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I doubt they would do an 8GB version. It would be pretty much DOA. You can really look at this two ways. Would you choose a $249 Nexus 7 over a $349 iPad mini because of it's lower price. Or would you choose a $349 iPad mini over a $249 Nexus 7 because of it's perceived better quality. I could see your average person split over this. Like others though, I think a $299 iPad mini would fly off the shelves. I know myself, I would buy 3 of them (one for myself and one each for my son and daughter for Christmas). At $399, I think Apple is going to have trouble selling the units. Too close to the regular iPad price IMO. I know at $399, I will probably buy a Nexus 7 and son and daughter will get money for Christmas.
 
There's no proof re: being competitive. There's a lot of supporting evidence though. For example - statements by Apple execs to the tune that they did their research and the tablet size they picked was optimal and anything smaller wouldn't be practical.

Now that 7" tablets are selling (and I KNOWWWW that they aren't selling in near numbers to the iPad) Apple "reverses" its decision that anything smaller than the current iPad in tablet form wouldn't be smart.

On the flip side - you have the history of Apple stating things and then "seemingly" reversing their position. I believe this is planned misdirection. IE - Apple definitely had plans for iBooks yet Steve stated in a keynote that they weren't going after that market - that no one really reads anyway, yadda yadda.

At the end of the day - it doesn't matter if they are trying or not trying to be competitive against other products in the marketplace. That's how it will be perceived by the public. Just like so many people on here think that because Apple made things popular or were first with some things - that everyone else is putting out products to compete with them specifically.

Fact is we have no evidence Apple will sell a smaller iPad to compete with Kindle or Nexus 7. Theories from wall street 'analysts' or the NY Times is not evidence. Every time someone comes out with a new tablet, phone or computer the media rushes to crown it a [insert Apple product name here] killer and then claims Apple will need to produce something similar to compete.

But Amazon has yet to release sales figures for the Kindle Fire. And in all the stories we're hearing about Nexus 7 devices being out of stock I have yet to see one that gives a sales figure. Of course the stories are giving the impression it's selling well but I'd like to see some actual sales figures (which I'm sure we'll never get from Google) and I'll be interested to see how well it's selling a few months from now when the buzz is the new iPhone and possibly Surface tablet.
 
Oh please - if Jobs were alive, this would have definitely been released!

This isn't a chase for marketshare, but an attempt at securing the market.

if apple can release a $199 - $299 tablet that provides a user experience as good as an iPad 2, why NOT release it?

This probably wouldn't have happened if Steve Jobs were still alive. However, this is a chase for market share. There is a segment that want a smaller (than existing iPad) and larger than the iPod/iPhone.

Why do I need this again?
 
I hope it releases soon, because I want to use it to read in the metro, where I stay 30min to go to work, and 30min to get back from work. And the advantage over eReaders is that I can read it at night too... Hopefully it will be Retina display.
 
Like the Zune killed the iPod? The days of being able to underestimate Microsoft at all are long gone. The choo choo is archaic. Apple runs maglev.

Did you hear me predict the zune killing the ipod, you must be referring to someone else, then. :)

I predicted long before the ipad actually happened that it would blow everyone away. Even before everyone was saying wth do we need a big ipod touch...

But what comes around, goes around, and now I firmly believe the fat bold headed beast from redmond is the dark horse here. They are making a come back the size of nuclear mushroom, and mark my words in a year or so, everyone will be talking about them.

Microsoft is the new Apple.
 
At this point give me one good reason why apple shouldn't make a "mini" iPad?

Ooh Ooh I know this game. Salesmen play it all the time. It's called 'overcoming the customer's objections'. If the customer can't think of a reason why not to buy the product, they are obliged to buy it.

Let's see, here is my answer. What is the point?

See how I turned it back on you. I'm good.
 
Oh please - if Jobs were alive, this would have definitely been released!

This isn't a chase for marketshare, but an attempt at securing the market.

if apple can release a $199 - $299 tablet that provides a user experience as good as an iPad 2, why NOT release it?

Apple doesn't study the market as such. They build what they like.

"I you build it, they will come"

If they like it, odds are you will too
 
so?

