[gravymonster]

I'm holding out for the 19" Ipad Jumbo.

[edyb]

Everyone here is still under the assumption that if Apple bring out a cheap enough alternative, people from Android and BB will jump to Apple. I have news for you... Not everyone would buy Apple based exclusively on PRICE.

Did everyone buy the BB Playbook after it was $199? No they still spent money and got their iPads at $400-500. They still bought their Samsung tablets at $300-400, or Asus or Acer tablets. And when the Kindle Fire was $199 did that destroy all of the other tablets?

I TOO was worried initially when I heard the "iPad Mini" rumour and $200 price. Yes that does create a big existential threat to the low-end tablet market. Perhaps it is designed to make everyone who still doesn't have a tablet, go out and buy one. Then they won't be in the market for another tablet for a few years. I bought my Playbook and it does what I need. I am not looking to buy another Tablet-form computer for at least 3-4 years. There is no reason for me to have another device to spend money on when I have a tablet that does everything I need at this time.

One other thing.... Does an iPad Mini at $200 even make any profit for Apple? I mean, people were saying RIMM was losing money on the Playbook at $199 and doing what it can just to proliferate the OS into developers hands and users, just to grow a userbase for the BB10 platform. So if iPad Mini has a bigger screen resolution, a slightly bigger screen (7.85"?), same or more memory, cameras on front and back, and everything else.... How can Apple make money at this price point?

Amazon Kindle Fire at $200 is also apparently pushing them out "at cost" because they are hoping people will get into the Amazon "ecosystem" and purchase books and content from them. I have a Kindle Keyboard Wifi+3G and it even has free 3G coverage worldwide. Amazon is paying for this 3G data coverage because they would rather I be able to buy a book from a beach somewhere in the Caribbean than risk losing a sale.

So if APPLE can push out an iPad mini 7" at $200 that will be a HUGE STRATEGIC SHIFT in what they have been doing up to now. There is NO WAY they will do that.

FIRST, There is no reason for them to do so. They have tons of money and iPad is selling better than any other tablet. Why would they gain except a bit of market share from a non-proven 7" format of their device? They would make NO PROFIT from trying to sell it at the $200 range, unless of course they are counting on it getting them sales from the App store and iTunes so they can profit on the back-end like Amazon does.

SECOND, they feel a threat from Microsoft and I understand that would be something. However, they can counter that by simply putting an OFFICE-like App (for minimal cost or free) on iOS that lets all their users create and edit Microsoft Office compatible documents on their larger 10" devices. If that is what they are afraid of, just get OpenOffice and preload it on the iPad or make it available on iTunes.

THIRD, there is no threat from other 7" devices since people who want an iPad will buy an iPad, or wait. They will not spend money on a cheaper tablet that doesn't give them what they want. Unless APPLE reasons that there is a large group of people NOT buying the iPad because of the cost, and they want to offer a product in the $200-300 market range, in which case they were looking for a way to make a cheaper iPad that still provides them with PROFIT. Well, I can tell you right now that a 7" version at that high resolution screen CANNOT be a "cheaper" version of the iPad.

You want a cheaper iPad, look at where you can cut costs. Display size? OK. But the resolution is higher and pixel density better, maybe almost Retina, so that's not going to cut costs significantly. Then you have the physical size... If you are packing the same circuitry in a smaller space, it will not save much money. It costs more money to optimize and redesign for smaller packaging, use more integrated chips, and so on. The battery being smaller may save a bit, although we don't know how much difference it will make and also to keep the same battery-life to 10 hours it may have to be more expensive to get the same amount of "juice" out of a smaller more compact battery.

In conclusion..... While I see the rumours of 7" iPads abounding, I still have plenty of doubt as to WHY Apple would even do this. If it is to kill the competition, then I am afraid that will NOT happen, because I will not buy an iPad even if it was at $200 just like I didn't buy the Kindle Fire at $200. There will be a marketplace for non-Apple devices, otherwise we are all going to be screwed, trust me... I hope we never see the day when the only Tablet you can purchase will be an iPad.

