“Back in 2010, Steve Jobs scoffed at the ‘current crop of seven-inch tablets,’ calling them ‘dead on arrival,'” Ben Taylor writes for TIME. “‘There are clear limits of how close you can physically place elements on a touchscreen before users can reliably tap, flick, or pinch them,’ he said on an October earnings call. ‘This is one of the key reasons we think the 10-inch screen size is the minimum size required to create great tablet apps.’
“What a difference three years makes. The 7.85-inch iPad Mini has been a runaway success, and the new iPad Mini with Retina Display seems poised to become the company’s best-selling tablet,” Taylor writes. “Surely even Jobs would now admit that the 7.85-inch Mini deserves its place in Apple’s tablet lineup.”
“That said, Jobs’ poor instincts might actually go a level deeper,” Taylor writes. “Not only have 7-inch tablets proven their worth—they might just be the superior tablet size, period. First, there are the sales numbers, where the iPad Mini has reportedly cannibalized its bigger brother faster than Apple expected. Next, there’s feedback from users.”
MacDailyNews Take: Steve Jobs said a lot of things for competitive purposes.
Plus, Apple’s iPad mini has a 7.9-inch display boasting 29.96 sq. inches of display area. That is 36% larger than Google’s plastic Nexus 7’s tiny 7-inch display’s 22.02 sq. inches. That’s right, Google’s Nexus 7 offers a display that’s just 73.5% of Apple’s iPad mini.
Steve Jobs was talking about 7-inch tablets with the wrong aspect ratios as being poor tablets, not 7.85-inch iPads with the proper aspect ratio.
The king of the “mini” tablets is Apple’s iPad mini with Retina display. Period.
Apple iPad mini 7.9-inch display area vs. Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire HD display area
[UPDATE: 10:178pm EST: Corrected percentage to “73.5%.”
I agree with MDN’s take but the math is wrong. Yes, the iPad mini is 36% bigger than the 7 inchers. But those devices are 73.5% the size of the iPad mini, not 64%. Scaling up vs. scaling down.
half the people liked the mini better due to WEIGHT!!! WEIGHT… has that changed? yes it has – NOW WATCH AIR FLY OFF THE SHELVES! if you have a choice would you not choose bigger if the product is light enough to carry? Yes I think so…
Gavin – Agreed.
I own an iPhone, an iPad2, and an iMac. What in the world would I need an iPad mini for? When I am on the go I use my iPhone. When I am at home I use the iPad2, occasionally I use the iMac (which is why I haven’t retired my 2006 intel iMac yet.) I have no use for a mini. If you are a droid phone sufferer then I could see the appeal of the mini to take on the go with you, but I really have no need for a mini. When I upgrade the iPad2, I will definitely go iPad Air. I like the screen size, the only issue I have with my iPad2 is the weight, otherwise I love it!
Thank you for fucking up the only remaining app I loved in iOS 7 – iBooks. Thank you motherfuckers for fucking up iBooks to the level of fucking shit that exemplifies iOS 7. Fuck you turds. Fuck you Ive.
Steve said a lot of things to deflect attention away from what they had in the works. I’ve watched a lot of his old interviews, some if which, he was obviously trying to mislead the competition. He was a brilliant man and strategist.
I don’t see it as deflecting attention away, but more like acknowledging that more work was needed than simply resizing the screen (which is what the competition was doing at the time).
Dont forget that the entry price for the Apple eco-system is another major decision to make. I bet if the Air was closer in price to the mini a significant number would take he screen with the real estate over the size of pouch required !
I remember well when Jobs said that video content would not come to the iPod. He said something to the effect: “Can you imagine people walking while looking at a video/movie on an iPod and walk into a post or car?”
In hind site, we can see that of course he was deflecting the conversation away from what they were working on at the moment.
This is common with many companies in new product development. Not all broadcast in advance what they are “going” to do. Henry Ford: “You can’t build a reputation upon what you are going to do.”
Some people have argued that the nexus 7 is better for watching movies as it has a 16:9 aspect ratio.
When the mini displays such movies it has to “waste” some parts of the screen, i.e. black bands on top and bellow the picture.
