Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tallest Skil 
What a terrible product.
The mockup is moderately well made, though. Shame the camera's focus is broken and they didn't think to check that before uploading.
I have to agree with Tallest Skill on this. I have spent months wondering what I would use a smaller iPad for and whether or not I would purchase one given the availability to do so.
After months of thought, I would be stunned if Apple did release this product. Unfortunately because it's such an upheld rumor and the "market" (Wall Street) has blown the entire idea out of proportion it may still be released.
I can see only three legitimate reasons to release such a product.
The first would be to cater to the small minority who claim they would purchase an iPad if it were smaller. These same people mentioned that they would prefer that it be lighter (apparently they don't exercise AT ALL) and want it to fit into some type of pocket.
1.a) I'm sure that a small community does exists that actually would prefer this product, as does any product.
1.b) At what point does light seem strange. If I (girl/woman) can read lying in bed holding the iPad above my face and having it seem like a paperback. It would be strange. Not "magical" as Apple likes to say, just strange. There's a certain expected 'resistance'. I'm sure the current iPad could be a little lighter for this certain case use, but smaller also? Not really. You end up with the result of losing too much and gaining too little on a smaller device. --- also I do enjoy myself when I read a post that the current iPad is too heavy. While I believe Darwin was wrong (only because he didn't have all rhe 'current' facts during his age). I certainly wouldn't pick a male who couldn't hold an iPad.
1.c) This is very relative. What type of pocket would a person like their devise to fit in. I have seen many arguments on this site that one device vs. another device could fit into a woman's purse. However even a 7.85" iPad would not fit into a clutch bag, leave little room in a purse (although wildly defined). Also if a woman is putting such a device into a tote bag, it had better be covered by an "Otter Box" type solution because you will not be able to read it after a week or two!
1.c.a) I have worn and do wear lab coats. Many people on this site like to use a lab coat as an example. I suspect the same people who like to use lab coats as an example have only seen, but have never actually worn a lab coat. Even though we wear lab coats there is still a quasi fashion statement. There's always the odd guy (read: the really weird) but as a whole, no one really fills that pocket with a giant square. Especially if you exercise and are proud of your curves. This is also true for guys! Some guys say they never wear a wallet because their butts look weird. Fashion aside, let's move on to two.
The second would be the "Market's" expectation of a device to answer the supposed threat from all of the other 7" tablets retailing at present.
2.) unfortunately this will hurt either way. The stock price is built in with the expectation of a small iPad launch at this point. There are proponents on either side so depending on their views the stock will go up or down whether they release this or not. (Yeah, you'll tell me "no duh!"). I've done we'll on stocks, but this one is a definite hard call.
The third would be to introduce people who are familiar with that form size into the Apple ecosystem.
3.) This one is the only approach I could see for Apple regarding what you folk call "form factor". If there are so many of these 7" tablets being used, then make one (that 7" form factor people would buy, at their price point) to get people used to the ecosystem.
3.a) In my opinion this would be the ultimate brand downgrade. First off on this respect, not so many of these tablets are being used. This is an axiom (sorry sol). I'm not sure what these 7" tablets are being used for, but it's very apparent they are not being used for what a tablet was indeed designed for. The only unequivocal use case scenario is that they are all being used for reading 'books' or listening to music. I highlight 'books' because we should slowly see this word phased out. Apparently they are not even viewing the so called "web".
In conclusion, I believe in Tallest's thoughts on the mini iPad. It does have some uses, but not enough to justify basically shrinking the current iPad. I see a small use case scenario for a small iPad. I also believe that if this device is released it would be 'market' based and not 'Apple' based. 'Market' meaning stocks.
My statements,
I believe there should be a larger iPad. Double the current size. (Retina display only) I also believe the OS does actually need to change for the iPad device inverse of the iphone if indeed this is the form that's going to ring in the future of computing. People love to quote Moores Law, however mobile devices have superseded that in the past few years. Think of a double sized iPad with an actual operating system. By mentioning "actual operating system" I do not infer file subsystem acces. The fact that the iPhone 5 feels lighter than it should means to me that the next iPad should be much more capable.
It also hurt me to read negative posts against people who proposed splitting the OS from iPad and iPhone. It was already split. Just develope the iPad more. To those people I ask, So when you download the new OS right from the source and you have to specify the device... You really didn't think it was already splintered off? Really?...
I think you folk call this a wish list... I believe the iPad should have a double sized order option. With a workable double (meaning dual screen on the same screen, if doubled) screen multitask. Please let us get rid of the grid! Maybe I'll start a "Rid the Grid" campaign.
Disclaimer: my beliefs are probably far from yours. I accept that. Hopefully you will also.
