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The WSJ, along with Jim Dalrymple from the Loop Insight & Rene Ritchie from iMore.com, have excellent track records.

Jim...yes. Rene Ritchie from iMore not so much (they reported the iPad mini would launch at the same time as the iPhone 5, which obviously didn't happen)
 
I still can't really see what the benefits of an iPad mini are. The iPad is already REALLY portable and small and does everything I need it to do. Other than price, what would be the justification to buy one? As an e-reader? Browsing, email, apps, etc..? I could do all that on the already portable iPad.

What category does it fit in where it would add enhanced, or even alternate value? What's its justification as a product?
 
Silent majority?

I know I'm in a minority but I totally agree with those posting comments asking where the Mac rumours are (rumors for my friends over the pond). I'm (still) waiting for Mac Pro news and there are many waiting on iMac news.

I get the whole "Apple sells loads of iPhones and iPads bla bla bla" and you're right about that but it's generally more tech oriented people who visit Mac Rumors and many of us are waiting for Mac news.

I feel sure iMac changes won't be long but for the Pro Tim said "later next year". I don't like the words "next year" and dislike the word "later" in that sentence even more.

Trying to stay positive, I feel sure that both desktops will receive design changes inspired by the latest tech updates and Apple's wish to ditch optical drives. Could be interesting. When it happens. Eventually. :rolleyes:

I think there are a lot of us out here who don't typically comment, but read the site multiple times per day, and are just as interested if not more so, in iDevice rumors. I'd be interested to see some breakdown on visitor interest or demographics.
 
I really find it hilarious that there are still people saying this isn't going to happen.

Even if it happens, it's not going to happen. Millions of people will buy an iPad Mini for $300 (or whatever), and once they unbox it, they'll realize it's a regular full-size Retina iPad, and they actually spent $500. It will turn out to be some sort of mass hypnosis induced by Tim Cook, but everyone will love their full-size iPads so much that nobody will complain or ask for their money back.
 
I still can't really see what the benefits of an iPad mini are. The iPad is already REALLY portable and small and does everything I need it to do. Other than price, what would be the justification to buy one? As an e-reader? Browsing, email, apps, etc..? I could do all that on the already portable iPad.

What category does it fit in where it would add enhanced, or even alternate value? What's its justification as a product?

Well, when you put one in a case, even slim one, its still becoming heavier.
A smaller can be actually very light, I guess, especially new technology for making iPhone5 so light will be applied to iPads mini too. Lighter is always better.
 
Would make sense

Why iPad mini would be a logic evolution? I see two versions of this product.

1. 'Cheap' version with non retina display
Name: iReader
For who: people who read a lot, and uses kindle style machines. Students, commuters...
Price: $129 or below
Benefit: grab this market of readers, and create hallow effect . Also provide much better reading experience than other readers.
Features: super thin, lighter (can hold without problem), limited iOS, very very long battery life.

2. Mini iPad as leaked, with full features of new iPad.
Name: iPad mini
For who: pros, people who bought the RMB.
Price: $700
Benefit: the roll Royce of smaller size tablets.

I did not explain in too much details my reasoning, on order to make this first post simple.

This is my first post, so go easy on me... But tell me what you think.
 
Well, when you put one in a case, even slim one, its still becoming heavier.
A smaller can be actually very light, I guess, especially new technology for making iPhone5 so light will be applied to iPads mini too. Lighter is always better.

Sure, I agree. But surely they could make the normal iPad lighter with the new in-cell technology and other rumoured carbon fiber tech rather than make a new version for that reason. I guess maybe it's like the 13' and 15' macbook pro's. But in the case, people choose one or the other, so I guess people will either choose the mini or the current one, but not both.
 
Sure, I agree. But surely they could make the normal iPad lighter with the new in-cell technology and other rumoured carbon fiber tech rather than make a new version for that reason. I guess maybe it's like the 13' and 15' macbook pro's. But in the case, people choose one or the other, so I guess people will either choose the mini or the current one, but not both.

True. Thats the case of Apple cannibalizing sales of its larger iPads by its own smaller ones. But still better than losing them to Fire or Nexus.

And cheaper iPads might be affordable to larger pool of population so ultimately the whole of Apple iPad users number will increase.
 
3) Revise the "new iPad" to include a Lightning connector in place of the D.C.

I'm just glad to see somebody on this forum finally able to spell lightning. It's sort of embarrassing.

Now maybe ill embarrass myself: an earlier, lengthy post in this thread, about future USB 2.0 and 3.0-compatible lightning cables, confused me. If 3.0 is backward compatible, wouldn't the cables be one and the same? Or are the 2.0 and 3.0 physically different ports? Would someone elaborate? Thanks.
 
I really find it hilarious that there are still people saying this isn't going to happen.

More hilarious - the people who think it will happen but won't sell in mind-boggling numbers because they aren't interested in having one.

You know what DOESN'T sell in mind-boggling numbers?

iMacs.

----------

Why iPad mini would be a logic evolution? I see two versions of this product.

1. 'Cheap' version with non retina display
Name: iReader

2. Mini iPad as leaked, with full features of new iPad.
Name: iPad mini
For who: pros, people who bought the RMB.
Price: $700

This is my first post, so go easy on me... But tell me what you think.

1. Not a chance in the world.

2. Less likely than number 1.
 
I don't know, there is still iPad2 being sold with non-retina display. Selling cheaper iPad mini with non-retina display but having larger iPad2 resolution intact still makes better and there is not need for retina that much for smaller device. Having siad that, iPhones are now mostly retina. So lets see.
 
Well, when you put one in a case, even slim one, its still becoming heavier..

