Even at $329, iPad mini will be the cheapest tablet that runs TABLET apps

[MarkG21]

I agree with the OP.

I bought the nexus 7 a while back ago. I probably could have given it more of a chance, but the initial first impressions from the apps were absolutely horrible. This was my first android devise. Looking for apps, it doesn't say what kind of app it is for (at least I didn't see it). Most of the apps were just blown up phone apps. There seemed to be no organization in the app store.

 

[leukotriene]

I'll need to see a link to some statistics to believe that.

So is your argument that "sure, the iPad may have better tablet apps but who cares"? Just trying to set it straight.

The appeal of the iPad is the plethora of apps designed for the big screen.

----------

I agree with the OP.

I bought the nexus 7 a while back ago. I probably could have given it more of a chance, but the initial first impressions from the apps were absolutely horrible. This was my first android devise. Looking for apps, it doesn't say what kind of app it is for (at least I didn't see it). Most of the apps were just blown up phone apps. There seemed to be no organization in the app store.

I had the same exact experience with the Fire. It's a cool form-factor, but if you care about tablet apps at all, get ready for a serious let down. Like I said, $329 will be the cheapest tablet on the market that runs legit tablet designed apps.

 

[flopticalcube]

So is your argument that "sure, the iPad may have better tablet apps but who cares"? Just trying to set it straight.

The appeal of the iPad is the plethora of apps designed for the big screen.

Indeed. For the majority of users the apps they use, and particularly the apps they use on a regular basis, are built for the tablets resolution regardless of the tablets OS.

 

[leukotriene]

Indeed. For the majority of users the apps they use, and particularly the apps they use on a regular basis, are built for the tablets resolution regardless of the tablets OS.

You're talking about the built in apps then? And as soon as the user ventures out to put apps on their tablet, they should just accept that the quality drastically drops off from there?

Like I said, $329 will be the cheapest tablet that actually offers a large variety of tablet apps for users to download.

 

[unagimiyagi]

I agree with the OP.

I bought the nexus 7 a while back ago. I probably could have given it more of a chance, but the initial first impressions from the apps were absolutely horrible. This was my first android devise. Looking for apps, it doesn't say what kind of app it is for (at least I didn't see it). Most of the apps were just blown up phone apps. There seemed to be no organization in the app store.

You need the whole package to be a success. Android's hardware is actually more than fine now. They need to freeze android OS development. I mean it. Freeze it. It makes no sense that I'm reading a headline "LG phone to finally get ice cream sandwich". In what upside down world would an OS be outdated before 90% of phones get it? I surely do not understand Google's management strategy here. What if we read that an LG computer was finally going to get Windows 7, 2 yrs after the fact?

Google should do whatever it takes to get developers to 1--make quality Android apps 2--alter the perception that Android is what you use when you are a cheapskate, poor person, or an ubergeek. 3--not allow hardware makers to say they run Android unless it's unskinned. 4--Put out nexus devices in 4 inch, 7 inch, and 10 inch categories. That's it. One 4incher, one 7 incher, one 10 incher per year.

And stop announcing new OS releases until Jellybean is available to every device.

This is product management 101. People understand that tech moves fast, and that your newest toy is outdated as soon as you buy it. But outdated before you buy it? No one will stand for that.

 

[onthecouchagain]

: brain explodes :

Now the iPad Mini is the only true 7" tablet? Since when was a tablet only considered a tablet if it had more than 100 tablet-made apps?

The sheep is strong with this one.

Look, I'm an iPad 3rd Gen owner and, for the most part, I love my iPad, but the fanboyism is getting ridiculous.

 

[Yr Blues]

: brain explodes :

Now the iPad Mini is the only true 7" tablet? Since when was a tablet only considered a tablet if it had more than 100 tablet-made apps?

The sheep is strong with this one.

I love the iPad, but it still lacks a bunch of features I want. Hopefully all of these tablets will meet different needs.

