What does "round Uni" mean?? If it hinders sales then that means there is a market for it.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The problem with iPad Mini
- Thread starter Southernboyj
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Many anti-mini people make the same arguments as you. Nobody will want it, and it will hurt iPad3 sales. You can't have it both ways, saying simultaneously that it won't sell, and yet sales will hurt iPad3.
In any case, there are people (like me) who don't have an iPad at all and are waiting for something smaller or less expensive. If we buy an iPad Mini, no iPad3 sales are hurt. In fact, an iPad sale is made that wouldn't otherwise have been, not to mention additional revenue from iTunes purchases of iPad apps.
These same, tired anti-mini arguments were made for the MacBook Air. It's going to be priced too close to a real laptop! The screen size is too small! No optical drive! Not enough ports! They all missed two points:
(1) There are people who value lightweight portability higher than the features that were reduced.
(2) It's not about what "most people" want. There are billions of people in the world, all with different wants and needs. You only have to appeal to a tiny fraction of them in order to sell millions of units.
The 10" iPad might be WAY, WAY better for you than a 7". But I'm not you, and nobody else is either.
And I agree. If and when the Mini comes out, I will probably buy it over the larger iPad 3 so this won't hurt Apples sales of the iPad 3 at all. Taking a good look at the 7 inch market as of late, Apple could enter the game, and make a good amount of money in doing so. If they build it right, they even could pass the other manufactures hands down.
guess its my accent, well I am from Yorkshire. It basically means "around University"
You know a hinder of sales isn't a good thing right? Pricing would be crucial on an item like this. If its priced similar to an iPad 3 many consumers may think "Hey I could get the larger and faster iPad 3 for not much more money" and if its priced similar to an iPod Touch. The basic iPod touch being £249, Sales of the Touch could be hindered. I reckon most peoples budget for a 7'' tablet would be in the region of £250-£300. People many may think "Hey I can get a small tablet computer for not much more than a tiny little iPod Touch".
Like the Apple Television thats yet to be released I would say I'm 70% certain that an iPad mini isn't meant to be, but thats just my opinion. We shall see.
Basically I try and disagree with these analysts as they are usually wrong anyway and the direct opposite involving Apple happens
Last edited:
I think that what many people don't understand is that Apple was never afraid of competing with their own products.
If today I want the best (subjectively) 7 inch tablet, I'm never gonna buy an iPad, and I'm more oriented towards a Nexus 7 (for example). If I want a 10inch tablet I can buy an iPad or another tablet. If I'm not sure, my choice can be between Apple (iPad) or non-Apple (Nexus 7). If the mini comes out, Apple gains an option in the 7inch market, among those who would never buy an iPad anyway, and also, in the undecided who then can choose between Apple (iPad) and ...Apple (iPad mini)!
So, again...why is this bad for Apple?
Yeah and look how well it worked out for Apple last time with so many different competing products. Now I no this is not the case with a tiny little iPad, but in the 90s Apple almost went bankrupt. I'd say it was mainly because no one could understand what they wanted or needed the product line was so so so so so confusing.
They had Macintosh, Power Macintosh, Perfoma's and Quaddra's each series models trying to target a different customer base. What made it more confusing was that each of these series had tonnes of different models to choose from "some of which where just rebranded items spanning several product lines" It was dire and awfully confusing.
The MBP, the iMacs, each with a range of tech specs and hardware customization (and price). Do you think that's the case too?
I don't. Simply because the algorithm is simple: desktop or notebook. Then: screen size, power, disk capacity. Stop.
iPad or iPad mini. Cellular or non cellular. Disk capacity. Stop.
Not that confusing IMHO
The MBP, the iMacs, each with a range of tech specs and hardware customization (and price). Do you think that's the case too?
I don't. Simply because the algorithm is simple: desktop or notebook. Then: screen size, power, disk capacity. Stop.
iPad or iPad mini. Cellular or non cellular. Disk capacity. Stop.
Not that confusing IMHO
I never said it was confusing now I am talking about Apple's products in the 90s's. It was a total mess back then. They had several totally different style of computers under the same model name if you get what I mean, only varied by number.
If your business analysis about marketshare was correct then car makers would only make one model.guess its my accent, well I am from Yorkshire. It basically means "around University"
You know a hinder of sales isn't a good thing right? Pricing would be crucial on an item like this. If its priced similar to an iPad 3 many consumers may think "Hey I could get the larger and faster iPad 3 for not much more money" and if its priced similar to an iPod Touch. The basic iPod touch being £249, Sales of the Touch could be hindered. I reckon most peoples budget for a 7'' tablet would be in the region of £250-£300. People many may think "Hey I can get a small tablet computer for not much more than a tiny little iPod Touch".
Like the Apple Television thats yet to be released I would say I'm 70% certain that an iPad mini isn't meant to be, but thats just my opinion. We shall see.
