Why is it assumed the Mini would be for those who can't afford the current iPad?

[A Hebrew]

Why should it be assumed as such when the Mini will, more than likely, (also) be *smaller*? Should we still think price is the defining feature?

So you are telling me that people who cannot afford the normal iPad, but have always wanted one, will NOT buy a cheaper version that they can afford?

 

[WilliamLondon]

So you are telling me that people who cannot afford the normal iPad, but have always wanted one, will NOT buy a cheaper version that they can afford?

No, I didn't say that at all, and I didn't mean to imply it either (and I don't believe I did). The whole point of this thread is that it doesn't make sense to some (many?) of us that the Mini is for people who can't afford the normal iPad. Just because it's cheaper doesn't mean price is the reason people will buy it - for those of us who want it for the size, a cheaper price would be merely a benefit.

 

[Geekbabe]

Two comments:

1. People have iPads would have iPhones already. Most of them don't need yet another 7" tablet.

2. To make a less costly entry, they can simply cut the price of iPad 2, ther is no need to introduce a iPad mini for that.

The current iPhone has what? a 3.5 inch display? Sorry but there is a market for a 7 inch display, if there wasn't the Kindle Fire & Nexus 7 would be gathering dust on store shelves. As for the iPad 2 I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was phased out at some point.

 

[cfedu]

iPad mini makes perfect sense.

1. For impulse buyers, it much easier to justify $250$

2. For people who want a smaller tablet

3. People with kids who have iPads, the kids are always on it and it's easier to justify $250 do you can use your iPad 3 with your kids driving you nuts.

4. For cheap people

5. For education institution

6. For grandparents who go to buy a tablet for their grandkids. Might as well get an apple for the same price. I got gobots for christmass one year, I was devastated they where not transformers.




It will cut into the 10" iPad market, but so will not competing in the 7" market. Apple would be stupid not to enter the market. just like apple would be stupid not to offer a larger iPhone.

 

[ixodes]

There is a segment of the population that love assuming, being negative, and participating in chaos. It's that demographic that claims the primary purpose of a smaller iPad is price. To be more affordable or only appeal to those who cannot buy a full size model.

Conversely those of us who enjoy choosing to be positive and open minded, our opinion is different.

I see it as another choice. A great highly portable version of the original. The iPads 1, 2, & 3 I have at the moment are great fun.

Yet none suit me for travel, since I always carry a laptop bag or backpack or messenger with one of my MBA's or MBP's. Therefore I will most certainly buy the smaller iPad & carry it everywhere. It's the perfect size for my preferences.

 

[eastercat]

Because in this economy, price is foremost in a lot of people's minds. Also, you look at the comments in tech forums and they usually mention how the ipad is too expensive. It doesn't matter that the ipad is one of the lower price 10" tablets. These people like to re-iterate the tired adage that apple products cost more.
The fact is there are people who won't spend more than $XXX.XX for a tablet. Of course, these same people think that the mini will be $199.99 too.

 

[willowhaven]

I would be interested to search the archives to see what the opinions were of the iPod shuffle. I for one thought it was stupid. No screen, you have to listen to music in shuffle mode, etc. It was aimed at a more budget segment. It is advertised on Apple's website as "The colorful, clip-and-go iPod shuffle. With buttons, VoiceOver, and playlists, it’s got all the greatest hits. Only $49."

Who are they going after? Budget minded consumers. I know lots of people who purchased iPod Shuffles for their kids because they didn't want to lay out the $129 for a Nano or $199 for a Touch. The same could be said for the iPad Mini. I have been considering getting my 16-year-old daughter a Kindle Fire for Christmas. If the iPad Mini is a reality, I would shell out a little more to get her the Mini which in my mind is more versitile. For that matter, I would also get a Mini for my 14-year-old son who currently has my old iPod Touch (I upgraded to an iPhone and my Touch became obsolete). So, in reality, I could get both of them a Mini for a little more than one traditional iPad. From a parent standpoint, that is a great bonus.

Right now I see a lot of confusion as to the point of the Mini. I look at it as similar to the advent of the Shuffle. Not a "great" product, but similar to a gateway drug. Bring a whole group into the fold, help them develop a love for the product, and look at the profits as they begin to purchase the new products to stay with the times. They also would provide an alternative for those who can afford the full-sized version but simply want to have a smaller form-factor for convenience.

