Thoughsome of us did n’t believe it would happen , all planetary house manoeuvre to Apple uncover a smaller iPad ( among other thing ) at itsOctober 23 event .
We ’ll jazz what Cupertino has up its sleeve by belated Tuesday , so there ’s little motive for us to augur about the “ little more to show ” Apple promised on its event invitation .
But we wo n’t let that stop us .
What to expect
Lex : OK , there ’s a ton we do n’t yet know about the iPad — up to and including its name . It might be a 7.8 - column inch iPad miniskirt , or a 7 - inch iPad Air . It might have one tv camera , two , or none . It might start with just 8 GB of storage , or it might match the full - size of it iPad ’s 16 GB minimum . Perhaps it will have optional cellular connectivity ; perhaps it wo n’t .
Dan : I’m beaming you ’re finally take a stand on this important matter .
Lex : The one thing I ’m willing to say with certainty is that Apple really will reveal an iOS machine that ’s modest than an iPad , but bigger than iPod touch .
Dan : Let ’s call it the iBreadbox .
Lex : We keep our bread in the electric refrigerator .
Dan : I’m willing to go on a arm here — based on my spotless prognostication record — and predict that we ’ll see a 7.85 - column inch iPad , with a 1024 - by-768 pixel video display . I ’d also wager that it starts at 16 GB and goes as gamey as 32 GB .
Lex : I’m still think the punk entry - degree model starts at 8 gigabit , but I agree with the rest of that .
Dan : I ca n’t reckon Apple will bring out an iPad any smaller — in capacity , anyway — than what is already out there .
Lex : Well , I believe that Apple ’s number one goal in release a small iPad — let ’s call it the iPad mini for now — is to contend with devices like the $ 159Kindle Fireand the $ 200Nexus 7 . And I have to believe that to get a price story that low , Apple will prune any corner it can . I would n’t urge that anyone buy an 8 GB iOS twist , becauseapps are just too darn big these day , But I still think Apple would let go of such a machine if it drive the entry - level monetary value down .
Dan : I agree that Apple ’s not going to sell the gimmick at a loss , which is what Amazon seems to be doing . But I think more money will be saved by , for exercise , not including a Retina display . These days , Apple is using flash lamp memory in such prodigious quantities that I do n’t suppose it ’s a major expenditure for the company .
Lex : You may be correct . But at least I ’m not on the record saying that no iPad miniskirt is coming this month .
Dan : I think there are a few thing we can agree on , at least . And that ’s that the iPad miniskirt will probably have more in common with its iOS machine brethren than not : It will have built - in Wi - Fi , Bluetooth , a phone jack , extraneous loudness buttons , and so on . For most purposes , it will greatly resemble all the other iOS machine we ’ve seen before . Not least , I think it ’ll sport a Lightning port instead of the old 30 - flag docking facility - connector — mainly because Apple is go to solidify its move away from the former monetary standard , but also because the smaller sizing of that connector will be handy in a 7 - inch twist .
Lex : I’d consort with that . But I suppose that , under - the - hood , it will be underpowered compare to the iPhone 5 and the third - generation iPad in several ways : Perhaps it will use Apple ’s slow A5 processor , and maybe it wo n’t support the more ripe Wi - Fi options in the iPhone 5 .
Dan : And I ’d agree withthat . The one head I ’m kind of hedging on is the comprehension of fast cellular networking . It seems like a gadget this portable will be something where you ’d want to have Internet access all the prison term . But so far , it ’s proved to be an extra disbursement for the iPad , and non - existent on the iPod touch .
Lex : And if Apple does ship models with cellular connectivity as an choice ( which I also think it will ) , I ’m unforced to play that it wo n’t offer a subsidized cellular data plan , the way that Amazon does with the Kindle Fire . ( You pay up $ 50 for your first yr of datum , which gets you 250 MB of data per month . ) That sort of discounted offering is hugely popular with consumers , but I do n’t consider that ’s the fashion Apple does business .
