jdiamond

macxpress said:

If I were Apple I'd drop the mini and lower the price of the 9.7" iPad to the price of the mini. Then lower the price of the iPad Pro models down to the price of the 9.7" iPad. Just in time for the holidays too. Apple's doesn't need an iPad mini Pro model. There are way too many models of iPads as it is between the different screen sizes, old models, new models, Wifi models, LTE models, Pro models, capacity models, etc. Its just too much IMO. 

The problem with this approach is technical - it's weight.  I'd be using a 13" iPad Pro for everything if it weighed only a half pound.  The big problem is currently the Mini is the outer limit of acceptable weight such that I can:

-> Hold one handed - it's a stretch but I can even wrap my thumb and pinky around the two edges.
-> Hold in the air with my arms for more than a few minutes.

I've tried this with the 1 pound 9.7" iPad Pro and it's just hopeless - after a few minutes, the iPad is touching the ground.  At which point it's a lot less portable., and effectively smaller because it's farther from my eyes.  And the iPad Mini is still stretching the limits - in comparison, a 6 ounce kindle I can hold in one hand for an hour.

I do agree that if you made the 9.7" iPad Pro under 8 ounces then I see little need for the iPad Mini.  Some women can fit the mini in their purses, but I think most now go for an iPhone Plus.  But that's why I think we still need the mini - because the low weight makes it more portable than a laptop, which usually sits on a desk or table.

mac_128 said:

This is the dumbest rumor yet. I'm all for removing the 3.5mm headphone jack unless it's for this. The quality of a speaker that small, and the lack of spatial separation makes this all but pointless for the customer. Barclay's is just speculating, and doing so badly. Did they bother to consult with any audio engineers first?

Thanks for cheering me up by pointing out how vague the rumor is.  I wish Apple would internalize the notion that people really need at least TWO ports - power + other.  My common use case is to charge my phone in my car while listening to music.  My car's got an awesome stereo, but needs a physical connection.

I wonder if it would be possible to make an adapter that not only has a headphone jack but a pass through lightning charger?  Then the issue would be moot.