iPad mini to start at 329$....

[urkel]

I'm not bragging, I am intelligent enough it seems to realise Apple's entire business ethos, business model, pricing structure that it has ALWAYS USED!

It's ludicrous to proclaim they are going to suddenly change it's entire business structure and plan just for ONE device. When EVERYTHING else it sells matchs it's same business plans.

It's all wish full thinking to 'assume' it will be any different for any iPad Mini. That's fact, not big headed or bragging but fact. I mean it's not like the very expensive iPhone 5 or iPad 3 aren't selling in the millions is it? So again why would they change their very lucrative plan? If it ain't broke don't fix it.. it's used the same premium pricing business plan for practically it's entire business history, certainly since the 90's

Declaring ones own intelligence isn't bragging?

Anyway, you're far too aggressive to have a rational conversation with. But since you consider yourself so "Intelligent" then I just want to point out that Apple has used aggressive pricing in order to dominate a market or eliminate competition several times in the past. MP3 players were severely overpriced before Apple brought out the Mini and the pre-existing smartphone market was completely disrupted by the iPhone once they dropped the price and forced the competitors to hit the $199 mark. So the idea of them maintaining their strong tablet advantage by offering a competitive price isn't as crazy as you claim and does fit into Apples history of taking ownership of a market by with consumer friendly pricing.

But regardless, NOBODY outside of Apple knows anything and its just a few days away so I'm not sure why you are trying to prove you know anything when no actual facts exist yet.

And what makes you assume they are going to launch an 8GB model? No store inventory is going to be factual evidence what so ever as no store is going to know yet.

Im not assuming they're launching an 8GB. Its just been the latest RUMOR that everyone has been talking about here.
BGR:Apple will reportedly offer an 8GB iPad mini model for $249

 

[PlutoniusX]

If it is that expensive then it will have to dominate the competition on features and specifications. This is why I do not believe the 1024x768 resolution rumors.

 

[Nate.]

Im not assuming they're launching an 8GB. Its just been the latest RUMOR that everyone has been talking about here.
BGR:Apple will reportedly offer an 8GB iPad mini model for $249

Honestly $249 for 8gb isn't really that bad. I would consider it at that point, considering I'd only use my Mini (if I got one) for some movies, but mostly web browsing, e-mail, etc. So 8GB would be fine. And the price is much better than $350 or whatever the original RUMOR was.

However you're also right, it's just a rumor.

 

[hcho3]

It will be most likely have iPad 2 specs with A5 processor + 512 RAM.

I am skipping this gen.

 

[mantan]

Hello Nexus 7. A 32 gig tablet at $299 (possibly $249), yes please.

 

[kristoffer4]

It will be most likely have iPad 2 specs with A5 processor + 512 RAM.

I am skipping this gen.

What do you base that on? I think that would be hard to sell for a new product from Apple. Same goes for retina.

 

[apolloa]

Declaring ones own intelligence isn't bragging?

Anyway, you're far too aggressive to have a rational conversation with. But since you consider yourself so "Intelligent" then I just want to point out that Apple has used aggressive pricing in order to dominate a market or eliminate competition several times in the past. MP3 players were severely overpriced before Apple brought out the Mini and the pre-existing smartphone market was completely disrupted by the iPhone once they dropped the price and forced the competitors to hit the $199 mark. So the idea of them maintaining their strong tablet advantage by offering a competitive price isn't as crazy as you claim and does fit into Apples history of taking ownership of a market by with consumer friendly pricing.

But regardless, NOBODY outside of Apple knows anything and its just a few days away so I'm not sure why you are trying to prove you know anything when no actual facts exist yet.

I said: I am intelligent enough it seems to realise Apple's entire business ethos, business model, pricing structure that it has ALWAYS USED!

Because others refuse to see the facts in font of them. That's why I said it seems. They did nothing to the smartphone market globally, maybe in America but here in the UK smartphones were priced from reasonable to expensive long before the iPhone. As I understand it America had practically no decent phones before the iPhone? Yet when it was launched in the UK at a VERY high price it actually had less features and specifications that it's competition had for quite some time.
As for MP3 players, Apple dominated the market by forcing the record industry to agree to it's iTunes pricing structure, and Apple's first iPod was very expensive.
So I have no knowledge of this friendly pricing you talk of because every device it has launched as a first in the UK has always been at premium pricing. I'm sorry, but it's all wish full thinking if you believe an iPad is going to cost $250, then again maybe it'll have no cameras at all or bluetooth, an old 1024x768 screen and an A5 SOC dual core CPU single core GPU and a plastic case. All old tech which, considering Amazon sells it's 7" Fire HD at COST then maybe Apple will sell a spec like that at cost. Which again, would be a first for the company's entire history.

