I've caught myself typing with my pinky fingers on the 7" tablets I use.
I don't think another inch would change that, typing on these things is a challenge.
In the case of a 7-8" 4:3 iPad though you are talking something roughly kindle size (and weight?) which means better one handed operation but more screen real estate (though not much more resolution) compared to the iPod Touch. The onscreen keyboard could be problematic though
I've always thought that the smaller than ipad-sized tablets were in a kind of awkward nether region between tablets and phones. The screens were never quite big enough to comfortably use like I do my ipad, yet they are still too big to really be that portable. I feel that I still wouldn't carry one around with me, and yet I would rather use my ipad than squint at the smaller tablet when at home. I really can't understand why people get that excited about them.
If Apple does release this 8" tab as indicated the price with determine the marketing intent. If priced at Apple norms, say $500ish, then they are looking to make a profit from it, but if they price it much lower, say $350 or less, then they are trying to kill off Android. If they do price it at the low end they may very well kill of Android in the tablet space.
Brian
Why would they price an 8" tablet the same as a 10" tablet?
They wouldn't. If they launch an 8in iPad at 499, then the 9.7in iPad 3 will see a price jump of at least 100 bucks, starting at 599. I can see Apple launching an 8in iPad at 399, but not much lower. They're shooting to kill Android will litigation and lawsuits, not competitive products. Plus, they want to protect their 'premium' brand. If they launched a low cost iPad, that would be in jeopardy.
Um, have you seen the $0 3GS and $99 iPhone 4??]
Tim Cook is on record saying that they do not want to offer a price umbrella for competitors to exploit.
[\quote]
The 3GS and 4 did not debut at 0/99 dollars. They trickled down to those price points after newer models were introduced, preserving their premium brand status.
IMO, its a good decision to filter down your previous flagship device to the lower market segments than to develop a budget device, with a difference set of specs, to sell for cheap for 3-4 months. Something a few Android manufacturers could learn from.
Um, have you seen the $0 3GS and $99 iPhone 4??
Tim Cook is on record saying that they do not want to offer a price umbrella for competitors to exploit.
[\quote]
The 3GS and 4 did not debut at 0/99 dollars. They trickled down to those price points after newer models were introduced, preserving their premium brand status.
IMO, its a good decision to filter down your previous flagship device to the lower market segments than to develop a budget device, with a difference set of specs, to sell for cheap for 3-4 months. Something a few Android manufacturers could learn from.
Ok, but if the 10" iPad has a set starting price of $499, then a smaller one should, by all accounts, and based on historical evidence and precedent, be priced below that.
Alternatively, they also may just drop the price on the 16GB iPad 2 to $399 and roll out the iPad 3 at 32GB for $499.
Another piece of historical evidence WRT Apple would be the fact that at least the past few years, they don't raise prices, they lower them. The MacBook debuted at $1099, it was $999 before it was killed off. The Air debuted at $1799, the 13" now starts at $1299. The 15" Pro has basically always been $1999, but they added one without dedicated graphics for $1799.
AppleTV was originally $249 IIRC, it is now $99 (they got rid of the hard drive, and analog outputs, but made it better in every other regard) I could go on, but you get the idea.
Why does it matter if Apple debuts a product at a lower price point or just slides one into that position? One way or another consumers are getting good products for lower prices. Unless one is tied into the Amazon ecosystem in a deep and meaningful way, is there any argument that a $299 smaller iPad wouldn't essentially obviate the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet? It would have access to the entire Apple ecosystem which, with today's announcement of Mountain Lion, is about to become significantly better.
Give it a 1024*768 screen, which is in line with other 7" tablets (I really think that it should be 7" not 8", but that is just me talking), and about the size of a kindle or paperback book, and open to one-handed operation. The biggest concern would be the battery life.
They wouldn't. If they launch an 8in iPad at 499, then the 9.7in iPad 3 will see a price jump of at least 100 bucks, starting at 599. I can see Apple launching an 8in iPad at 399, but not much lower. They're shooting to kill Android will litigation and lawsuits, not competitive products. Plus, they want to protect their 'premium' brand. If they launched a low cost iPad, that would be in jeopardy.
Do you seriously think that apple doesn't bring competitive products to the table? Or is this just flamebait?
Do you seriously think that apple doesn't bring competitive products to the table? Or is this just flamebait?
They bring competitive products out, but they should be competing and selling(which they are) on those facets alone, not by litigation. I'd rather choose which product to purchase myself rather than have lawyers make that decision for me.
Now, Microsoft, on the other hand . . .
Can we please, please, PLEASE, not bring any of that into this conversation. You started this latest chain, you can end it right now by not mentioning it in this thread ever again. I don't care who else says what, ignore them and move on with ON TOPIC remarks. We are having a fine conversation about the merits of an 8" iPad, DO NOT mention anything about lawsuits or anything of the sort again.
"Only you can prevent flamewars" Smoky Mod TheStu
If the iPad3 is in short supply due to low yields on the screens this might be Apple's way of solving that issue- a cheaper model with a less advanced screen which is easy to produce.
Why would they price an 8" tablet the same as a 10" tablet?
If Apple is honest about the target market for this thing, it will come in pink....