Why an iPad Mini makes sense (and why not to gripe about one)

[Gala]

The iPad Mini fits me perfectly. We're new parents & try to save when we can. We have a Macbook Pro as our house computer & my wife has an iPad as her go-to device.

A cheaper, smaller Mini would be an easy Xmas present this year that will give me the ability to have my Apple ecosystem in a larger screen than my phone. Perfect for apps and browsing which will keep the Macbook Pro open for all to use & prevent it from frying up my testicles while browsing on the couch.

 

[poloponies]

The iPad Mini fits me perfectly. We're new parents & try to save when we can. We have a Macbook Pro as our house computer & my wife has an iPad as her go-to device.

A cheaper, smaller Mini would be an easy Xmas present this year that will give me the ability to have my Apple ecosystem in a larger screen than my phone. Perfect for apps and browsing which will keep the Macbook Pro open for all to use & prevent it from frying up my testicles while browsing on the couch.

While I'm sure the concept of a smaller Apple tablet priced at Kindle Fire levels is no doubt appealing I suspect you'll be seeing a device that replaces the iPad 2 in the current line-up pricewise, so I'd hold off on the "fits me prefectly" position for the time being.

 

[Want300]

I suspect that if Apple does release an iPad Mini (and I think they will), will be priced within $50 of the full-size iPad.

Keep in mind that the iPad 3 currently uses the old 30-pin connector. I think Apple will most likely want to update that to the new 9-pin connector. Having different connectors will lead to people delaying purchasing an full-size iPad. Some of those people will choose other options while they are waiting on an update to the connector and that will reduce in lost sales to Apple.

I disagree. I do not think the iPod Touch price should reflect anything we will see out of the iPad Mini's price. People who want an iPod Touch, want something from Apple that is small and portable.

If they wanted a 7" Tablet, they could save a $100 over buying the new iPod Touch. That being said, will some people buy the iPad Mini instead of the Touch? Yes, of course. But how many people will buy an iPad Mini instead of the Kindle Fire, or the Nexus 7? If the Price is right rolleyes, we can expect roughly half of them to do so.

We will know soon enough. I am excited to see the price points and options that are available.

First, I'm not sure I would consider iPads "durable goods". They don't have that long of useable life and if someone likes the product, they are going to buy an upgrade/replacement. And maybe one that better fits how they use it (smaller, more memory, 3G, etc.) Once you get a customer, you'd better have future products that keep them a customer.

Second, a product at a lower price point will cause some customers to pull the trigger. Personally, I can't see getting an iPad for $500. $300? Now you have me thinking. $200? I'm there. Think of it like a Gatway Drug. But once you get that iPad Mini customer, you have a better chance of boosting them to a more powerful, more expensive iPad in the future - if they enjoyed the iPad experience to start with.

Third, how the product is used is going to have a huge influence on the future purchases of a user. If the iPod Touch is too small and the iPad is too big, the customer will not go back to Apple products, despite the fact they can see the potential. There is a need for a complete line of products, especially since the competitors are already in that gap.

I agree with you. Here is a great example:

My Parents: My step-mom got an iPad for Christmas last year. Now she plans to get an iPhone 5 next month when her upgrade is eligible.

My dad also likes her iPad... He is also going to buy an iPhone 5 and his next computer purchase is going to be a MBA or MBP (more likely the MBA). He is also very interested in the Kindle Fire because he reads a lot. However, if the iPad Mini comes out, I am sure he would choose that because of the Apple Ecosystem and only having to learn one platform. Especially if the price was right.

So in the example with my parents. The single iPad my step-mom got for Christmas is going to lead to a MBA (or MBP), 2 iPhone 5's, and maybe an iPad Mini as well. My parents had no real interest in Apple Products until my step-mom got that iPad.