Table market so large Apple should offer 3 versions.

[santaliqueur]

Your reasoning is "the tablet market is so large"?

The tablet market should probably be called the iPad market, since the iPad is so dominant. Since iPad is wiping the floor with all other "competitors", I'd say they are doing just fine without producing lots of unnecessary sizes.

 

[takeshi74]

Table market so large Apple should offer 3 versions

Where are your numbers to back up this claim? How many people are clamoring for each of these various sizes? No company is going to make such a decision based on some random forum user's gut feeling.

 

[Night Spring]

iPod Touch starts at $184.99. Even more reason for a $299 iPad Mini.

That's the discounted price from Best Buy. I got my price from Apple's website. And all other prices you quoted before was Apple's pricing. Let's stick to comparing like to like, ok?

 

[PracticalMac]

Rather than being backward, it's a fairly realistic way of looking at it. If the market is demanding smaller then price won't be a roadblock. If the market is demanding smaller because the expectation is that it will be cheaper then that makes no sense for Apple.

The "give away the device and profit off content" strategy is not how Apple runs its business. Take a look at the quarterly reports that have led to Apple's current success. They're all hardware based and reflect sales at a relatively high margin that needs to be maintained to meet market expectations.

...

Running multi-billion-dollar corporations requires far more complex thinking than "let's make lots of sizes so we'll make everyone happy."

Again you utterly fail in understanding what I say.

A smaller iPad 2 based iPad Mini will cost less.
iPad 2 currently sells for $399, still profitable, otherwise Apple will not make.
Mini iPad (2) will cost less to make simply becuase it is smaller. Granted is much not quite be $100 less, but it will cost less.


Your final argument fails badly too.
Samsung is producing a crazy array of sizes and variations of its Android devices, and guess what, they are the top smartphone maker (all makes) and top Android tablet maker.
Clearly a larger variety of designs can hook a lot of customers, even though profit is not as great (but in Apples case, they make more $$$ in software and media sales).

 

[PracticalMac]

That's the discounted price from Best Buy. I got my price from Apple's website. And all other prices you quoted before was Apple's pricing. Let's stick to comparing like to like, ok?

Straight from Apple website:
"iPod touch

Music, games, iMessage, HD video recording, and more. It has fun written all over it.

From $199.00 "


All the prices are Apples current price, with the $299 iPad Mini the only speculation.
So, what don't you understand???

Where are your numbers to back up this claim? How many people are clamoring for each of these various sizes? No company is going to make such a decision based on some random forum user's gut feeling.

Hows about 52~60% of potential customers want a iPad Mini.

It's here in a non-scientific poll done by a major tech site.
I myself want one, a co-worker wants one, a friend wants one.

So, I knew the numbers, and apparently you did not.
There is a demand, pure and simple.

 

[Night Spring]

Straight from Apple website:
"iPod touch

Music, games, iMessage, HD video recording, and more. It has fun written all over it.

From $199.00 "


All the prices are Apples current price, with the $299 iPad Mini the only speculation.
So, what don't you understand???

The $199 touch is 8GB. There is no 16GB, and the 32GB touch is $299.

How many GB does your imaginary $299 iPad mini have?

 

[PracticalMac]

You do realize that the latest gen iPod touch starts at $299, right? The $199 model is the previous gen model.

The $199 touch is 8GB. There is no 16GB, and the 32GB touch is $299.

Did you make a mistake with your earlier posting?

How many GB does your imaginary $299 iPad mini have?

What ever Apple decides.
Does not mean the market is not there, its just waiting for Apple to pursue it.

 

[monkeylui]

I would buy an iPad mini if they made it. I have the Samsung galaxy tab 2 7" & it's a good size. I alternate between that & my iPad.

 

[noisycats]

Sure iPad is the by far the best, but that is not enough for people to buy it.

Try again.

 

[PracticalMac]

Try again.

Sure iPad is by far the best, but that is not enough for people to buy it.






If someone needs a particular size (or other attribute), that is what they will choose first, regardless of quality and/or price.

 

[xraytech]

One size does not fit all. The world is full of S, M, L, XL, XXL, and XXXXXXXXL.
We expect size selection, its almost a right, why believe one size of iPad be accepted by everyone?

The demand for tablets has exploded and people are looking at what works for them best. Sure iPad is the by far the best, but that is not enough for people to buy it.

In 2010 one size was perfect, today it is a serious liability because it does not give customers choices.

Apple has several sizes of MacBook, MBAir's, iMac's
Offer 3 versions of iPod's.
And still produce 2 older generations of iPhones (3GS and 4).
iPad is only 1, with last years model.

Meanwhile most competition offers at least 2 versions, Samsung offering 4, maybe 5.

Apple needs:
9.8"
7.8"
and perhaps a
10.1" in 16:9 wide screen format, possibly same format as 2012 iPhone (5?) format.

You may not agree with the proposed sizes, but Apple does need to offer different versions.
(I want the XXXXXXXXXXL one )

Actually there are 18 versions right now.

