Comments on: Why competitors should fear Apple’s 7.9-inch iPad mini

By: ken1w

ken1w — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 22:10:11 +0000

Apple did not want to make a smaller iPad in 2010, when the available technology in 2010 would have made it a sucky product, as proven by the competition.

In 2012, Apple can release a smaller iPad that is essentially the same as an iPad 2, showing the exact same screen content, running the exact same apps, but with less than HALF the weight and a $70 discount. That’s progress, and Apple is all about making progress.

By: Rorschach

Rorschach — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 16:31:29 +0000

What the screens need is an anti-reflective coating, like spectacles have, not a Matt finish. An MAR coating, (Multilayer Anti-Reflective), which I have on my varifocal lenses, would make a huge difference to usability. A matt finish would be bloody awful.

By: Bread

Bread — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 05:07:33 +0000

The point is that Apple did not want to make a smaller iPad, and now they are. They are copying the idea to reduce size, which had been around just as people started… copying the iPad.

By: CitizenX

CitizenX — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 18:21:56 +0000

Of course they will be passed down and families will have multiple iPads. As a matter of fact, if they don’t get passed down or traded in, they will be repurposed. We have 2 and when we get the next one whenever that is, the one replaced will be mounted in the garage or next to the bed or possibly in the kitchen.

By: You know it...

You know it... — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 18:05:45 +0000

Great idea about the matte screen, IMHO.

By: Tessellator

Tessellator — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 16:51:50 +0000

At first glance you might think that the 7″ ‘roid tablets and the 8″ iPad were simliar in screen size.
Just like a 37″ HDTV and a 42″ this actual screen size difference is considerable (same 14% difference between an iPad mini and the generic ‘roid tablets)
However it is actually even a greater difference because the ‘roid tablets use a more oblique aspect screen it’s narrow screen only has about 21 square inches of surface as apposed to the ipad mini’s nearly 30″ (nearly 50% larger)

So “apple” even you can see that the two are not really equivalent the 7″ roid tablets continue to disappoint users while the iPad mini continues to delight.
Don’t worry I am sure the ‘roid manufacturers will be able to rip off the new iPad mini’s design (though no doubt a low quality plastic copy) in a few years.
‘Till then you can either suffer on or get an iPad Mini.
Your choice.

By: MM

MM — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 05:37:11 +0000

I hope, under Tim Cook — as opposed to the Jobs’ you-with-like-what-we-give-you pomposity, and the mini iPad being dead on arrival with sandpapered fingers — I hope Cook’s Apple gives customers more choices. In particular, the glossy vs anti-glare choice. No one denies that glossy colors do pop, but many people need matte screens. And not just external screens.

By: althegeo

althegeo — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 03:28:20 +0000

Apple’s 8″ iPad is a smaller copy of Apple’s 10″ iPad.

If you can’t see that you are even more stupid than your post suggests.

By: 430things

430things — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 02:04:17 +0000

Exactly, this is a strategy, Apple was not ready or did not see a reason to release 7″ iPad back then, this isn’t the first time Jobs said thing like that

By: ken1w

ken1w — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 01:39:42 +0000

A lot of people, especially the so-called “experts,” seem to forget that the original iPad was Apple’s answer to netbooks, not other tablets. There were no other competing tablets (I’m not counting those stylus-based “convertible” dinosaurs); iPad essentially created this new “tablet market” AFTER it was released.

The iPad was Apple’s sub-$500 “MacBook” that steadily destroyed the low end of the PC market. And that is STILL going on now, in a big way. So the “fear” about iPad mini is also coming from the Apple’s Windows PC competition, NOT just the tablet competition. iPad is killing the competition on TWO fronts.

By: ken1w

ken1w — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 01:28:07 +0000

Actually, Steve Jobs was doing his job as CEO of Apple and the world’s best “sales guy” when he made the comment about existing 7-inch tablets competing against Apple’s 10-inch iPad.

NOTE: He was comparing the 10-inch iPad design to the THEN competing 7-inch (narrow screen) designs, NOT to a FUTURE iPad design with an 8-inch that has the exact same screen resolution as the original iPad.

In my opinion, it’s entirely possible that he actually wanted the original iPad to be this new size and weight (of iPad mini), with a 10-hour battery, and price under $500. Or maybe he wanted a 10-inch tablet, but with a higher resolution (maybe 1280×960) screen. But, due to technical limitations in 2010, the best design “compromise” possible was an iPad with a 9.7-inch 1024×768 screen, and a higher (but acceptable) weight and thickness. Obviously, Steve Jobs “sold it” (at that time) as the ideal tablet design, and smaller tablets were inferior (because they WERE). He was doing his job. Did you expect him to say (?), “Hey, this first iPad is pretty good, but wait two or three years and you’ll see something REALLY great…” NO, of course not.