One advantage of the current iPad models' size is that you can buy one of those nifty and very efficient keyboards that clip on to the iPad clamshell fashion. That's not going to work with a mini iPad and that costs users a considerable benefit. (I'll still probably get one to try it out). :)
 
I'm not an economist but there is something like market 'demand'... and I think (at least I hope) that there is a pretty big community of users waiting for an updated iMac. I wait myself mainly for USB3 and I hope for a better graphics card at the 21inch end and if I could afford changing a computer every 1-2 years, then I definitely would have bought the current one :) ).

If what you described is the Apple's new approach towards their clients and they will not meet the demand with the supply, then bye bye Apple in few years.


I'm one of those who want an updated imac...But there's no way I'm buying the 2011 for full price when the internals are outdated by a year and a half and their suppliers have updated specs of their products....

I like the ipad, and it's fine for mobile use and I'll probably buy the next update, but it doesn't replace the desktop for me, not to mention that I would like to use a device without constantly getting fingerprints on it.
 
Sure, I agree. But surely they could make the normal iPad lighter with the new in-cell technology and other rumoured carbon fiber tech rather than make a new version for that reason. I guess maybe it's like the 13' and 15' macbook pro's. But in the case, people choose one or the other, so I guess people will either choose the mini or the current one, but not both.

I think that next iterations of iPad would be exactly as you said, lighter and with in-cell IGZO displays.

iPad mini may be an end for iPad2/
 
I still can't really see what the benefits of an iPad mini are. The iPad is already REALLY portable and small and does everything I need it to do. Other than price, what would be the justification to buy one? As an e-reader? Browsing, email, apps, etc..? I could do all that on the already portable iPad.

What category does it fit in where it would add enhanced, or even alternate value? What's its justification as a product?

As an e-reader.

Gaming device.

One handed operation.

Size preference in portability- aka MacBook Air/pro 11, 13, 15.

I mean, actually, I don't see how anyone *cant* see the value in offering an alternative screen and portability size.
 
Would this be the death of the iPad 2?

Yes. Apple confirmed the iPad mini early this year with the release of the "new iPad". You can't have different models AND different numbers, so just like the Mac and iPod lines we will have several models without numbers. Newer models will retire older models. iPhone is a different story because they only make one model so the numbering is needed to differentiate when selling the older products. Seems logical to update the 9.7" with lightning while announcing the 7.85". The iPad 2 might stay around over the Holidays before retiring. So, an iPad with retina display from $499 and iPad mini from $299!
 
I guess i am going to stich to my ipad3 :(, no retina is just embarassing for apple.

Not going to buy. No retina.

Why it is embarrassing. There are 3GS and iPad2 being sold that way, majority of notebooks and all desktop are not retina. Technology and costs are not there yet.
 
The ipad mini will be another huge success for apple. I think most of the people against it are current ipad owners.

The ipad mini will be popular with the following sets of buyers
A) people who buy all apple related products ( and there are million such people)

B) those who have always held out on ipad, but were intrigued. The lower price point of likely 349 dollars against 500 will sway many

C) those who already own an ipad, but prefer the portability of the mini when using it in public.

the 10inch is great when you are a home or in your office. But terrible when in a public spot, say a coffee shop or commuting on a train.

This will be a bumper success.
 
Yes. Apple confirmed the iPad mini early this year with the release of the "new iPad". You can't have different models AND different numbers, so just like the Mac and iPod lines we will have several models without numbers. Newer models will retire older models. iPhone is a different story because they only make one model so the numbering is needed to differentiate when selling the older products. Seems logical to update the 9.7" with lightning while announcing the 7.85". The iPad 2 might stay around over the Holidays before retiring. So, an iPad with retina display from $499 and iPad mini from $299!

Yes, that was my thinking too. WIth usual Apple quality, plus thousands of games, quality apps, 3 or 4G included (if possible at this cost point), this would be a killer travel advice. I own all versions of iPad and still will be probably buying this one to replace iPad1 for kids.
 
Ok I will buy that argument however at what price? Apple loves to charge more and they may just price themselves out. a $299 would have been perfect.. but with the iPODS at $299.99 they will be dead between that and a full iPad.

Yes I would agree with that. I said at the time that the new iPod Touch is way too expensive for the market now. You can buy a decent smartphone for the same money which does most of what the iPod Touch does. Personally I would have merged all the iPod lines into one product with cheap $99 and $199 models for the kids and high end models up to 128GB for the audiophiles priced at $299 and $399.

I don't know what they will price the new iPad Mini at but I would suspect we are looking at $249 & $349 for the WiFi models and $299 and $399 for 3G/4G models - just below the iPad 3 which starts at $499. The older iPad 2 will probably disappear from the scene next March.
 
I still can't really see what the benefits of an iPad mini are. The iPad is already REALLY portable and small and does everything I need it to do. Other than price, what would be the justification to buy one? As an e-reader? Browsing, email, apps, etc..? I could do all that on the already portable iPad.

What category does it fit in where it would add enhanced, or even alternate value? What's its justification as a product?

I don't know, perhaps everyone should just make 50" TV screens.
I mean what's the point in a smaller one when the bigger one can do it all?
 
But there are people out there who don't want the larger iPad, and aren't satisfied with the smaller iPhone/iPod Touch size either, but actually do want all the features of each of those, such as hi-res screen, "more advanced hardware specifications" and where price has nothing whatsoever to do wanting a mini iPad. This is the market Apple should pursue, not the one chasing price, that's a market they leave to commodity manufacturers who are all competing to see who can reach $0 (and its complement, zero-value) first.

Yep! Didn't take long for Tim Cook to completely re-write the legacy of Steve Jobs. :(
 
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