I just check the Apple Store Website.

 

[Night Spring]

Did you make a mistake with your earlier posting?

The mistake was I thought that the 8GB model was a 3rd gen model, like when Apple sold a 2nd gen 8GB alongside 3rd gen touch. Sorry about that.

What ever Apple decides.
Does not mean the market is not there, its just waiting for Apple to pursue it.

The market may be there, but the question is whether it is large enough for it to be worth pursuing to Apple. Anecdotal evidence like "all my friends and family want an iPad mini" mean little, because I can counter that with "I don't know anyone who wants an iPad mini -- all my friends and family are either happy with current iPad, or have no interest in tablets no matter what the size."

And one reason why Apple may be weary of introducing an iPad mini at this point time is that there will be considerable price overlap between various models of touch / mini / iPad. You see all those forum threads with people asking whether they should buy an iPad 2 or 3? Throw in an iPad mini and the choices become even more confusing. Studies have proven it's not a good idea to give customers too many choices -- faced with too many choices, customers often end up not buying anything.

All that said, I wouldn't be surprised if Apple did come out with an iPad mini. But I would be just as not surprised if they didn't come out with one. It seems to me it could go either way, with arguments for and against that seem equally compelling to me.

If someone needs a particular size (or other attribute), that is what they will choose first, regardless of quality and/or price.

I would argue that it's not as simple as that. What if something is the right size, but the quality is absolutely crappy? What if the right size device is priced way outside of my budget? What if the reason I want a tablet device is that I want to run some app X, that only exists for the iPad? In fact, the more I think about it, the more difficult time I have thinking of a situation where someone absolutely cannot compromise on the size of the device. It's just so small and portable already. And considering that there is an iPhone/iPod touch for those situations where you absolutely cannot carry something as big as the iPad, it just seems to me like the iPad mini is a "nice to have" device. But I'd love to hear if people have specific usage scenarios that prove me wrong.

 

[noisycats]

I personally know 2 people who only will buy a smaller iPad (don't have one now).

----------

If someone needs a particular size (or other attribute), that is what they will choose first, regardless of quality and/or price.

no one "needs" an iPad, that is where you lose your argument. All Apple has to do is keep convincing customers the current size is best ... Except for your two friends of course. Y'all know better.

 

[darngooddesign]

There is a demand for a smaller one, but how much of a demand is up for debate. I think Apple will make one, it won't, however, be priced at 299 because that will cannibalize sales of the iTouch. It will most likely be priced at 399.

 

[Fattytail]

All product categories have life cycles and we're still in the very early stages of the current generation of tablets. Diversification into different form factors is usually a sign that a product category is beginning to or has matured. See the iPod as an example. Apple is still making a killing with just one form factor. If the tablet market continues to grow at its current rate, I have no doubt that Apple will make a different form factor iPad and perhaps more than one. But at this point, there's really no need.

 

[Doombringer]

I think there is room for Apple to create one smaller iPad, to position between their phone and the full-size iPad. If the iPhone 5 goes up to 4 inches, and the iPad is nearly 10 inches... perhaps something to challenge the Kindle Fire at 7 inches?

 

[Fattytail]

I think there is room for Apple to create one smaller iPad, to position between their phone and the full-size iPad. If the iPhone 5 goes up to 4 inches, and the iPad is nearly 10 inches... perhaps something to challenge the Kindle Fire at 7 inches?

I would love to see something like the Galaxy Tab 7.7. The thought of Apple's industrial design on that form factor is truly drool-worthy.

 

[PracticalMac]

no one "needs" an iPad, that is where you lose your argument. All Apple has to do is keep convincing customers the current size is best ... Except for your two friends of course. Y'all know better.

That's what I implied.
What is for certain is the trend to get tablets over laptops and desktops.

----------

The market may be there, but the question is whether it is large enough for it to be worth pursuing to Apple.

Completely agree with you here. FWIW, I think the market is there.

And one reason why Apple may be weary of introducing an iPad mini at this point time is that there will be considerable price overlap between various models of touch / mini / iPad. You see all those forum threads with people asking whether they should buy an iPad 2 or 3? Throw in an iPad mini and the choices become even more confusing. Studies have proven it's not a good idea to give customers too many choices -- faced with too many choices, customers often end up not buying anything.

True, but then again tablets are established product and iPad is close to 100 million mark, it is not a strange device any more.

Again, Samsung has a huge variety of devices and sizes, and remain Apples top competitor.

I would argue that it's not as simple as that. What if something is the right size, but the quality is absolutely crappy?
...
But I'd love to hear if people have specific usage scenarios that prove me wrong.

Kindle Fire is crappy hardware, yet sold millions.

Smaller children would be much more comfortable with smaller iPad. In fact, the smaller size will be no impact for them.

 

[Night Spring]

Kindle Fire is crappy hardware, yet sold millions.

Smaller children would be much more comfortable with smaller iPad. In fact, the smaller size will be no impact for them.

