then flip flops and says the super duper thin mini is going to get a celluar radio. ..... you know the very principle difference between the Touch and the iPhone is a driver for a bigger battery.

I suppose Apple could eek out a thinner iPad mini if they make the same power sacrifices as the Nexus 7 does. Apple is after all the anorexia nervosa poster child for "there is no such thing as toooo thin".
However, that will extremely likely come at the same cost the Touch takes relative to the iPhone.

It is a very dubious trade off. More likely it would better to have the "extra" battery capacity and have celluar modem models. Wifi isn't everywhere.

Apple certainly isn't going to met the Nexus 7 on price. Google's margins are pretty close to zero and Apple is going to tack on their 30-40%. That is going to gap the tablets right there. Likewise if Apple is going to play the "screen is bigger so has higher value" game versus the 7.0" models is all the more likely to command an even higher price gap.
Kind of hard to claim the "better 7" tablet " when at the same time saying not a 7" tablet. (we're the almost 8" tablet ).

Nevermind, that aluminum tends to be a bit denser and heavier than polycarbon based cases. In the Touch to iPhone comparisons comparing dense case materials to dense case materials. The nexus not as much.



Likewise the whole argument he makes in previous arguments for the iPad mini as being "just a smaller iPad". Well the iPad has no "right way is up" orientation. landscape and portrait should be about the same handling characteristics. Now all of a sudden it is OK to deeply prune two of the bezel edges.
 
(I of course agree with you, but)
If you think a 7.85" iPad could deliver the same user experience as a 9.7" iPad, are you also smoking something?

A 7.85 inch iPad can deliver almost the same user experience as the 9.7' iPad other then say web browsing which is the hardest. (Eddy Cue even commented on this to Jobs and the team).

What it also can deliver is a better 'on-the-go' experience that the 10" just can't do due to it's size. It is just not a very go 'on-the-go' device for commuters, taking out quickly, etc. It has it's place as the vacation machine, laptop replacement, home, couch, coffee shop.

I tried a 7 inches. Believe me, its fun just for 5 mins then you start wishing for a bigger screen. In my house the Kindle Fire was great for a week. Now is resting somewhere in the house bc everyone is using the only iPad we owned.

Here is the interesting part of my comment: my wife tried the Kindle Fire, she ownes an iPhone 4s, she play with my iPad now and then BUT NEVER and I mean NEVER stop using her iPod touch. She loved it. Why? She love the form factor and portability even that it is like her iPhone.

I have facts. What do you have? The iPad mini will be a DOA device.

First, you're comparing a Kindle Fire to an iPad mini...first mistake...usability on that thing is horrible and it's laggy and the OS sucks. There is a reason it's sitting on your shelf.

My facts?

I have a iPad 3 and it sucks for taking with you for quick trips, on the go, etc. I love it for home and for vacations and other things, but for daily commuting and other things where I need a smaller form factor that is more usable then a 4" device yet don't want to lug around an iPad case or backpack, etc, a 7" would come in perfectly.
 
But see, most **** that fashionable people buy has been ****. The iDevice era is the first time they've gotten quality. Remember when Jeep Cherokees were the rage in Japan? LOL

^^^this sounds like you're contradicting your own point a lil, but...

It's rare but it's far from the first time.

People said the same thing about the Motorola Razr, and the Nokia 9860 before that. For as long as there's been a class of product, there's been a best-of.

But if people always went with the better product over what was more popular, we'd all have been rockin Beta VCRs in the 80s.

People shop for what they want before they buy what they need. Oldest rule ever.
 
If it's as light and thin as they say it is, I'm definitely getting one of these. My ipad is just a tad big for extended reading. Now if apple would just release a "hummer size" 4.5"-5" phone, I'd get rid of my android. :p
 
For everyone making the assumption that the device will not feature 3G/LTE:

ipad-mini-image-2.jpg


Looks like the cutout we're used to seeing for data?

Personally I think they'd be crazy to only release wi-fi models. One of the big selling points of a smaller iPad will be portability. Along with portability comes connectivity on-the-go.

Seems legit. That pic clearly leaked out of Foxconn and in no way looks like Fisher Price's My First iPad. :rolleyes:

----------

I think the mini iPad is good, it's right size!

Case close.
 
It has 23B in cash reserve.

I guess the answer on whether MS will price the Surface at $199 will depend on 1 question.

How important is mobile to MS future? (smartphone and tablets)

Bing is a money loser, Xbox is a money loser, Zune was a disaster. They can't keep making products that lose money or that cash reserve will be gone. They don't make money even close to what they used to. That was my whole point.
 
It has 23B in cash reserve.

I guess the answer on whether MS will price the Surface at $199 will depend on 1 question.

How important is mobile to MS future? (smartphone and tablets)

Unlike Google, MS licenses WinPhone to OEMs. Every device that has WinPhone on it has paid MS $15 for the privilege.

As to the xbox, MS makes its money on subscriptions, not hardware. XBL and the MS store (including movies, games, etc) is all tied to a single LIVE account (or whatever LIVE is getting rebranded as), most with a credit card number. They can afford to lose money on devices. Hell, they should bump the prices of everything by 10% and give the console away for free.
 
if that what's the ipad mini will look like (that concept picture) then count me in (the line) lol :D
 
iPod touch thin!? Holy crap...

If its truly that thin I might trade in my "New iPad" if I can manage to lose the retina :confused:

I'm pumped to see the announcement and will definitely be picking up a couple of these for longer distance family to FaceTime with.

$249 is key, I hope they hit that...

$249? The iPod touch is $200 minimum. They had better lower the price of the iPod touch if they make the mini iPad $249.
 
predictions to iPhone 5 graphics and CPU RAM

The iPhone 5 will probably have whats called "TI OMAP5430 SoC" WHICH INCLUDES ARM Cortex A15 MPCore up to 2Ghz and PowerVR SGX544-MPx 3D graphics.
omap5.png
 
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