Is Apple Planning to Shrink the iPad?
PrintThe cynical side in us wants to point out that a smaller-sized iPad would be called an iPod touch or an iPhone, if for no other reason than to be the first to say so before the reader comments point this out. But according to DigiTimes Research senior analyst Mingchi Kuo, Apple really is mulling shrinking the iPad.
According to Kuo, a smaller 5- to 7-inch version of the iPad is being readied for launch in the first quarter of 2011. Kuo, who believes he has this on good authority from upstream component makers, says the smaller tablet will cost less than $400. But what would be the point?
Apple apparently wants to target individuals who place a higher importance on mobility than they do with text input. And we suppose this would be one way Apple could prevent from having to lower the price of the original iPads once the competition starts rolling out tablets of their own.
So what do you think, will we see a smaller iPad next year? Is there even a market for such a thing?
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zaphodbeeblebrox 42
April 09, 2010 at 8:12pm
yes another product from apple for the ibrainwashed crowd that but any/everyting with an apple logo on it i have a an itouch 8gb and thats good enogh for me without a camara, multitasking flash and several other drawbacks id rather just get a decent laptop rather than an ipathetic
RtDK
April 09, 2010 at 9:47am
I don't even know how there's a market for the regular iPad (God, that name....) to be honest with you. I mean, sure--Steve Job's fan-groupies want anything he stamps Apple's logo on. But why would you basically want an iPad-iPod Touch hybrid?
What's the frickin' POINT?!
alloyking
April 09, 2010 at 7:39am
So wait... I can own the Itocuh, smaller Ipad, and a full size ipad that all DO THE SAME THING?
Lame....
Just add 3g internet to the itouch and the world would be happy.
snapple00
April 09, 2010 at 7:16am
"The cynical side in us wants to point out that a smaller-sized iPad
would be called an iPod touch or an iPhone, if for no other reason than
to be the first to say so before the reader comments point this out."Really? Have you not read the comments on any of the other thousand iPad articles MAXPC has posted? This has been hammered into the ground.
nsk chaos
April 08, 2010 at 8:15pm
if they do...holy shit! they made another itouch??!?!?!?!?! ingenious! these guys should win the nobel peace prize or something.
Danthrax66
April 08, 2010 at 5:59pm
They are going to release 2 versions of the same thing with different names:
Ipad Nano
Ipod Giga
The difference will be that the ipad apps will cost more for the same thing and mac users will buy both.
Keith E. Whisman
April 08, 2010 at 3:40pm
Wouldn't that make the current Ipad a prequel to the Ipod Touch? I mean the Ipad should have come first and then the Ipod touch but because that didn't happen the current Ipad would be the back story to the Ipod Touch in a prequel. I mean why make it smaller? That is autistic of apple. Is Steve Jobs, you know, Retarded? I'll just leave it at that.
Mark17
April 08, 2010 at 2:07pm
Why would they make a smaller version of the iPad? Why not just make a bigger version of the iPod touch?
Caboose
April 08, 2010 at 2:33pm
Why not just make a bigger version of the iPod touch?
What do you think an iPad is?
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
violian
April 08, 2010 at 12:42pm
hmm...maybe it won't be big enough to be called a iPad of the sorts. How about iPalm. Lol...that'll piss off Palm. 5-7inches should roughly be palm size right?
AntiHero
April 08, 2010 at 12:18pm
They already did. It's called the iPod touch. There is also a 3G version, it's called the iPhone first gen.
Bender2000
April 08, 2010 at 12:08pm
Why can't Kuo gp rampantly speculate on something a little more realistic, like Core i3/5/7 MacBooks. Seems all you have to do is mention iPad and the media swarms all over you. Have we already forgotten about the JooJoo? What's going on there. I don't think this whole story would have been noticed if he said the Slate would come out in a smaller version next year. Well I just heard that in Prague the US and Russia announced a nuclear non proliferation app for the iPad that was apporved by Tiger Woods. Just remember it was ME who said it first.
Havok
April 09, 2010 at 5:39am
Youjust earned your 30 seconds of fame on the internet.
Mac OS X 10.6.3 "Bandaged Kitty" : Available now
festiva_man
April 08, 2010 at 11:59am
I really hope this comes to fruition. The more crap that comes outta that company means a higher possibility of waking up some of its culti...errr followers.
codepath
April 08, 2010 at 11:47am
they name it the MiniPad and change the name of the original to the (wait for it), that's right, the MaxiPad.
Bumbl3b33
April 08, 2010 at 11:22am
It's kinda sad that they don't have anything better to be doing...
leostrider
April 08, 2010 at 11:21am
I guess it could be some competition for the Dell Mini 5. Both are terrible ideas.
Danthrax66
April 08, 2010 at 5:56pm
Just hold on one second the dell mini 5 looks amazing. And it's not on the stupid ass iphone os.
I Jedi
April 08, 2010 at 11:00am
I think the honest answer here is, "Does anyone actually give a shit?"
Biceps
April 08, 2010 at 12:53pm
Enough to read the post and comments, but not enough to bother replying with a post of my own... erg, um whoops.
kjrviking
April 08, 2010 at 11:04am
yes it would be a catchy title, or the could do something like "iPod Touch XL" and take a leaf out of Nintendo's book and people would buy it even though they already have a iPod Touch
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