Not to point out the obvious, but there is a world of difference between the iPad at $499 and the fire at $199 that would allow for 'significant price difference' but still NOT be price competitive with the fire. People thinking we are going to see a cheap ipad are going to be disappointed.
 
Ooh Ooh I know this game. Salesmen play it all the time. It's called 'overcoming the customer's objections'. If the customer can't think of a reason why not to buy the product, they are obliged to buy it.

Let's see, here is my answer. What is the point?

See how I turned it back on you. I'm good.

To make money and more apple customers which equals more iTunes revenue..

Gosh it's not a hard concept
 
Great idea!

A wild thought appears: How about a 'pad that is first of all a navigationdevice, leaning heavily on their new map-system? So it could include a GPS-receiver, and for a small montly fee over-the-air updates, trafficinfo and... *ba-da-bum* a searchfeature with Siri to get you to the closest store of your liking a.s.a.p.
Seconded!
 
Like the Zune killed the iPod? The days of being able to underestimate Microsoft at all are long gone. The choo choo is archaic. Apple runs maglev.

The zune never went anywhere because the stand alone mp3 market was starting to die anway, good product tho, I love my zune HD. To bad it failed.

That guy has a bit of a point, the surface is not an ipad kiler, but I could see it get a decent chunk of marketshare, and kill off the android tablet.

Keyboard? Yes!
Windows 8? Wooo!
Detachable? I'm game.
Io ports? Sold.
X86 processor? Needed.

I think windows 8 tablets will do great, they offer some attractive features that almost. No tablet offers.
Its already generated tons of hype. I can see it doing well.

Back on topic.

Ipad mini? 300 bucks? I'm interested at that price point. I bet lots of people would be

----------

Apple doesn't study the market as such. They build what they like.

"I you build it, they will come"

If they like it, odds are you will too

No, not really. Apple isn't a person, so it can't like or dislike anything ;)

Apple is a business and nothing more, nothing less. If they see a chance to make money, they'll take that chance
 
PERFECT replacement car Navigation / Multimedia???

Random... Was just thinking... Would be awesome to have a DIN or double-DIN setup that would basically just use an iPad MINI as an in-dash touchscreen navigation / multimedia setup-- sooo much crisper display than whatever manufacturers offer OEM... Hope someone does this-- maybe next CES in Vegas??? Anyone have any thoughts??
 
Random... Was just thinking... Would be awesome to have a DIN or double-DIN setup that would basically just use an iPad MINI as an in-dash touchscreen navigation / multimedia setup-- sooo much crisper display than whatever manufacturers offer OEM... Hope someone does this-- maybe next CES in Vegas??? Anyone have any thoughts??

Oh, that will never get. Stolen
 
Bookmarked.

I am afraid to say you are going to be eating your words in a year's or so time when the surface has been out for a while and microsoft are coming as a choo choo train blasting through the tablet arena. Provided they don't shoot themselves in the feet somehow. Remind me to remind you what you were saying when the time comes. :) Don't underestimate the redmond giant, even a sleeping giant is still a giant, and they have been rudely awakened recently.

The fact remains that Ballmer has said, in public, these exact words: "Surface is just a design point."

There. I just bookmarked this page and set a Reminder for July 17, 2013.
It will "remind me to remind you what you were saying when the time comes."
I think a year and a month is long enough for Microsoft's little choo choo to get rolling. (Or not.) :)

Continuing your "train" of wishful thinking, why did you add the following caveat?

"Provided they don't shoot themselves in the feet somehow."

Don't you mean this?

"Provided they stop shooting themselves in the feet somehow."

:)
 
Has SIRI reached the stage where it's good enough for that?

When I've tried it I've had very patchy results getting it to accurately recognise what I'm trying to say with my regional accent.

Siri is coming to the new iPad w/ iOS 6 so Apple must have an improved Siri on deck to the point it feels comfortable w/ a wider release. I'm assuming any new iOS device going forward will feature Siri. Whether its good enough I can't say. Jobs was a perfectionist and he still let the current beta version come preinstalled on the iPhone 4s. I don't perceive Tim Cook being as type-A as Jobs when it comes to product usability so what's to hold it back.
 
And when and where exactly did Apple admit they are leaking out info. Not NYT or such claiming Apple as the source but a confirmed rep from Apple, listed by name and title, actually admitting to leaking information in advance to the media.