The latest 2012 improvements allow the customer to choose between significantly better screen and performance, or equal performance (as previous iPad 2) at less than HALF the weight and lower price tag. Those are great options. A lot of people will choose the first option and a lot of people will choose the second option. But either way, with will choose an iPad.

By: 24january1984

24january1984 — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:53:27 +0000

Ballmer’s been puking for weeks.

By: Alcancun

Alcancun — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:47:54 +0000

One more thing of interest…. The movie was released before the original iPad….Billy attributes this mystical iPad precognition to current popularity sending back mental signals in time to the movies producers…, wow… Spooky huh?

By: peterblood71

peterblood71 — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:43:52 +0000

Spoken like a true Fandroid doofus. Listening to them Google invented everything and Apple cowers and copies from Google. The master(bator)s of history rewriting.

By: Alcancun

Alcancun — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:42:19 +0000

Billy Bob analyst for Film is Right has reported that the IPad mini and iPad will be around in their current form factor and size well into the year 2070. Billy reports seeing many the two Apple tablets being used in a hospital scene in the Gary Sinese movie “Imposter”. He has raised his forecast for Apple stock to $56,000 per share by the year 2070. Billy has also been able to see the future for various other products such as Audi (car used in I Robot) and many others with great success. Billy’s recommendation is a strong buy. Ignore him at your peril.

By: hannahjs

hannahjs — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:36:13 +0000

TechPinions has thoughtful articles. But it bothers me that (1) Ben Bajarin looks like Doogie Howser, and (2) Tim Bajarin looks like Hercule Poirot.

By: Xil

Xil — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:29:00 +0000

I like the mini but am ok for the moment with my iPad 1g, only because I am planning a lot of Mac purchases next year.

The guys that I know who bought the mini, like it more than their iPads, one of them used to work in Apple retail and thinks the form factor is perfect.

There will be a mini for me but only after my Mac purchases, I still need a truck for gaming and iTunes media!

By: Shock Me

Shock Me — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:21:18 +0000

Actually the 7.9 inch iPad Mini is an 8 inch tablet in the same way as the 9.7 inch iPad is a 10 inch tablet.

Most 7 inch tablets have the dual problem of a widescreen aspect ratio and a smaller surface area in comparison to the iPad Mini. This makes the smaller tabs good only for streaming video and little else in landscape mode and over balanced in portrait mode.

Not that having a dedicated video streaming would be a horrible thing if there was an unlimited cellular data plan to go with it.

By: Alcancun

Alcancun — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:18:16 +0000

It will be a very Merry Christmas for Apple stockholders….

By: ApplePi

ApplePi — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:07:53 +0000

It’s not a tablet. It’s an iPad. It’s also 8″

By: Ansel

Ansel — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:05:00 +0000

We are passing our iPads down to grandkids ….. We pass two at a time down ….. So we have passed four down so far as we have not got the iPad generation 4 as we are waiting to upgrade our iPhones to five but have to wait …. So when we upgrade we will pass down generation 3 and buy generation 4 …… And all our grandkids will have an iPad …. But not our kids and their others so we will continue to pass down …….

We are doing the same with our notebooks ….. Just passed down our 13″ macbookpro as we got the new 15″ ….. On my 11″ Air – I am waiting on retina display so nothing getting passed down this generation …..

Same with iMacs from my work but we won’t get the new iMacs until at least next summer when they hit the refurb store, as we always buy refurb in our business ……

So back to the original topic as to why folks buy first generation …. I agree!

By: Randian

Randian — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:01:56 +0000

“but now they copy others…….”

That is HYSTERICAL, “Apple”! Absolutely riotous! WHO COPIED WHOM? Where do you suppose the other “mini” tablets came from in the first place? Tell me, oh sage of the internet, which company marketed a tablet to the consumer market BEFORE the iPad? Come on now, give it a try. (Chirp, chirp, chirp.) No one? Really? Then, once again, where do you suppose the “also-rans” got the idea to market a smaller (read that: cheaper, less capable, poorly designed and built) tablet device?

From Apple, that’s who! The iPad Mini is but a smaller iteration of the ORIGINAL iPAD! Get it! Are you capable of getting it?

Didn’t think so. Back to your pacifier in Mom’s basement, Troll.

By: Whatever

Whatever — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:49:09 +0000

Really? That is your post – back to playing dungeons and dragons for you..

By: j.eric

j.eric — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:45:08 +0000

@Apple

you may or may not be an idiot, but, your comments are idiotic.

By: Apple

Apple — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:32:48 +0000

Nothing to be afraid of but Apple do. They first said 7 inch tablet will be DOA but now they copy others…….

By: David

David — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:29:21 +0000

I can see multiple minis in my life.. Once they come in more colors.