Guess what, movies are still displayed in a bigger area on the mini, this is because the nexus screen fits completely in the mini’s screen
Back in 2010, Steve Jobs was trying to sell Apple’s 10-inch table. He “scoffed at” the 7-inch (and smaller) table available from the competition AT THAT TIME. And he was right; they were terrible. He never said Apple would not create a tablet smaller than the original 10-inch size.
Well, isn’t this interesting… picking on a man’s ideas who’s not among us to defend himself. Despite this article, SJ may still not agree with the screen size, even if it does eventually become successful. I fear that the author just doesn’t have all the facts to pass judgement.
Job’s was clearly talking bollocks. Because he was doing it while he had a 3.5″ iPhone in his pocket. So clearly fingers can work a smaller-than-10″ screen (ahem). He was either very stupid, therefore (hmmmm . . .) or, as with the iPod shuffle previously, dissing the opposition until Apple had a competitive product ready. Tough call, eh?
not so fast… the iPad air rulez… I was recommending the mini to people who like to read in bed, versus the old iPad form factor, but the iPad Air solved all this.
C’mon. It just depends on what you use it for. Is it for travel? Is it for at home on the couch? Is it for reading a book on your commute to work? Is it for playing a board game with 4 players? Is it for school?
The company I work for is in billboard advertising. They tried the iPhone 5 and iPad mini for the workers hanging up the ads. They need to see a picture of the ad, a picture of the area, maybe use navigation, check off their work on a checklist and look for alternative billboard locations. They work outdoors in summer (80°F to 90°F) as well as in winter (-5°F to 15°F). In winter it is important that they put the device in their inside pocket to keep it warm. The screen of the iPhone 5 was too small for them to place all the necessary info on. The iPad mini was too big to put in their pocket. They ended up with a phablet from another company.
All I am saying is that there is always a reason for a certain sized tablet. It’s the volume that matters. It was the right choice to bring out the 9.7″ version first and insist on it to be the right size. It had to be different enough (in size) from the iPhone to make an impact. So it did. After people tried it out they got more and more ideas what to use it for. Steve knew that. Don’t focus on too many things in the beginning. Start out small and when business catches on, expand. The next step will be the different sizes of the iPhone. I am pretty sure that this is coming. I don’t need a bigger iPhone but there is a market for it. This is a chance for Apple to make more people switch from their Android phone to the iPhone.
Apple is doing it right.
Yes, Yes, Yes….The mini is the King and overlord of all tablets under 8″
And this is because it is so much bigger than 7″ and Jobs himself approved it.
Oh…and Protector of the Realm! 🙂
I agree with MDN’s take but the math is wrong. Yes, the iPad mini is 36% bigger than the 7 inchers. But those devices are 73.5% the size of the iPad mini, not 64%. Scaling up vs. scaling down.
0.73497997329773
half the people liked the mini better due to WEIGHT!!! WEIGHT… has that changed? yes it has – NOW WATCH AIR FLY OFF THE SHELVES! if you have a choice would you not choose bigger if the product is light enough to carry? Yes I think so…
Compared both at the Apple store. Chose Mini.
Mini is still lighter. Easier to hold one handed. When I upgrade my iPad 2, it will be to a mini with a larger capacity.
That said,I will still have my iPad 3 for the family.
Gavin – Agreed.
I own an iPhone, an iPad2, and an iMac. What in the world would I need an iPad mini for? When I am on the go I use my iPhone. When I am at home I use the iPad2, occasionally I use the iMac (which is why I haven’t retired my 2006 intel iMac yet.) I have no use for a mini. If you are a droid phone sufferer then I could see the appeal of the mini to take on the go with you, but I really have no need for a mini. When I upgrade the iPad2, I will definitely go iPad Air. I like the screen size, the only issue I have with my iPad2 is the weight, otherwise I love it!
Thank you for fucking up the only remaining app I loved in iOS 7 – iBooks. Thank you motherfuckers for fucking up iBooks to the level of fucking shit that exemplifies iOS 7. Fuck you turds. Fuck you Ive.
Yeah it’s completely useless.
/s
Without using the “f” word, please explain what it is that has changed that you don’t like?
I don’t think he can. that would prove a challenge. Small words 4 small minds
Then fuck off and get a fucking Kindle. You wouldn’t be bitching if iOS originally looked like 7 does now.