That would be an official press release not a controlled leak. Of course Apple are not going to admit to leaking stories to their favoured journalists. Where do you think the stories come from - the tooth fairy?

Anyway read the story yourself...

http://9to5mac.com/2012/07/15/apple...r-to-new-york-times-on-eve-of-nexus-7-launch/
 
Yeah. Apple is great at planned obsolescence aren't they. The original iPad is two years old. It still should work well, and it should be included in software updates. Period.

I think they intentionally put in 256mb of ram so that they force us to buy the new one when it comes out. It's kinda pathetic, they could have put in 512/1gb at the beginning at very little additional cost. But business is business, makes sense for the, to get more profit.
 
On the flip side - you have the history of Apple stating things and then "seemingly" reversing their position. I believe this is planned misdirection. IE - Apple definitely had plans for iBooks yet Steve stated in a keynote that they weren't going after that market - that no one really reads anyway, yadda yadda.

It's not so much planned misdirection. When you make the decision whether to build and sell a product, you weigh up all the pros and cons, and you might end up with a close call where the cons just barely outweigh the pros. In that case, Apple will obviously not build the product (because the cons outweigh the pros), but they will also give all kinds of reasons why building the product would be an incredibly dumb idea and nobody would ever, ever buy the product. Two years later the situation might be just slightly changed but now in favour of building the product. When that happens, Apple builds the product and gives all reasons why it is such a great idea to build it, and why it always was a great idea.
 
Ooh Ooh I know this game. Salesmen play it all the time. It's called 'overcoming the customer's objections'. If the customer can't think of a reason why not to buy the product, they are obliged to buy it.

Let's see, here is my answer. What is the point?

See how I turned it back on you. I'm good.

+ easier to type on (as much as i love the current iPad... typing on it feels more like a chore and a smaller footprint would make it more comfortable)

+ i have a macbook pro and a macbook air. users like myself would appreciate something smaller than an air and larger than an iPhone.

+ watching netflix is ok on an iPhone - but, something on a larger screen and quite portable (yes, iPad is portable, but having a something a tad bit smaller would be nice) to watch media, books and etc on the couch, car, etc would be a godsend.

+ would make playing games feel a little more natural than holding the current size of an iPad.

...etc etc.

different strokes for different folks - but, i would appreciate a 7" iPad. i'm sure i'm not alone. in the mean time... i think i might buy a nexus 7 for the time being. doesn't mean i don't enjoy apple products. but, money talks to companies and might encourage others to notice that a market is there. :apple:

----------

That would be great wouldn't it? Imagine if Apple made everything!! It would simplify buying. :rolleyes:

i don't want to imagine a market of only apple products. competition is healthy. we benefit from it - if one company was dominant... no reason to improve and release only incremental updates. oh wait... :rolleyes:
 
I am afraid to say you are going to be eating your words in a year's or so time when the surface has been out for a while and microsoft are coming as a choo choo train blasting through the tablet arena. Provided they don't shoot themselves in the feet somehow. Remind me to remind you what you were saying when the time comes. :) Don't underestimate the redmond giant, even a sleeping giant is still a giant, and they have been rudely awakened recently.

So yeah. It's been exactly a year since you replied to my comment.
And how is your little Microsoft choo choo train doing, blasting-wise?

Let's see now. Surface has been on sale since October 26, 2012, almost 9 months.
And guess what! Microsoft slashed prices by up to 30% just two days ago.
And why did they do that?

Surface, Microsoft’s first-ever computer, has been largely shunned by consumers and corporate customers since its debut in October, selling just 900,000 units in each of its first two quarters on the market, according to researcher IDC.

Full Bloomberg story: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-15/microsoft-cuts-surface-tablet-prices-amid-weak-demand.html

I agree with you in that "even a sleeping giant is still a giant, and they have been rudely awakened recently."
But that rude awakening was from a massive, costly, embarrassing failure called Surface.
The second shoe has dropped. First Windows Phone, now Surface.
Microsoft's only toe-hold in the post-PC era is Xbox, and it's not even mobile.
 
Makes total sense, Apple have reached the peak of their sales and expanding the product range and it's diversity is the next logical step.
 
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