There will NOT be an iPad Mini

[Mactrillionaire]

Steve Jobs is no longer in charge

Maybe there won't be a mini iPad, but that would be sad. The iPad is clunky and easy to drop and overheats. I personally don't mind the overheating, but it is awkward to use; it is just not 'mobile' enough. The other thing iOS has going against it is that it has no interactive internet content, by which I mean Flash. Now, I can understand why many would rally against Flash, even I do, it is slow, overuses CPU resources and memory and power and is outdated, but it is the only real solution for interactive internet content. If Apple wants it to go away then they should develop their own interactive internet content alternative. It's just not acceptable that you cannot play games within Safari Mobile and other things that you might want to do (and some other things that you might not want to, ha!).

 

[nuckinfutz]

Maybe there won't be a mini iPad, but that would be sad. The iPad is clunky and easy to drop and overheats.

Stopped reading after this line.

 

[taipan61]

Maybe there won't be a mini iPad, but that would be sad. The iPad is clunky and easy to drop and overheats. I personally don't mind the overheating, but it is awkward to use; it is just not 'mobile' enough. The other thing iOS has going against it is that it has no interactive internet content, by which I mean Flash. Now, I can understand why many would rally against Flash, even I do, it is slow, overuses CPU resources and memory and power and is outdated, but it is the only real solution for interactive internet content. If Apple wants it to go away then they should develop their own interactive internet content alternative. It's just not acceptable that you cannot play games within Safari Mobile and other things that you might want to do (and some other things that you might not want to, ha!).

so if the 7" ipad is adapted from it's larger brethren and since it's evolving from the apple ecosystem won't it have exactly the same issues you're concerned about already? flash is dead and no one is gonna resurrect it, really the only people concerned about it are themselves cheap (websites) and streaming porn, the rest of the web has overcome and adapted as needed, as everyone well knows $$$ drive the web

but hey just my .02

and yes i would buy a 7" ipad

 

[baypharm]

Samsung is the one who started the rumors. They claim to have a contract with Apple to produce them.

----------

Maybe there won't be a mini iPad, but that would be sad. The iPad is clunky and easy to drop and overheats. I personally don't mind the overheating, but it is awkward to use; it is just not 'mobile' enough. The other thing iOS has going against it is that it has no interactive internet content, by which I mean Flash. Now, I can understand why many would rally against Flash, even I do, it is slow, overuses CPU resources and memory and power and is outdated, but it is the only real solution for interactive internet content. If Apple wants it to go away then they should develop their own interactive internet content alternative. It's just not acceptable that you cannot play games within Safari Mobile and other things that you might want to do (and some other things that you might not want to, ha!).

Your post has so many grammatical errors I just can't stand it!

 

[Vege-Taco]

I completely agree.

Can everyone just stop with this rumour? This has become one of the worst, overhyped Apple rumours I've ever seen.

First, the sources for these rumours are crap: often times it's some Chinese publication putting it out.

Second, the size will be a waste. Jobs is right, 7" tablets are tweeners. They generally suck for content. Smartphones are now so useful you really need a compelling reason to drop the handheld for a tablet. The iPad is just big enough to justify its existence in this respect. There's no way Apple is going to release it for this reason... In other words, it's a dead category. The only reason this stuff gets perpetuated is because of link whores and Apple's ever present disinformation machine.

"Keep em' guessing; distract them; thwart their offensive efforts; cause confusion..."

 

[hitekalex]

Tweeners are a dead end. The market has spoken. It's not about Apple doing it "right"... how people would buy if and only if Apple did it. The product as a segment of the tablet market just isn't useful enough [..]

The bottom line isn't anything but whether people actually need tweeners. And I don't think they do. They need smartphones

Again, you are confusing what's "useful" to YOU versus a general non-tech-savvy population. I am sure you already have a laptop, a 10" tablet and a smartphone. Well, guess what? You are in the minority - there are MILLIONS of people out there who don't need / can't afford smartphones with 2-year $75/month contracts, and who will never spend a $750 on a tablet.

My wife is a perfect example - she just wants an e-reader, which can also be used for casual e-mail / web surfing. She has a Nook Color right now, which works fine for her needs. If Apple had a comparably priced / sized device - we would be all over that. There is a HUGE segment of the market with similar needs, who just want a casual reading device with Internet capabilities for a couple hundred bucks.