And lets not forget the cost of the iPod Touch, which is another thing people 'forget', but I'm sure they'll price a bigger device at a lower price.

Im not assuming they're launching an 8GB. Its just been the latest RUMOR that everyone has been talking about here.
BGR:Apple will reportedly offer an 8GB iPad mini model for $249

I don't think they will launch an 8GB model, especially considering the Nexus 7 soon won't and the Fire HD doesn't.

----------

Hello Nexus 7. A 32 gig tablet at $299 (possibly $249), yes please.

The 32GB Nexus 7 has replaced the 16GB Nexus 7 for the EXACT SAME PRICE. I have a Christmas catalogue in front of me from Argos (A UK retailer) advertising it as such for sale.

 

[Oracle1729]

If it is that expensive then it will have to dominate the competition on features and specifications. This is why I do not believe the 1024x768 resolution rumors.

Good point. The $330 entry point is reasonable, but that resolution at that high a high price would leave them choking on the competition's dust.

I could see a 1024x768 mini, but not for over $200, and I just don't see apple trying to compete on price with an inferior product.

 

[wolfpackfan]

IMO - $349 for a 16GB mini with Retina would be a good deal and I will probably buy it. I never could see Apple offering an 8GB unit or without Retina.

 

[apolloa]

Good point. The $330 entry point is reasonable, but that resolution at that high a high price would leave them choking on the competition's dust.

I could see a 1024x768 mini, but not for over $200, and I just don't see apple trying to compete on price with an inferior product.

You need to remember not only the facts I keep saying. But also the fact that with the specs they have, Amazon sell the 7" Kindle Fire at cost, and Google make a tiny profit on the Nexus 7.
So when you consider they are priced at $199 and $249 then Apple would have to SERIOUSLY reduce the specs of an iPad priced at $200 and make it's usual mark up.
Hence another reason for the $330 and up argument. But I still think $350 and up.

 

[Che Castro]

If that's the base price it better have retina and iPad 3 internals.

Word

 

[Che Castro]

If that's the base price it better have retina and iPad 3 internals.

Word!

 

[Oracle1729]

You need to remember not only the facts I keep saying. But also the fact that with the specs they have, Amazon sell the 7" Kindle Fire at cost, and Google make a tiny profit on the Nexus 7.
So when you consider they are priced at $199 and $249 then Apple would have to SERIOUSLY reduce the specs of an iPad priced at $200 and make it's usual mark up.

Amazon's Kindle is ad supported and designed from the ground up as a platform to get more money out of their customer's pockets. That's the sole reason the fire exists. I would much rather pay $330 for a product designed to be enjoyed rather than $200 for one designed to be a purchase gateway. Even if they have comparable specs and performance.

On the other hand I have so many paid apps on my ipad I made the genius at the apple store go wow. But I've never bought one with in-app purchases even available, so I guess that's just me. But it's no surprised I'd hate the Kindles. I actually check "top in-app purchases" and if it's not empty I skip the app.

 

[HipHopTrex]

I'm afraid if it doesn't have retina, I'll probably go to the Kindle Fire, maybe the Nexus. 330 (hey maybe the student discount will knock it down to 300) is just slightly more than I wanted.

 

[Scott2345]

I hope it does have retina but something tells me that apple will only have retina displays for the new iPads not the minis.

 

[leukotriene]

ughhh... $50 overpriced for me

The nexus 7 and kindle fire are looking more appealing to me now.. have a decision to make

Man if $50 makes the difference between which tablet to get, you might be making the wrong decision. You'll be living with this thing for at least a year, spend the 50 bucks if its the better tablet. (And of course, if its not the better tablet, don't buy it.)

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Good point, the article does state that it may be higher then 329$ I hope your right cause a mini with a retina display would be so nice.

I took that to mean that the base model will be $329, and each step up in storage will be $100. I really don't see how this thing could be retina considering that would put it at a higher ppi than the iPad 3, which sells for $500 and needs a beastly GPU.