Basically I try and disagree with these analysts as they are usually wrong anyway and the direct opposite involving Apple happens
Person who wants a touch to put in their pocket would not consider any tablet a better choice. Apple would like you to buy both.
the whole problem with OP's logic is that he thinks a mini would be less desirable universally than a full sized ipad.
If you gave me the choice of ipad mini and a regular ipad 2 at the same price, I'd go with mini.
Some people might not.
But that doesn't mean it's poor pricing or economics.
If you gave me the choice of ipad mini and a regular ipad 2 at the same price, I'd go with mini.
Some people might not.
But that doesn't mean it's poor pricing or economics.
Now there is news of Nexus tablet for $99. I really think an iPad mini is coming out. Just when and how much $ are the questions.
The OP pointed out that an iPod Touch starts at $299 and it wouldn't make sense to release an iPad mini for the same price and at $349 will there be demand? I'm not sure. I was originally telling myself I'd buy as much iPM as $299 would get me, as far as storage. Maybe $299 wouldn't get me anything.
Things to keep in mind about the iPod Touch for $299 are that its retina. I'd have to guess the mini will probably be retina but costs could be cut by forgoing a retina display. Also, the iPod touch is 32 GB. While not a big price difference, going to 16GB of storage would save a few bucks.
I actually think I will be disappointed if the mini is $349. You can get a 16GB refurbished iPad 2 for $319 from Apple and the current gen for $449. If a mini comes out and starts at $349 I'd personally wait for a refurb before buying one. I would hope at that price though you'd get 32GB of storage. If it's 16 and $349 I may just get a refurb iPad 3.
The OP pointed out that an iPod Touch starts at $299 and it wouldn't make sense to release an iPad mini for the same price and at $349 will there be demand? I'm not sure. I was originally telling myself I'd buy as much iPM as $299 would get me, as far as storage. Maybe $299 wouldn't get me anything.
Things to keep in mind about the iPod Touch for $299 are that its retina. I'd have to guess the mini will probably be retina but costs could be cut by forgoing a retina display. Also, the iPod touch is 32 GB. While not a big price difference, going to 16GB of storage would save a few bucks.
I actually think I will be disappointed if the mini is $349. You can get a 16GB refurbished iPad 2 for $319 from Apple and the current gen for $449. If a mini comes out and starts at $349 I'd personally wait for a refurb before buying one. I would hope at that price though you'd get 32GB of storage. If it's 16 and $349 I may just get a refurb iPad 3.
It was a mess because there was no rational planning behind them. All those models were just dragged along, adding more along the way and never thinking of a proper product strategy. So, now that there is an extremely refined product strategy behind every little move, I don't get why we're still talking about the 90s
The iPad Mini will fail at a $399 price point. The mass market won't pay double the price for a fruit logo. For that reason, cheap Android tablets will gain more and more of the market until Apple is left with their 5% niche. Don't think it's possible? Apple fanbois were saying the same thing about Microsoft in the 80s-- "Windows will never take market share from us!"--and Microsoft won that battle, just as Google will win this one.
Right. It'll happen again because it happened before. Great logic.
The fact of the matter is we have no idea what will or won't sell. I personally think there is significant demand for a smaller tablet, regardless of price point. Apple is primarily a hardware company, so I'd look for it to protect its margins in that respect. They can come down on price in the next few years as tablet adoption spreads. No need to go uber cheap right away. I wouldn't be suspended to see something around $399 for a 16GB for something that is basically the bigger iPad in a smaller form. There's no reason why an iPad 2 couldn't co exist at that same price point.
More and more people will eventually get irritated at the "Walled garden" that is iOS. Seriously watch this video.
If you want the best laptop right now you buy a MBP. IF cost is a problem and you're willing to put up with less of an OS, you buy a Windows laptop.
If you want the best eReader made you buy a mini when it comes out. If cost is a problem and you're willing to put up with less of an OS, you buy an Android reader.
I have a Kindle Fire and would gladly pay $400 for a mini.
There's always been an Apple niche. It doesn't matter what Google does. It only matters what Apple does. It's just like the person that will only buy a Ford and not a Chevy. It doesn't mean the Ford is better. We're not talking world dominance here. We're talking about the problems with the mini. And as I see it the only problem with the mini at this time is that it's not released.
----------
The larger iPods are the same size as the iPhone. How could the mini possibly hurt iPod sales? Why doesn't the iPhone hurt iPod sales? There are some people that would not buy an iPod. If you have an iPhone, why have an iPod? My wife has an iPod and never uses it since getting an iPhone.
Why would Apple only put 8GB in the mini? That makes no sense at all and if it did, why not limit all the iPads?
I'm interested to revisit this thread if an iPad Mini is released soon. See who was right on different subjects, or maybe they will surprise us all and we will all be way off.