Please don't make a mistake of equating your high-end needs and expectations with those of general non-tech-savvy public.

I agree that if Apple could make a full-featured iPad in a smaller size for $200-$250 they would sell very well. But Apple can't do that. Nobody can. They either will not do it at all or they will do it at a realistic price point which will have everyone here up in arms over what a terrible thing Apple did.

Seriously, please do some research. It costs Apple little over $300 to make the latest retina iPad. Good chunk of that cost is a 9.7" retina display. Apple can easily make a 7" non-retina iPad for about $180, sell it for $249 and still make 40% profit margin.

 

[spiderman0616]

There is a market for a 7" iPad, but I'm not sure Apple needs it. The only people who get online to discuss the merits of a 9.7" iPad vs. the merits of a 7" iPad are geeks like us.

Speaking for myself, I go on lots of tech news and rumor sites all throughout the day and follow several of them on Twitter. I have a constant stream of rumors and speculation coming my way every day and I get in discussions with other people like me who do the same types of things. From the media that I surround myself with, I could draw the conclusion that the world is clamoring for a 7" iPad, but that would probably be a foolish conclusion.

However, I do think there is a market there, and I do think a 7" iPad would successfully dissuade several million people from buying a Nexus 7. So I say, "Go Apple", but if this thing turns out to be vaporware, then so be it. Apple will still sell gajillions of 9.7" iPads and everyone else will be fighting for the scraps. We proved this last year with the initial release of the Kindle Fire and it will be proven again this year.

 

[hitekalex]

However, I do think there is a market there, and I do think a 7" iPad would successfully dissuade several million people from buying a Nexus 7.

Well put. The fact that there is a significant market for 7-8" tablet in $200-$300 price range is indisputable. The only real question is - will Apple care to enter this market, or will they simply cede it to Amazon/Google.

 

[teknikal90]

Remember when netbooks was all the rage?
Apple: They're not better at anything, just cheap notebooks

Now, 7 inch tablets:

They're not better at anything, just cheap tablets...

 

[poloponies]

It costs Apple little over $300 to make the latest retina iPad. Good chunk of that cost is a 9.7" retina display. Apple can easily make a 7" non-retina iPad for about $180, sell it for $249 and still make 40% profit margin.

The iSuppli figure shows a $316BOM on the iPad 3. You speculate that they could shave $136 off that by dropping the size to 7". Where does the savings come from? The display/touchscreen is $127 and the battery is $32, so I guess if you eliminate those you can get to the range of your estimate. However, that leaves you without a battery or display. It's a safe bet that those items will fall in between the iPad's pricing and the iPhone's (which is $37 for display/touchscreen and $6 for battery). Figure $89 for both. That gets you to half of your $136 guess. Where's the rest coming from?

----------

Apple can easily make a 7" non-retina iPad for about $180, sell it for $249 and still make 40% profit margin.

One last thing: $69 profit on a $249 sale is 27%, not 40%. You'd need to sell it for $279. But then again, you'd need to build it for $180, which is not possible.

 

[spiderman0616]

Remember when netbooks was all the rage?
Apple: They're not better at anything, just cheap notebooks

Now, 7 inch tablets:

They're not better at anything, just cheap tablets...

If there is any reason that Apple doesn't do an iPad Mini, it will be this.

 

[mehanika]

Deleted

 

[Mactrillionaire]

Samsung is the one who started the rumors. They claim to have a contract with Apple to produce them.

----------



Your post has so many grammatical errors I just can't stand it!

I would go with what Samsung says. The rest of what you say about this post is devoid of substantive value. If I want to be compulsive about my grammar, that is my choice. It is better to worry less than too much. There are so many things out of our control and we could spend our time better if we did not worry about even some things that are under our control.

 

[poloponies]

Alot of evidence from various source (including Bloomberg, as mentioned earlier) shows that Apple is at least looking very much into this.

Bloomberg's just repeating rumors. Nobody in the know is disclosing any inside information. None of what's been repeated in the press is "evidence." It's just conjecture.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Again, you are confusing what's "useful" to YOU versus a general non-tech-savvy population. I am sure you already have a laptop, a 10" tablet and a smartphone. Well, guess what? You are in the minority - there are MILLIONS of people out there who don't need / can't afford smartphones with 2-year $75/month contracts, and who will never spend a $750 on a tablet.