Even though I think Apple makes some AMAZING devices, I do hope there is room out there for other companies. I also say the same about Blackberry, and happy to see OTHER companies making smartphones. We need HEALTHY COMPETITION to make sure that there are alternatives and innovation. Just like when Microsoft was pushing Windows and Internet Explorer on everything, and they got slapped with an Antitrust Lawsuit, the same if Apple takes over and we have no choice anymore. Having different companies around makes everyone better, including Apple and Blackberry and Android and Microsoft, as they all compete to bring us better devices for cheaper costs. When we start KILLING companies we will end up with more problems. All of the companies will improve by having the others around!

[morlock_man]

I don't see where anyone in their right mind would think Apple would release a 7" tab for $200.

Are they going to drop the price on the rest of their product line? An 8GB Touch goes for $199, with the 16Gb nano being the next most expensive at $149.

[dandbj13]

In conclusion..... While I see the rumours of 7" iPads abounding, I still have plenty of doubt as to WHY Apple would even do this. If it is to kill the competition, then I am afraid that will NOT happen, because I will not buy an iPad even if it was at $200 just like I didn't buy the Kindle Fire at $200. There will be a marketplace for non-Apple devices, otherwise we are all going to be screwed, trust me... I hope we never see the day when the only Tablet you can purchase will be an iPad.

I see this fear expressed a lot. I don't think the world has suffered due to Apple killing the MP3 player market by making a great product. If anything, it has helped the world, as there are fewer crapgadgets being regurgitated by companies for the sake of a few pennies. The landfills are grateful.

I welcome competition. Go ahead, compete. If there is a tablet market, prove it. Build the ultimate, anything-but-Apple tablet and see how many of them sell. See if companies can sustain themselves on that market. If they can, great. If not, they really were not competing in the first place. Even RIM will not keep pouring money down the anything-but-Apple drain. At some point, they will have to wake up to the fact that there is no tablet market. A 7" iPad at $200 would prove that once and for all. For that reason, alone, I hope they do it. Let's see who's read on the market is accurate.

Still a stupid thing to do, IMO.

[kbz1960]

If there is no tablet market there is no ipad market unless the ipad isn't a tablet.

One has to wonder why one is so passionate and hellbent on seeing apple rule the world. Jobs reincarnated?

[dandbj13]

I don't see where anyone in their right mind would think Apple would release a 7" tab for $200.

Are they going to drop the price on the rest of their product line? An 8GB Touch goes for $199, with the 16Gb nano being the next most expensive at $149.

Agreed. What company would do anything as stupid as that? How long before we hear cries of "predatory pricing"? Who will be the first to sue Apple for pricing them out of business? I'm going to have to get the big box of microwave popcorn. This show is going to be good.

[dandbj13]

If there is no tablet market there is no ipad market unless the ipad isn't a tablet.

One has to wonder why one is so passionate and hellbent on seeing apple rule the world. Jobs reincarnated?

Can you write a post that doesn't make reference to me? Sensor yourself. Don't make a mod do it for you.

No, the iPad is not a tablet in the generic sense. It is the iPad. Everything else is a generic tablet.

[kbz1960]

Can you write a post that doesn't make reference to me? Sensor yourself. Don't make a mod do it for you.

No, the iPad is not a tablet in the generic sense. It is the iPad. Everything else is a generic tablet.

What makes you think I was talking about you? Do you have to reply to everything I say? Maybe I'm talking about all apple fanboys? Ever think of that? Besides I love you and am stalking you.

[Bla1ze]

Keep your comments on track please, if you have some sort of beef to hash out -- the forums are not the place for it.

[llllBULLSEYE]

KBZ1960
Didn't they ever tell you not to feed the monkeys in the Zoo.
With the new iPad cost of around $280 to manufacture
I will put a 7" around $230 cost.
I strongly doubt Apple will sell their 7" iPad below $300
to loose money like RIM and Amazon already are.

[kbz1960]

KBZ1960
Didn't they ever tell you not to feed the monkeys in the Zoo.
With the new iPad cost of around $280 to manufacture
I will put a 7" around $230 cost.
I strongly doubt Apple will sell their 7" iPad below $300
to loose money like RIM and Amazon already are.