Dan : cause good sense to me . Cellular connectivity has proved to be a pricey addition to the iPad — it cost another $ 129 just to impart the cellularoption . And Apple ’s never offered the feature on the iPod touch modality , much to the dismay of many customers . Speaking of which …
Where a smaller iPad fits
Lex : One motion my friends have been asking me — and one I do n’t always feel well - fit to reply — is where precisely Apple lay an iPad mini , in terms of its increasingly large and wide-ranging iOS lineup . The young iPod touch costs $ 299 ; last year ’s exemplar costs $ 199 . As I mentioned before , I do think one of Apple ’s motivations for relinquish an iPad miniskirt is to compete with the companies that are making belittled , more affordable tablets . The $ 499 price for the basis model third - generation iPad is impressive ; $ 399 for the iPad 2 is , too . But obviously Apple can reach even more customers if it has a smaller tablet that cost a lot less .
Dan : When it comes to the iPod touch , I think John Gruberput it best whenhe said that it ’s a “ dissimilar category ” from the iPad . Even if the two are close in price , I do n’t call back that hoi polloi looking to bribe an iPod touching will inevitably think , “ Hey , for just a little piece more I can kick upstairs to an iPad mini . ” And even if they do , Apple ’s still getting the sale , which is a profits for the company .
Lex : But I still intend customers will experience at a loss if they can purchase an iPad mini for less than an iPod touch . I think you and Gruber are veracious : A pocket - sized gadget is vastly different from a “ merely ” portable gimmick . But it ’s tough to agitate the belief that , if I can get this adult thing for less , why do n’t I ? As you said , Apple sells a Cartesian product either style . But if that iPod touch price does n’t come down , there will definitely be some confused customers at the Apple Store .
Dan : So , let ’s lie it on the line : How much will a small iPad cost ? Here ’s what I think : If Apple can go as low as $ 199 , the iPad mini would totally blow away any competitors . But I do n’t think the ship’s company has any problem saying , “ Hey , this iPad mini isbetterthan what our challenger are offer , so we conceive it ’s worth another $ 50 . ” If the companionship has to go up to another $ 50 , to $ 299 , there ’s no question in my mind that people would still corrupt it . But you ’re get awfully close to full - size of it iPad territory , and will a spate of opportunity for competitors . To me , $ 249 is the sweet maculation .
Lex : Apple ’s never feltcompelledto contend on price , and has long been willing to tear what it believes its merchandise are worth . And the society always handle more about profit share than marketplace share . That articulate , I think this product launching could be a determine moment for iOS and the iPad ’s future .
Does Apple desire to reassert its authority in the tablet grocery store and push its nouveau-riche rival — don’t forget the coming Microsoft Surface — even further behind ? If it does , I think a $ 199 entry - layer iPad mini is a sure bet . If Apple instead starts the pricing at $ 249 , it will still betray piles of the things . But it wo n’t necessarily capture those customer who say , “ I want an iPad , or the cheapest bringing close together thereof . ” That ’s not you or me , Dan , and it may not be most Macworld readers . But I think there are stack of people like that .
Dan : What ’s the Microsoft Surface ?
Lex : Formica .
Who’s it for?
Lex : So besides Leontyne Price , why would I want to purchase one of these smaller iPads ?
Dan : Good question . I think we can expect Apple to toss us on the iPad miniskirt as a reading material gadget . I listen you have problems reading on the iPad .
Lex : Right . One key reward of a minuscule — and , more importantly , lighter — iPad is the fact that it will injure less if , say , I fall asleep while reading with it in layer , and it crashes into my face .
Dan : I do n’t run into this problem as much as you seem to , but I think you ’re correct that it ’s easier to consider with in scenarios like that , or when you have to hold the iPad for a prospicient menstruum of metre . At under 1.5 lbs , the full - size iPad is n’t exactlyheavy , but after a while , you need to put it down . And Apple never wants you to put your iPad down .
Lex : And a modest iPad is n’t just more portable , it ’s easier to habituate in less roomy confines , like an airplane tail — oryourapartment . Really , though , I just see two potentially significant tradeoffs you make with a littler iPad : typewriting would be harder than on an iPhone ( with your pollex ) or an iPad ( with your full hands ) . And I would expect that some tinier skin senses targets would be problematic to intercept on the minor filmdom .
Dan : Fair enough . I ’ve inquire aboutalternative text inputmethods since the unveiling of the original iPad . Maybe Apple has something up its sleeve to help address the problem . But belike not .
Lex : Would that it were true . Then maybe it would write this piece for us .
Siri : Would you two stop boob around ? I ’m trying to crop here .