 

[onthecouchagain]

I love the iPad, but it still lacks a bunch of features I want. Hopefully all of these tablets will meet different needs.

Exactly.

One can easily say they have their own needs from a tablet, and if that need isn't met by the iPad, they can say "ah, it's not a true tablet, and only Google (or whoever) offers a true tablet experience for me."

The OP's post is rubbish. It essentially breaks down to: the iPad has better apps, so no other tablet is a legit tablet.

 

[zone23]

Android apps framework contain different resolutions for for different devices. So most of the apps are designed to work on tablets too now. This was not always the case and not every app has the correct resolutions. Kinda like when you load the Best Buy app on your iPad.

 

[onthecouchagain]

OP is trying to justify the premium price. Whatever floats your boat man.

If all the rumors pan out to be true, it'll be a $329 iPad Mini with a lower screen resolution than the Nexus 7 and offer less storage size. If the non-retina screen is true, won't that conflict with the often touted all important "retina" experience? Now the important thing is tablet-made apps? Here we go with the twisting and conforming.

 

[Lara F]

So is your argument that "sure, the iPad may have better tablet apps but who cares"? Just trying to set it straight.

The appeal of the iPad is the plethora of apps designed for the big screen.

----------



I had the same exact experience with the Fire. It's a cool form-factor, but if you care about tablet apps at all, get ready for a serious let down. Like I said, $329 will be the cheapest tablet on the market that runs legit tablet designed apps.

FWIW, I've yet to come across an app on my Nexus 7 that I wished was "tablet optimized". Maybe 7.85 will be the tipping point where it really makes a difference.

 

[leukotriene]

OP is trying to justify the premium price. Whatever floats your boat man.

If all the rumors pan out to be true, it'll be a $329 iPad Mini with a lower screen resolution than the Nexus 7 and offer less storage size. If the non-retina screen is true, won't that conflict with the often touted all important "retina" experience? Now the important thing is tablet-made apps? Here we go with the twisting and conforming.

I can't speak for others, but no, the retina display is not the essence of what makes the iPad great. The iPad 1 and 2 were great because there was an amazing choice of apps designed for the tablet experience. That's what all those commercials were about remember? That's why people love their iPads.

I'm sorry but it's hard to argue with the fact that if you install the same app on a Nexus 7 vs an iPad, the iPad version wins out 9 times out of 10. Like the eBay app for example. To deny this is dishonest.

You can't get the eBay tablet experience, the ESPN tablet experience, etc. on anything cheaper than the $329 iPad mini. That's the point I'm making. I don't see how it's "fanboy rubbish" to point out the truth. Would you rather me pretend like Android apps aren't just stretched phone apps for the sake of appearing neutral or something? I just don't get why some people posting here are denying that it's a problem. Call a spade a spade.

 

[Orange Furball]

You're making my point for me! Look at the eBay app! It's a stretched out phone app.

Now look at ebay for iPad:

http://www.iclarified.com/images/news/23839/88912/88912.jpg

Night. And. Day. If you think the Android "tablet" version of eBay is good enough then you have some pretty low set expectations for apps.

Also, I'm noticing a trend here in all the people who are disagreeing with me. All of you are mentioning that you don't use third party apps that much, and that they're not a big deal. That might be true for you, but A LOT of iPad owners use the hell out of App Store apps! It is a REALLY BIG DEAL in the tablet market in case you haven't noticed. I'm a physician and a hobbyist musician. Where is something like GarageBand for the Nexus 7? What about all the anatomy and medical reference tablet apps?

You might rebut and say that I just have special requirements, but dude A LOT of people have their own special requirements for specialized, well designed tablet apps. Apps may not be important to you, but most people who buy iPads load it to the hilt with apps.

Here's the point I'm trying to make: you say "we'll look eBay runs just fine on my Nexus 7" but that's only because you have low standards for what kind of software should be running on your tablet. It is the phone version stretched out. And bringing up the fact that eBay for Nexus 7 looks better than the iPhone version of eBay pixel-doubled on the iPad is irrelevant; no one would USE the iPhone app on the iPad because a tablet version actually exists.

