Article is here: online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405297020479530457...
if they do this, and price it right, it would help them gain even more marke share in the tablet market. They have a lot to compete with in the lower priced market since the Fire came out. They are still wining the tablet market overall but with two budget friendly devices (Fire and Nook Tablet) picking up a bit of steam there is still a small segment for them to overtake. Do you think Apple should consider this at all or is this a non-issue since they're already owning the tablet market?
Discussion about
WSJ is reporting that Apple is testing an 8" iPad, thoughts?
WSJ has been publishing these speculative articles more than anyone else lately. I guess if you do that with enough frequency eventually one of them will prove correct.
Hasn't Apple been "testing" smaller iPads since the original iPad? The Fire and Nook tablets be doing well in their space, but they're just not that good. They're small (making them less useful for creating rather than consuming) and underpowered but cheap, which is why people buy them. Apple doesn't do budget devices and they don't fracture their iOS product line (much). There doesn't seem to be a reason for its existence.
I'm skeptical but I guess you never know.
Hasn't Apple been "testing" smaller iPads since the original iPad? The Fire and Nook tablets be doing well in their space, but they're just not that good. They're small (making them less useful for creating rather than consuming) and underpowered but cheap, which is why people buy them. Apple doesn't do budget devices and they don't fracture their iOS product line (much). There doesn't seem to be a reason for its existence.
I'm skeptical but I guess you never know.
I don't really see a point to it. Sure, there's a market for it and they would sell a bunch, but it would seriously tank the iPad's sales. It would increase Apple's cost to serve the same market. Apple isn't scared to cannibalize itself but selling 2 products into the same market seems non-Apple. Apps would also have to be scaled separately, though that's not a big deal.
I don't think the Fire seriously takes away market share from iPad. Yes people who were saving up for an iPad have been quick to buy a Fire, but soon enough the raw power of the iPad will be obvious compared to the slow and bare nature of the Fire. The Fire is the poor man's tablet, for those who didn't buy the HP Touchpad.
I don't think the Fire seriously takes away market share from iPad. Yes people who were saving up for an iPad have been quick to buy a Fire, but soon enough the raw power of the iPad will be obvious compared to the slow and bare nature of the Fire. The Fire is the poor man's tablet, for those who didn't buy the HP Touchpad.
Does an 8" iPad Make Sense?
No doubt that Apple has been testing iPads with a smaller form factor. As the market matures, Apple will probably create a line of iPad products just like they have with the iPhone and iPod product lines at some point in time. The biggest issue I see with Apple is having enough supply of parts to produce their products since they have to produce on such a massive scale to try and meet demand. Apple would like to get their products into the hands as many people as possible and an iPad with a lower price point would help.
In general, I do think it makes sense for Apple to produce an 8" iPad at some point. It is interesting to note that it appears something like the Kindle Fire has not had much effect on Apple's iPad sales. This could help convince Apple that coming out with something with a smaller form factor and lower price point would not significantly cannibalize its existing iPad sales but yet have a broader appeal.
No doubt that Apple has been testing iPads with a smaller form factor. As the market matures, Apple will probably create a line of iPad products just like they have with the iPhone and iPod product lines at some point in time. The biggest issue I see with Apple is having enough supply of parts to produce their products since they have to produce on such a massive scale to try and meet demand. Apple would like to get their products into the hands as many people as possible and an iPad with a lower price point would help.
In general, I do think it makes sense for Apple to produce an 8" iPad at some point. It is interesting to note that it appears something like the Kindle Fire has not had much effect on Apple's iPad sales. This could help convince Apple that coming out with something with a smaller form factor and lower price point would not significantly cannibalize its existing iPad sales but yet have a broader appeal.
I dont think apple would do a device like that. If they do, it will be a suicide and no one will buy except the apple fans. I see no reason to do that. Competitors advertise 7 inches and tell apple does not have just to sell their unsold products.
They already have 12 versions of the iPad2 on the market (3 sizes in WiFi only, black and white versions, total 6; 3 sizes in 3G GSM, black and white versions, total 6; and 3 sizes in CDMA, black and white versions, total 6). Why confuse the market with even more models?
In addition, you start to get into problems with apps being scaled for different resolutions, like with the iPhone and the iPad. It's just not Apple's simplicity model.
In addition, you start to get into problems with apps being scaled for different resolutions, like with the iPhone and the iPad. It's just not Apple's simplicity model.
I think it could definitely cause problems for app developers, it is making things difficult on the Android platform. Apple could pull a rabbit out of a hat and keep the exact same resolution as the iPad 2 had, but on an 8" screen, minimizing that impact.
Honestly, I would love an 7" or 8" iPad though. If you've ever held the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 or the HTC Flyer in your hands, you realize that that form factor is just great for media and e-book consumption.
I was hoping to find a great alternative in the Kindle Fire but the screen on it is terrible for reading and, having gotten used to the iPhone and iPad, the video quality was equally bad.
Honestly, I would love an 7" or 8" iPad though. If you've ever held the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 or the HTC Flyer in your hands, you realize that that form factor is just great for media and e-book consumption.
I was hoping to find a great alternative in the Kindle Fire but the screen on it is terrible for reading and, having gotten used to the iPhone and iPad, the video quality was equally bad.
