Microsoft exec blasts Apple’s iPad mini as ‘seven-inch recreational tablet for $329’

“With Windows 8, Steven Sinofsky said that Microsoft and its PC-making partners have found a way to deliver modern computing at a price far less than that fruit-named competitor,” Ina Fried reports for AllThingsD.

“He notes that there are full-featured Windows 8 laptops that sell for $279,” Fried reports. “‘It’s $279,’ he said, ‘Here we are, talking about seven-inch recreational tablets for $329.’ As for the Windows RT variant, which uses more power-conscious ARM-based processors, but can’t run older programs, Sinofsky said it will hold a lot of appeal. ‘It really is a PC for everyone,’ he said.”

“He said, while an iPad might be good for a short trip, a device like Microsoft’s Surface can suffice even on a long business trip,” Fried reports. “Apple CEO Tim Cook took his own shots at Microsoft on Thursday, suggesting that Surface makes too many compromises in trying to serve as both PC and tablet. ‘You could design a car that flies and floats,’ Cook said on Apple’s earnings conference call, ‘but I don’t think it would do either of those things very well.'”

Read more in the full article here.

MacDailyNews Take:

Dear Great Gazoo: iPad mini’s 7.9-inch display — not “7-inch,” you liar — gives users 35% more screen real estate than 7-inch tablets and up to 67% more usable viewing area for Web browsing.

And, we’ll see what sells and what doesn’t.

BTW: Nice reviews, cueball.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Joe Architect” for the heads up.]

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