Actually uloops in the play store is like garageband

 

[onthecouchagain]

I can't speak for others, but no, the retina display is not the essence of what makes the iPad great. The iPad 1 and 2 were great because there was an amazing choice of apps designed for the tablet experience. That's what all those commercials were about remember? That's why people love their iPads.

I'm sorry but it's hard to argue with the fact that if you install the same app on a Nexus 7 vs an iPad, the iPad version wins out 9 times out of 10. Like the eBay app for example. To deny this is dishonest.

You can't get the eBay tablet experience, the ESPN tablet experience, etc. on anything cheaper than the $329 iPad mini. That's the point I'm making. I don't see how it's "fanboy rubbish" to point out the truth. Would you rather me pretend like Android apps aren't just stretched phone apps for the sake of appearing neutral or something? I just don't get why some people posting here are denying that it's a problem. Call a spade a spade.

No one is denying anything. But you've taken one aspect of the tablet experience -- one that Apple happens to have an upper hand in -- and decided that that's the only thing that makes a tablet a tablet.

Again, I'm an iPad fan. I've said many times that I'm not convinced Android offers the best tablet experience, but I'm not saying they aren't tablets, which is what you're implying, if not explicitly, then implicitly. So you're unhappy other tablets don't offer more tablet-catered apps than the App Store does; that doesn't make them suddenly not tablets. You're conforming what the "tablet experience" means to make it seem like Apple is the only company that can offer it.

----------

This is another obscurant argument against Android in the making, folks, like "fragmentation" before it.

OP is starting a new one: "If there are less apps made specifically for tablets, the device in question can't be a tablet." You point to a few apps, and imply that every app is just "blown up". Then act as if nothing has been optimized for tablets already or won't be eventually.

Absurd.

 

[jmpnop]

I don't understand people saying "at $329, forget it, I can just get a tablet for $200 from Amazon/Google".

You're missing the most important part of the iPad mini: it's running tablet apps and not just blown up phone apps.

Seriously, at $330 the mini will be the cheapest "true" tablet on the market. The Nexus 7 is just a 7 inch android phone without the phone part.

I do agree that iPad is much better at apps compared to other tablets but that doesn't change the fact that it is overpriced. Its funny how people defend Apple and justify the high price

 

[Rhinoevans]

I don't understand people saying "at $329, forget it, I can just get a tablet for $200 from Amazon/Google".

You're missing the most important part of the iPad mini: it's running tablet apps and not just blown up phone apps.

Seriously, at $330 the mini will be the cheapest "true" tablet on the market. The Nexus 7 is just a 7 inch android phone without the phone part.

I would rather have the iPad 2 for $399

I wanted a smaller iPad, but the price is a bit high.

I guess sometimes to make things smaller doesnt mean less expensive

 

[tensiondeadache]

OP is correct. I've owned four iPads, a Fire, a Playbook, and two Nexus 7's. I sold my Nexus 7 today to clear room for the iPad Mini.

 

[Scott2345]

I would rather have the iPad 2 for $399

I wanted a smaller iPad, but the price is a bit high.

I guess sometimes to make things smaller doesnt mean less expensive

I was thinking the same, ill wait and see what specs the mini has and then make my desicion.

 

[SeanR1]

I can't speak for others, but no, the retina display is not the essence of what makes the iPad great. The iPad 1 and 2 were great because there was an amazing choice of apps designed for the tablet experience. That's what all those commercials were about remember? That's why people love their iPads.

I'm sorry but it's hard to argue with the fact that if you install the same app on a Nexus 7 vs an iPad, the iPad version wins out 9 times out of 10. Like the eBay app for example. To deny this is dishonest.

