I do not see the Kindle Fire HD nor the Nexus 7 as the bottom Apple races too. In fact these devices have set the standard for price, features and performance Apple must compete against in this case. Apple can choose to charge more for less but they will not win the 7 inch tablet market if they do. They need to be in the neighborhood on price and performance.
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IPad mini spec speculation thread.
- Thread starter gladoscc
- Start date
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I do not see the Kindle Fire HD nor the Nexus 7 as the bottom Apple races too. In fact these devices have set the standard for price, features and performance Apple must compete against in this case. Apple can choose to charge more for less but they will not win the 7 inch tablet market if they do. They need to be in the neighborhood on price and performance.
Well, there's an argument for mediocrity Apple should embrace!
I think you're wrong. While I think that people don't give a crap about which processor is in it or how much RAM (as people here *obsess* about without paying any attention to performance) I think they will look at other products and compare and realise even if they don't notice some of the details (such as screen resolution, which they'll all highlight like mad) that the price tag is the obvious difference and that will put them off, and I don't believe Apple will lead with price, because that's a war they cannot win.
RAM isn't important? Tell that to my poor iPad 1. I am definitely paying attention to performance, or the lack of performance. The processor, storage, battery and screen are still great on my iPad 1. A lack of RAM is killing it, so if mini doesn't have 1 GB it's not for me. Apple will still sell millions at 512 mb, and in 2 years people will cry about how it doesn't work well anymore and doesn't get updates (like I do with iPad 1).
I would love the smaller size, but I won't fall into the planned obsolescence trap for it.
The issue is poor performance, not inadequate RAM. There are other ways you can solve the issue of poor performance. When I had my gen 1 the performance was great, I had no issues with it whatsoever. If updates to the OS have caused performance issues, perhaps *updates* should be seen as the problem and not lack of RAM.
There are quite a few people in here fully expecting a retina display - I think you're setting yourself up for a big disappointment. The ppi of the screen would have to be 326 if they use the 3rd gen ipad resolution - that is some seriously cutting-edge tech at 7.85 inches that I'm not certain even exists yet.
Even if they went for a new resolution somewhere between 1024x768 and 2048x1536 then current compatible apps would be zero. Every single one would have to be updated. I really doubt Apple would want to introduce a device in that manner.
Then we have the leaked battery - 16.7Whr compared to 42.5Whr of the retina ipad. 2.5 times smaller. If this is a legit part then there's no way this could drive a "retina" resolution for an acceptable amount of time.
A 1024x768 screen would still be better looking than the ipad 2 screen that many people are still happy with, it would give Apple a simple upgrade path for the 2013/14 model, keeps the cost right down and gives "power users" a big reason to still buy the full-fat version. It just makes sense.
Even if they went for a new resolution somewhere between 1024x768 and 2048x1536 then current compatible apps would be zero. Every single one would have to be updated. I really doubt Apple would want to introduce a device in that manner.
Then we have the leaked battery - 16.7Whr compared to 42.5Whr of the retina ipad. 2.5 times smaller. If this is a legit part then there's no way this could drive a "retina" resolution for an acceptable amount of time.
A 1024x768 screen would still be better looking than the ipad 2 screen that many people are still happy with, it would give Apple a simple upgrade path for the 2013/14 model, keeps the cost right down and gives "power users" a big reason to still buy the full-fat version. It just makes sense.
Although I agree with you on the little chance we have to see a retina, IMHO in your argument there are a few contradictions.
Apple never introduced a new product aiming at the low-cost, low-spec market, instead it always developed devices aiming for the best and not caring about the price rising.
A 1024 display on a 7.85 inch screen would have the same pixel density of the iPhone 3G, quite not what you would expect from apple, simply insufficient if compared with competitors, quite in contrast with the recent claims of it being primarily a reading device.
I agree on the keep-space-for-upgrades philosophy by Apple, but releasing a crippled device in an already crowded market would heavily hamper the image of the product.
I'm not saying that this isn't going to happen, but there's probably going to be something we are not expecting that moves the balance towards apple and towards the advantages of this device.
Either way we'll find out soon. I strongly hope that there's something we're missing right now.
When iPod Mini was realeased the specs on that were worse. 4GB storage compared to 15GB of the baseline iPod but crucially a bit cheaper ($50) and a bit smaller. Same thing here - cheaper, smaller, lighter, specced worse.
Besides, I don't think the "un-apple-like" argument really works. When the rumors went around that the iPad 3 would be thicker and heavier, the masses on here screamed that Apple would never do that. When the iPhone 5 shell got leaked, many said that 2-tone wasn't apple-like.
I'm not talking about technical choices, as I said in other posts, never say never with apple, but I'm talking about the overall recurring philosophy of never directly targeting competitors or price tags, something that Apple never did and I personally don't see doing in the future. As I also said, there must be something we are missing. Just like for the examples you make, there's a reason why we're here speculating and not working for Apple
Possible iPad Mini prices have been posted here.
249 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 8 GB WLAN
349 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 8 GB WLAN and 3G
349 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 16 GB WLAN
449 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 16 GB WLAN and 3G
449 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 32 GB WLAN
549 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 32 GB WLAN and 3G
549 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 64 GB WLAN
649 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 64 GB WLAN and 3G
249 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 8 GB WLAN
349 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 8 GB WLAN and 3G
349 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 16 GB WLAN
449 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 16 GB WLAN and 3G
449 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 32 GB WLAN
549 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 32 GB WLAN and 3G
549 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 64 GB WLAN
649 Euro: Apple iPad Mini 64 GB WLAN and 3G
Goodness, some members get so defensive on a topic that asks for opinions.
Lets begin. You have a legitment point on the $199 entry level price point, who wouldnt want to make $ on a product? This is simple. For market gain. And that is just what they need in this 7" tablet market. Remember, this is a product that Apple did not foresee a few years back. I'm sure profit is not on the top of their list.
In regards of the targeted audience. It is just that, the targeted audience. I am not saying the heavy consumer or the business savy will purchase them. But what I am saying, is that the #'s are going to portray those specific groups show most interest.
In regards of your spec and pricing thoughts, each man to his own. I'll respect it and leave it at that.