=:~)
If Apple really cared about their customers they would send them to Microsoft and Samsung.
It’s easier to quickly identify icons in iOS 7. I no longer get headaches when looking at a page of apps.
Steve said a lot of things to deflect attention away from what they had in the works. I’ve watched a lot of his old interviews, some if which, he was obviously trying to mislead the competition. He was a brilliant man and strategist.
I don’t see it as deflecting attention away, but more like acknowledging that more work was needed than simply resizing the screen (which is what the competition was doing at the time).
Mini Me!
Dont forget that the entry price for the Apple eco-system is another major decision to make. I bet if the Air was closer in price to the mini a significant number would take he screen with the real estate over the size of pouch required !
I remember well when Jobs said that video content would not come to the iPod. He said something to the effect: “Can you imagine people walking while looking at a video/movie on an iPod and walk into a post or car?”
In hind site, we can see that of course he was deflecting the conversation away from what they were working on at the moment.
This is common with many companies in new product development. Not all broadcast in advance what they are “going” to do. Henry Ford: “You can’t build a reputation upon what you are going to do.”
“You’ll be judged by what you succeed at, boy, not by what you attempt.”
– Boardwalk Empire
That quote always stuck with me.
Some people have argued that the nexus 7 is better for watching movies as it has a 16:9 aspect ratio.
When the mini displays such movies it has to “waste” some parts of the screen, i.e. black bands on top and bellow the picture.
Guess what, movies are still displayed in a bigger area on the mini, this is because the nexus screen fits completely in the mini’s screen
It’s SO much more comfortable to use than the full sizes ipad!
Since when does a 7.85″ screen become a “7” tablet”?
“Jobs’ poor instincts”
LMAO
Back in 2010, Steve Jobs was trying to sell Apple’s 10-inch table. He “scoffed at” the 7-inch (and smaller) table available from the competition AT THAT TIME. And he was right; they were terrible. He never said Apple would not create a tablet smaller than the original 10-inch size.
Well, isn’t this interesting… picking on a man’s ideas who’s not among us to defend himself. Despite this article, SJ may still not agree with the screen size, even if it does eventually become successful. I fear that the author just doesn’t have all the facts to pass judgement.
I wish there was a vegan option. Then Steve Jobs would have been right about it anyway.
Job’s was clearly talking bollocks. Because he was doing it while he had a 3.5″ iPhone in his pocket. So clearly fingers can work a smaller-than-10″ screen (ahem). He was either very stupid, therefore (hmmmm . . .) or, as with the iPod shuffle previously, dissing the opposition until Apple had a competitive product ready. Tough call, eh?
Steve was one of the kings of deception. He knew when to lie. End of story.
not so fast… the iPad air rulez… I was recommending the mini to people who like to read in bed, versus the old iPad form factor, but the iPad Air solved all this.
C’mon. It just depends on what you use it for. Is it for travel? Is it for at home on the couch? Is it for reading a book on your commute to work? Is it for playing a board game with 4 players? Is it for school?
The company I work for is in billboard advertising. They tried the iPhone 5 and iPad mini for the workers hanging up the ads. They need to see a picture of the ad, a picture of the area, maybe use navigation, check off their work on a checklist and look for alternative billboard locations. They work outdoors in summer (80°F to 90°F) as well as in winter (-5°F to 15°F). In winter it is important that they put the device in their inside pocket to keep it warm. The screen of the iPhone 5 was too small for them to place all the necessary info on. The iPad mini was too big to put in their pocket. They ended up with a phablet from another company.
All I am saying is that there is always a reason for a certain sized tablet. It’s the volume that matters. It was the right choice to bring out the 9.7″ version first and insist on it to be the right size. It had to be different enough (in size) from the iPhone to make an impact. So it did. After people tried it out they got more and more ideas what to use it for. Steve knew that. Don’t focus on too many things in the beginning. Start out small and when business catches on, expand. The next step will be the different sizes of the iPhone. I am pretty sure that this is coming. I don’t need a bigger iPhone but there is a market for it. This is a chance for Apple to make more people switch from their Android phone to the iPhone.
Apple is doing it right.
The new mini Retina is a nice piece of kit and I was tempted to pick one up with my new iPad Air, but cooler heads prevailed.