Ah I know but sometimes I just can't help myself.

On topic I am not interested in any apple product so I will not buy a 7" ipad if apple manufactures and sells one.

[jpash549]

AppyGeek has posted rumors that Apple has already given Foxconn orders for 6 million 7.85 inch units for 3Q12 release. Retail supposedly between $249 and $299. Screen would be 1024x768 same as iPad2. Reference is to Tom's Guide and is at bottom of squib on Pegatron which currently produces iPhone4s and current iPad tablet. Since this is a 4/3 aspect ratio the 7.85 screen diagonal would give a screen height of 6.28” as compared to about 6” for the PB and a screen width of 4.71” as compared to 3.43” for the PB. Screen area would be 29.6 sq.in. As compared to 20.9 inches for the PB. The iPad2 is actually 9.7” and the numbers are 7.76/5.82/45.2. Apple makes it's own market and won't worry that much about the competition. If it is only 7” the numbers are 5.6/4.2/23.5. This would put it in the retina display class.

[jpash549]

Screen shot of reference attached.

[addicted44]

I haven't changed my mind. I think Apple has no good business reason to do it. 7" tabs are going nowhere. Show me one that is doing well. The fact that I think it would be stupid for Apple to do it, does not change the fact that if they do it, they will destroy the PB, and probably RIM along with it.

Show me one that is running iOS, and I will show you a 7" tab that is doing well.

A "tablet" as defined by the iPad (the only successful computing tablet) is a blank slate that runs apps. There is only 1 ecosystem that has a decent number of high quality apps. Until Android tablet app quality picks up, or until BB10 apps are released (and BB10 makes its way to the PB), you won't see any successful non Apple/non-MS tablet.

[hurds]

Obviously the OP has their mind made up on which company they prefer, which makes it odd that they are posting here in such an inflammatory way.

I don't think it matters if they release a 7", and I actually hope they do so we can see how well it sells. In the long run the PB is going to be see as a superior tablet running an OS that blows all the competition out of the water. I don't see myself ever buying another apple app-launcher mostly because of people like the OP.

[wuulfy]

Not saying the market is dead, but only the Kindle Fire has found success. Success meaning profit.

kindle fire isnt avaliable in the uk, if a 7 inch ipad comes out before the fire no one in the uk will buy the fire.

Also the 7 inch format seems very healthy in the uk.

[wuulfy]

it seems surprising to me that anyone actually believes people are choosing tablets based on size....i have said it on other threads and i will say it here.

The ipad would have been the best selling tablet whatever size it came out at.

The competition was then screwed, do they produce a smaller tab for convience?
People complain its not as big as the ipad.

Produce a bigger one for viewing movies?
People will complain its bigger than the ipad.

Produce one the same size?
Copying the ipad.

Apple brought out the first mass marketed tablet and therefore set an industry standard.

[dandbj13]

I think the market for 7" tablets is small, too small to go after. I know there are some who believe 10" is too big. But this argument never came out before the iPad. Remember, tablets have been around for a long time. They were all bigger than the iPad. No one ever said that the problem was that they were too big.

Companies needed to try to compete with the iPad, and found that Apple had cornered the market on quality displays of a certain size. Matching it would be prohibitively expensive. Speaking of expensive, $499! That was the price-point that launched the iPad without competition for a year. Everyone was expecting $1,000 price-point. Apple set the industry back a whole year. Even when they started to come out, they had a hard time matching Apple's price; let alone, form factor.

By the time wannabes started rolling out, the game was already over. (We won't mention the JooJoo, the Slate 500, or the, vaporware Currier). The only thing left to try was the smaller screen. That was the only way to get cost down, by doing what Apple wasn't. The 7" form factor was never a design decision; it was the left-over scraps. It was the ultimate, non-Apple tablet. So far, that form factor has lived down to SJ's expectations of it.