You can't get the eBay tablet experience, the ESPN tablet experience, etc. on anything cheaper than the $329 iPad mini. That's the point I'm making. I don't see how it's "fanboy rubbish" to point out the truth. Would you rather me pretend like Android apps aren't just stretched phone apps for the sake of appearing neutral or something? I just don't get why some people posting here are denying that it's a problem. Call a spade a spade.

I'm just wondering where you have seen the "mini" running tablet apps. You are praising the experience on a device no one outside of Apple has used yet. Just wondering ........

 

[Nychot]

Ive had all three ipads and many macs. I bought a nexus 7 and found the OS superior in many ways to IOS. Moreover, practically all of the 149 apps i have on my ipad3 are available in android and are now on my nexus 7. And some are bettter looking and better structured than the ipad apps. The screen on the n7 is equal to the retina on the ipad3 in most cases and depending on the app. My n7 is now my go to tablet with the ipad3 just used for specific things like watching live tv using my optimum app from my cable provider. Only thing missing is rear camera and that would be the one reason i'd buy the ipad mini BUT ONLY if its under $300 for at least 16gb. Moreover i dont use either tablet for productivity other than email. Both are entertainment devices.

 

[gregrose]

I love my nexus 7 I think it has made me want to get an android phone next

 

[leukotriene]

Ive had all three ipads and many macs. I bought a nexus 7 and found the OS superior in many ways to IOS. Moreover, practically all of the 149 apps i have on my ipad3 are available in android and are now on my nexus 7. And some are bettter looking and better structured than the ipad apps. The screen on the n7 is equal to the retina on the ipad3 in most cases and depending on the app. My n7 is now my go to tablet with the ipad3 just used for specific things like watching live tv using my optimum app from my cable provider. Only thing missing is rear camera and that would be the one reason i'd buy the ipad mini BUT ONLY if its under $300 for at least 16gb. Moreover i dont use either tablet for productivity other than email. Both are entertainment devices.

Give me examples of the third party apps on Android that are better designed for the tablet experience compared to the iPad version. I can give you plenty examples of the opposite case.

----------

No one is denying anything. But you've taken one aspect of the tablet experience -- one that Apple happens to have an upper hand in -- and decided that that's the only thing that makes a tablet a tablet.

Again, I'm an iPad fan. I've said many times that I'm not convinced Android offers the best tablet experience, but I'm not saying they aren't tablets, which is what you're implying, if not explicitly, then implicitly. So you're unhappy other tablets don't offer more tablet-catered apps than the App Store does; that doesn't make them suddenly not tablets. You're conforming what the "tablet experience" means to make it seem like Apple is the only company that can offer it.

----------

This is another obscurant argument against Android in the making, folks, like "fragmentation" before it.

OP is starting a new one: "If there are less apps made specifically for tablets, the device in question can't be a tablet." You point to a few apps, and imply that every app is just "blown up". Then act as if nothing has been optimized for tablets already or won't be eventually.

Absurd.

Look, I'm not trying to imply that Nexus 7 is not a tablet. What I am saying, and what I said in the original post, is that if you care about third party tablet apps that are designed for a tablet, it won't get any cheaper than $329. Call a spade a spade.

If you don't care about third party apps designed for tablets, then I'm not talking about you! Don't worry about it, perhaps a Nexus 7 or Fire is fine in that case!

If you can't agree with that, I don't know what else to say. We'll just have to agree to disagree

 

[flopticalcube]

Look, I'm not trying to imply that Nexus 7 is not a tablet. What I am saying, and what I said in the original post, is that if you care about third party tablet apps that are designed for a tablet, it won't get any cheaper than $329. Call a spade a spade.

If you don't care about third party apps designed for tablets, then I'm not talking about you! Don't worry about it, perhaps a Nexus 7 or Fire is fine in that case!

If you can't agree with that, I don't know what else to say. We'll just have to agree to disagree

That is not what you said at all in the OP.

I don't understand people saying "at $329, forget it, I can just get a tablet for $200 from Amazon/Google".