My wife is a perfect example - she just wants an e-reader, which can also be used for casual e-mail / web surfing. She has a Nook Color right now, which works fine for her needs. If Apple had a comparably priced / sized device - we would be all over that. There is a HUGE segment of the market with similar needs, who just want a casual reading device with Internet capabilities for a couple hundred bucks.

Please don't make a mistake of equating your high-end needs and expectations with those of general non-tech-savvy public.

Agreed. Also, let's not forget that parents will be more willing to spend $200 for the Nexus 7, Kindle Fire, et al than the $500 that Apple is charging for the iPad.

 

[poloponies]

Agreed. Also, let's not forget that parents will be more willing to spend $200 for the Nexus 7, Kindle Fire, et al than the $500 that Apple is charging for the iPad.

No doubt. I considered it myself briefly until I actually spent some time with a Kindle Fire. And I wish them all good luck with their purchases.

 

[hitekalex]

The iSuppli figure shows a $316BOM on the iPad 3. You speculate that they could shave $136 off that by dropping the size to 7". Where does the savings come from?

Everything across the board - smaller / non-retina screen, smaller battery, previous gen A5 SoC (don't need the latest A5X to drive non-retina display).. perhaps even dropping the storage to 8GB on lowest end device.

By the end of this year, the price of the components is bound to drop below what was quoted by iSuppli in February.

There is no doubt Apple can drive the cost of iPad Mini down to well under $200, and still keep reasonable profit margin.

 

[ixodes]

It's just been confirmed elsewhere on the web, that Apple will in fact... NOT make a 7" iPad.

That will make a lot of the haters, very happy.


In other news, Foxconn has confirmed that they are ahead of schedule.

Beginning tomorrow, they are shipping the highly sought after 6.98" iPad to Apple's distribution points.

I'm so relieved it's not the huge 7" size.

 

[Arran]

I have no idea why this is, but for the last day I've been having this strange image that keeps popping into my head of Larry and Curly trying to run a spin campaign

You too, huh?

 

[dancj]

I honestly believe that iPad 3 sales are not doing good in comparison to the iPad 2.

Last I heard the iPad 3 sales were thrashing the iPad 2 sales. Certainly anecdotally, and myself included, the number of people I know with an iPad has quadrupled since the iPad 3 came out.

----------

Not saying there will be an iPad Mini for sure, but where there's smoke there's fire.

I really despise that saying. There is often smoke without fire.

 

[knucklehead]

If there is any reason that Apple doesn't do an iPad Mini, it will be this.

They might not do it for other reasons that have nothing to do with it being "better" at anything or not.
It could be that they simply see it as being more profitable to continue with the marketing strategy of not confusing the customers with having to make too many choices.

Not a particularly admirable choice at this point, as far as I'm concerned. EDIT: Especially if part of that choice is to actively practice a disinformation campaign to promote the illusion that there really is only one "best" choice.

 

[knucklehead]

Last I heard the iPad 3 sales were thrashing the iPad 2 sales. Certainly anecdotally, and myself included, the number of people I know with an iPad has quadrupled since the iPad 3 came out.

----------


I really despise that saying. There is often smoke without fire.

But is there ever smoke for no reason? (just might not be the first one that pops to mind)

 

[Cheffy Dave]

Sorry!

Done deal, it's going to happen, and THIS YEAR!

 

[Cheffy Dave]

Sorry!

Done deal, it's going to happen, and THIS YEAR!

 

[boomhower]

I think it will happen and I think there is a market for it. The $500 iPad market is getting saturated. Come out with a $250 tablet and you open yourself up to a new market. Mom and Dad may have an iPad but they aren't nearly as likely to buy little Bobby and Susie a $500 tablet. Half that price and it will happen a lot more. I would buy two for my kids on release day. Then there is a lot of people who just can't afford a $500 tablet, again half that price and a new market opens up. I Then there is smaller market that just wants a smaller tablet. I think the price consensus market is a lot bigger.

Fact is they can sell a $250 tablet at a 30% or better margin. Apple is a company that basically manufacturers money, this is just another opportunity.