Well, you started out this thread by arguing that Apple "needs" to offer different tablet sizes, and then seemed to be arguing that some people "need" tablets to be a smaller size than the current iPad. You had said size was the most important factor, and people would buy a tablet that was the "right" size even if quality was crap. Saying the Fire sold well doesn't tell us why people bought them. Did they buy it because it was cheaper, or because they like how it integrates into Amazon's ecosystem, or because of the size? And did they not buy an iPad because it was too big?

As for small children, my cousin's three-year old son is having no problem using an iPad. He carries it around with him while FaceTiming with his grandma. And while children may have smaller hands, their eyes see the same as adults -- the iPad's bigger screen size conveys visual benefits, which children will appreciate. A video or a game will look more impressive on a ten-inch screen than on a seven-inch screen. So I wouldn't say children "need" smaller tablets, and I'd say for some uses, they would prefer a bigger tablet.

 

[Comeagain?]

We've all seen Apples determination to provide options to users, and dedication to providing the lowest price, regardless of the quality of the end product.

 

[nuckinfutz]

There is a demand for a smaller one, but how much of a demand is up for debate. I think Apple will make one, it won't, however, be priced at 299 because that will cannibalize sales of the iTouch. It will most likely be priced at 399.

$299 is Apple's sweet spot for an iPad mini. They don't have to worry about the Touch because the Touch is no longer that important.


OP:

The die has already been cast for multiple sizes of iPads. Pay no attention to those who try to connect the failure of Android tablets in multiple sizes. Everything that Apple is doing is moving towards Resolution Independence which makes the leap to different form factors easy. In fact the more pertinent question is

"Why does the new Retina Macbook Pro have no "YYYY x YYYY" resolutions in the display pref?"

It's because ultimately resolution is no longer something that end users need worry about anymore. iPad will follow suit.

 

[Stuntman06]

I am one who does not feel that one size fits all. I did not choose to get an iPhone because that one model's physical aspects were not to my liking. The physical aspect of that the iPhone was something a compromise I did not want to make.

With regard to tablets, I do feel there is a benefit to having tablets of different sizes. The tablet that I own (Transformer) is approximately the same size and weight as an iPad. One thing I found with it is that it gets a little uncomfortable if I try to hold it with one hand for any signficant length of time. I tried out the Sony Tablet S at a store and found that this tablet was a bit smaller and much lighter that it was much more comfortable to hold in one hand.

The point is that depending on how you want to use your devices, a device with a different physical aspect may suit you more than another. I think there are people who own or want to get the latest iPad may like something that is a little smaller and lighter. Some people may even want something bigger.

Apple seems to always try to design a singular device that tries to be as many things to as many people as possible. They have had great success at doing that. There are rumours of possible future devices deviating somewhat from the original iPhone and iPad's physical size characteristics. I'm interested in seeing if they will really follow through on this and what the response would be.

 

[poloponies]

$299 is Apple's sweet spot for an iPad mini. They don't have to worry about the Touch because the Touch is no longer that important.


OP:

The die has already been cast for multiple sizes of iPads. Pay no attention to those who try to connect the failure of Android tablets in multiple sizes. Everything that Apple is doing is moving towards Resolution Independence which makes the leap to different form factors easy. In fact the more pertinent question is

"Why does the new Retina Macbook Pro have no "YYYY x YYYY" resolutions in the display pref?"

It's because ultimately resolution is no longer something that end users need worry about anymore. iPad will follow suit.

It has nothing to do withe the failure of smaller Android pads and everything to do with how it would work with Apple's current lineup.

 

[nuckinfutz]

It has nothing to do withe the failure of smaller Android pads and everything to do with how it would work with Apple's current lineup.

Agree. Android has nothing to do with this which is why it shouldn't be brought up when talking about the efficacy of a larger/smaller iPad.

Apple's actions lay out the roadmap clearly.

For years they've been telling developers to await the move to HiRez. After multiple iterations of attempting to develop Resolution Independence it appears they've found their strategy.

For years Apple's been telling developer to stop thinking about pixels and start thinking about points. "1 pixel != 1 point "

Next Lion developed Auto Layout which scales UI elements intelligently and now Auto Layout is on iOS 6.0.

Now we've got 3 Retina Display products (iPhone, iPad and RMBP)

Different sizes of iPads is inevitable and developers that keep their code up to date with the latest frameworks will see their apps move with relative ease to different screen sizes (note I didn't say resolution)

 

[HstephenG]

I agree with the point that the iPad's one size does not fit all. There are many people who feel it is either too big or too expensive, so a smaller, cheaper version could help attract these.
Yes this could also lead to some customers choosing the smaller (and less profitable) "iPad Mini", but the benefit of getting more people into the apple ecosystem may outweigh this negative. IMHO.

I own everything apple, except for an iPad. The second a smaller one comes out I will be ditching my tablet for it. Until then, I will keep my money and Barnes and Noble will profit from it.