Mostly, the only people who have bought into the idea that 10" is too big and $499, too expensive, are those who wouldn't buy an Apple product if their life depended on it. The iPad launched to a market that found the iPad to be the thinnest, lightest, most portable tablet they had ever seen. Did I mention most affordable and useable? A $499, 10" tablet was never too big or too expensive until competitors were forced to counter the iPad with something. The supply chain and price forced them into the 7" size, not design concerns, or a market clamoring for a smaller size.

[kbz1960]

it seems surprising to me that anyone actually believes people are choosing tablets based on size....i have said it on other threads and i will say it here.

The ipad would have been the best selling tablet whatever size it came out at.

The competition was then screwed, do they produce a smaller tab for convience?
People complain its not as big as the ipad.

Produce a bigger one for viewing movies?
People will complain its bigger than the ipad.

Produce one the same size?
Copying the ipad.

Apple brought out the first mass marketed tablet and therefore set an industry standard.

Believe it. I choose the pb for many reasons and size was 1 big reason.

[apengue1]

Apple releasing a product at a low price? Who are you kidding..

Sent from my BlackBerry 9700 using CrackBerry Forums App/Tapatalk

[brucep1]

kindle fire isnt avaliable in the uk, if a 7 inch ipad comes out before the fire no one in the uk will buy the fire.

Also the 7 inch format seems very healthy in the uk.

I'm curious, if the fire hasn't been released in the UK, what 7 inch tablet seems "very healthy?"

As far as I can tell, I doubt any tablet sold over 500k in the UK other than the iPad.

[wuulfy]

I think the market for 7" tablets is small, too small to go after. I know there are some who believe 10" is too big. But this argument never came out before the iPad. Remember, tablets have been around for a long time. They were all bigger than the iPad. No one ever said that the problem was that they were too big.

Companies needed to try to compete with the iPad, and found that Apple had cornered the market on quality displays of a certain size. Matching it would be prohibitively expensive. Speaking of expensive, $499! That was the price-point that launched the iPad without competition for a year. Everyone was expecting $1,000 price-point. Apple set the industry back a whole year. Even when they started to come out, they had a hard time matching Apple's price; let alone, form factor.

By the time wannabes started rolling out, the game was already over. (We won't mention the JooJoo, the Slate 500, or the, vaporware Currier). The only thing left to try was the smaller screen. That was the only way to get cost down, by doing what Apple wasn't. The 7" form factor was never a design decision; it was the left-over scraps. It was the ultimate, non-Apple tablet. So far, that form factor has lived down to SJ's expectations of it.

Mostly, the only people who have bought into the idea that 10" is too big and $499, too expensive, are those who wouldn't buy an Apple product if their life depended on it. The iPad launched to a market that found the iPad to be the thinnest, lightest, most portable tablet they had ever seen. Did I mention most affordable and useable? A $499, 10" tablet was never too big or too expensive until competitors were forced to counter the iPad with something. The supply chain and price forced them into the 7" size, not design concerns, or a market clamoring for a smaller size.

actually $499 is too expensive, i can get a laptop for that...and PLEASE do not tell me an ipad out performs a laptop.

And ten inch is to big...i need a bag to carry it...so i might as well have a laptop.

I know quite a few people who are buying basic kindles to take on holiday because their ipads are to big and heavy.

[wuulfy]

I'm curious, if the fire hasn't been released in the UK, what 7 inch tablet seems "very healthy?"

As far as I can tell, I doubt any tablet sold over 500k in the UK other than the iPad.

android tablets took 39% of the market in the uk...as far as im aware they are predominately 7 inch

[brucep1]

android tablets took 39% of the market in the uk...as far as im aware they are predominately 7 inch

I thought the majority of selling Android tabs were the Transformer (10 inch) and Galaxy (I have no idea which one, but I know there are 10 and 7 inch models).

ANy idea which 7 inch model is healthy in UK in terms of market share? I'm curious.

[Jays1fan]

to me 7" is the PERFECT size for a tablet. I like my playbook , but if they do make an apple itouch mini 7" for under $300 , I will buy one for sure.
MLB at bat alone would be worth it and not having to deal with sideloading some apps not working crap. Love my Itouch but bad eye sight , so playbook is good stop gap.
unless playbook comes out with some needed apps.