Just my 2 cents for what it's worth.

 

[Uofmtiger]

I think there is a difference between not being able to afford it and buying something with price as the major factor. Some people don't see a $499 benefit of having an iPad. However, when you drop that price to $249 (as an exampe), they may see a cost/benefit that makes more sense.

I do believe most mini buyers will chose to buy it over the bigger iPad based on price, but that doesn't necessarily mean that can't afford to spend more.. they just choose not to.

How is the ~7 inch "more portable" than a 9.7 inch iPad? I want to know a situation that you can't take your 9.7 inch iPad because only a ~7 inch will work (other than a purse that is perfectly sized for the 7 inch,but too small for a 9.7 inch)? I have an Amazon Kindle 3G (which has other advantages, like being able to read it in the sun) and haven't found it to be any more portable than the iPad.

 

[darngooddesign]

I would be interested to search the archives to see what the opinions were of the iPod shuffle. I for one thought it was stupid. No screen, you have to listen to music in shuffle mode, etc. It was aimed at a more budget segment. It is advertised on Apple's website as "The colorful, clip-and-go iPod shuffle. With buttons, VoiceOver, and playlists, it’s got all the greatest hits. Only $49."

What's funny is that I thought the Shuffle was great. I primarily did and still do listen to my music on shuffle, so it fit my needs perfectly. Add in that it was really cheap and I loved mine.

I still don't care if someone preceives that somehting I own is a budget version. Other people's opinions have next to no bearing on my life.

But to bring things back on track, buying a $300 iPad Mini means you couldn't afford the $500 one as much as the $300 one fit your needs better.

 

[Dominicanyor]

The iPad is just a bigger version of the iPhone. They are the same thing the iPad just has a bigger screen. I will not buy a mini iPad just to show or say that I have one.

 

[Uofmtiger]

Obviously, the big benefit of the shuffle is that it weighs nothing and is hard to break (compared to a Touch or iPhone). Therefore, it has an advantage for those that are moving around while listening to music.

This is not the same as two devices that are used for pretty much the same purpose.

 

[willmtaylor]

There seem to be so many varying opinions on the rumored iPad Mini. Some think it's the worst idea ever, some think it's great, and some don't even think Apple will release it even though there is hard evidence out there.

This thing is going to sell so well, and obviously its main factor is that it will be cheaper, since we will have the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire to compare it to. But I disagree that it would only be for people who can't afford the current 9.7-inch iPad.

I can afford the current iPad, but I've been holding out on the iPad Mini. And I'm glad Apple won't be cutting any corners with it, but instead making it just a smaller iPad.

I'm in for whatever is the top-of-the-line model, assuming that is 64GB LTE. I think this will just be like how there are different sizes for the Macs, everybody will have a different use for each one.

Myself, I don't want the big iPad and all the advantages of the iPad Mini is what I want and that would be the perfect tablet for me.

Of course, whatever Apple decides to price the base model at, this thing will sell like crazy. But you will have a choice between a small or big iPad, so it shouldn't be looked at as simply a budget version.

So whose assumptions exactly are you disagreeing with?

Also, I assume that others would assume that because it's cheaper. Otherwise, who cares what other people think about your purchases? I know I don't. I still have a feature phone!

 

[zephyrnoid]

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/15588395/

 

[mantan]

I'll admit that cost is a big factor for me.

I bought my wife an iPad for her birthday last year. But I have a hard time justifying another $650-$700 for what's essentially a luxury extra for me. Same with the kids....we just share mom's when we can.

But $250-$299 is within my 'impulse item' budget (new driver for golf!) where I'd consider picking one up.

It's within the budget we normally allocate for my kids big birthday/Christmas gift. So this comes into play for them.


It is very doubtful I would have bought full fledge iPads for all of them. But there is a good chance i'll buy up to 5 iPad minis (including mom and MIL) of them in the next 12-18 months.

 

[RenoG]

Actually my question is, why is it assumed that there will even be a ipad mini?
ok just maybe the reason the parts haven't been leaked because the parts are extremely....coy.