A retina iPad mini would cost more to make than an iPad 3.

 

[Scott2345]

Man if $50 makes the difference between which tablet to get, you might be making the wrong decision. You'll be living with this thing for at least a year, spend the 50 bucks if its the better tablet. (And of course, if its not the better tablet, don't buy it.)

----------



I took that to mean that the base model will be $329, and each step up in storage will be $100. I really don't see how this thing could be retina considering that would put it at a higher ppi than the iPad 3, which sells for $500 and needs a beastly GPU.

A retina iPad mini would cost more to make than an iPad 3.

Good point, all signs are pointing to it not having retina even the picture that was leaked of the battery people said that it would not be able to power a retina screen.

The Article states the base price for the 16gb would be 329$ if not higher.

 

[unagimiyagi]

If the base model starts at $329, this will be the perfect litmus test of customer loyalty. That pricing is a lot more than the competition, and I'd be worried that any customer who does any sort of research is going to feel anywhere from perplexed to insulted by the value proposition.

I think that the user experience is better, but is it better by THAT much? I look at the mini as an extremely supplemental device, which means I'm going to be more price sensitive than usual.

Apple will continue to defy all expectations, but I would not be surprised at all if this is the breaking point. I see the Android tablets getting ALOT better, while I do not see iOS improving much at all. The ASUS galaxy nexus 7" is a NICE tablet. This may be a tipping point.

 

[lilcosco08]

Nexus 7 it is

 

[duggram]

Nexus 7 it is

I have a Fire now that I got last winter and before I got my current iPhone I had an HTC Incredible. I just can't see me ever buying anything Android again. If it doesn't run on iOS, it's not good enough for me to own.

 

[PlutoniusX]

I have a Fire now that I got last winter and before I got my current iPhone I had an HTC Incredible. I just can't see me ever buying anything Android again. If it doesn't run on iOS, it's not good enough for me to own.

Tell you what. Compared to the original Fire, the Nexus 7 is worlds apart. Its much better, faster and more refined. I was very skeptical of Android as I used to have a old android tablet that sucked. The Nexus 7 is very impressive and suprising.

 

[Rodster]

Honestly $249 for 8gb isn't really that bad. I would consider it at that point, considering I'd only use my Mini (if I got one) for some movies, but mostly web browsing, e-mail, etc. So 8GB would be fine. And the price is much better than $350 or whatever the original RUMOR was.

However you're also right, it's just a rumor.

When you compare it to the rumored Oct. 29th release of the 32GB Nexus 7 @ $249, then yeah Apple needs to do much better than that. But as a previous poster stated, this is how Apple sells it's goods and as long as people keep buying it they will continue to price things as such.

 

[tech4all]

Don't tell Apple, but I'll pay any price for an iPad Mini. For me, It's not about going cheap, it's about getting more portable.

I got plenty portable with the Nexus 7 for $249. $80 less than this supposed price of $329. Assuming same or similar specs.

iPad mini at $329? No thanks.

 

[unagimiyagi]

The name mini implies, to many people, that it's not quite as good as the full-size. It implies junior, little guy, not quite the whole enchilada.

This means that people will think, why is it so expensive?

So Apple needs to lower the price, or they need to change the name (ipad Air) such that people think of the ipad mini as a first class device on its own.

I do not think that the American public is dumb enough to pay this much out the nose compared to the competition. We've all handled a nexus and the new kindle. These are not piss poor devices anymore and if the ipad mini has ipad 2 internals, I do not think that people will pay so much more b/c a mini feels better in the hand. When you'er buying a budget item, the buyer makes alot of concessions. Apple had better focus all of its marketing on why smaller and slower does not equal cheaper.

 

[mantan]

Honestly $249 for 8gb isn't really that bad. I would consider it at that point, considering I'd only use my Mini (if I got one) for some movies, but mostly web browsing, e-mail, etc. So 8GB would be fine. And the price is much better than $350 or whatever the original RUMOR was.

However you're also right, it's just a rumor.

I'm sorry. To me it's really bad. If Nexus is going to be selling the 32 gig for $249, I'll feel like a total sucker buying an 8 gig mini at that price.

I love the Apple products I own. But for me the mini is just a media consumption device to supplement my phone/laptop when I"m traveling for work.

They will no doubt sell a lot because some people are slaves to the apple ecosystem...but I'd draw the line myself on that one.