You're missing the most important part of the iPad mini: it's running tablet apps and not just blown up phone apps.

Seriously, at $330 the mini will be the cheapest "true" tablet on the market. The Nexus 7 is just a 7 inch android phone without the phone part.

You make no mention of 3rd party apps or the App Store. Your thread title is clearly misleading:
"Even at $329, iPad mini will be the cheapest tablet that runs TABLET apps" as can been seen from the fact that all the tablets come out of the box with a suite of proper-sized apps. You make the (frankly outlandish) claim that the most important part of the iPad mini is that it, and by implication only it, can run tablet apps and not just blown up phone apps. This is clearly not the case and reeks of the worst kind of fanboyism.

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

The idea of this post is an absolute stretch.

Look... AVERAGE consumers... don't care about "tablet formatted" apps. They also don't care about "specs."

As a matter of fact, the fact that Apple has to point out the difference between iPad and Android apps at their presentation shows that average people don't know the difference and Apple feels the need to highlight the Android app flaws. But... average consumers don't watch Apple keynote presentations.

What consumers DO care about:

Price (To an extent)

and

Brand reputation

Apple is really good at promoting the functionality of their devices. Showing how it fits into your life. This alone is what drives their popularity and sales. Apple has a strong reputation of selling you something that you will enjoy using... especially if you are a "first timer" or coming from another brand.

Price is something that will matter to 2 segments of people.

The deal hunters. The people who will always buy something as long as it's cheap.

Or to a lesser extent.... the undecided people. The person looking for a good tablet or e-reader. They are probably looking for a great experience and by word of mouth, advertising and popularity would choose iPad. But if Google, or a friend/family member can convince them that the Nexus 7 does everything they want for $100 less, then they could choose that.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Look, I'm not trying to imply that Nexus 7 is not a tablet. What I am saying, and what I said in the original post, is that if you care about third party tablet apps that are designed for a tablet, it won't get any cheaper than $329. Call a spade a spade.

If you don't care about third party apps designed for tablets, then I'm not talking about you! Don't worry about it, perhaps a Nexus 7 or Fire is fine in that case!

If you can't agree with that, I don't know what else to say. We'll just have to agree to disagree

Reread your OP and your posts in this thread. You most certainly do imply that no other tablet can offer a "true" tablet experience because they have less tablet-optimized apps than the iPad does. And you go on to mention a few examples. Since when is a tablet only a true tablet experience if and only if it has as a certain number of tablet-optimized apps? So according to you, was the iPad not a tablet experience before it had more apps optimized? Seriously think about that question.

Your reasoning is absurd, and it's amazing you don't see how you're conforming the meaning of "tablet experience" to imply that only Apple can offer it. No one is disagreeing that the App Store offers more tablet-optimized apps. But that should be the end of the sentence. That doesn't mean other tablets don't, or can't over time, or don't offer a tablet experience.

What happens the day the Play Store offers more tablet-optimized apps? That day may realistically come. So according to your reasoning, does that suddenly make the iPad not a true tablet experience? Think about that.

There's a reason why people -- including Apple/iPad fans, like myself -- are calling you out on being blinded or a fanboy. I say those things without insult, but your ideas are misguided, misleading, and sounds to me like an attempt to justify the high price of the iPad Mini and/or to start another false and obscurant talking point against Android. Again, I have no qualms with you personally nor with your preference for the iPad Mini.

------

That is not what you said at all in the OP.



You make no mention of 3rd party apps or the App Store. Your thread title is clearly misleading:
"Even at $329, iPad mini will be the cheapest tablet that runs TABLET apps" as can been seen from the fact that all the tablets come out of the box with a suite of proper-sized apps. You make the (frankly outlandish) claim that the most important part of the iPad mini is that it, and by implication only it, can run tablet apps and not just blown up phone apps. This is clearly not the case and reeks of the worst kind of fanboyism.

Thank you. +100.