$329 for ipad mini

[Graham]

Originally Posted by david_e

but the components aren't going to enable me to read a book or magazine faster

I fully understand and 'get' the rest of your post, but the components would make a difference to how quickly you can read a magazine, in particular.

If this iPad mini had a retina screen (one of the areas where there has been some disappointment) reading a magazine would be considerably easier, with less zooming in and scrolling around - so, I'd say, yes, quicker.

What was adequate on the larger iPad 2 screen will feel more cramped on the smaller mini screen (as with the the 7" Android tablets).

Graham

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I like that word.

...let's see if I can use it in a sentence.

It's my imperative to find bananas

Yep, just like bananas in a bunch we are social creatures.

[Fbone]

Apple explains their pricing when questioned by Reuters.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/49536244

[david_e]

Originally Posted by afv011

Well, when apple talk about the A6X, or they new retina or whatever, they certainly buzz it up, as if it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, and consumers gobble it up and drool all over the place. Then, when it comes to shipping year old technology at overinflated prices, the consumers simply say "well, it doesn't matter what's in the inside". Really, no wonder apple is swimming in gold, their PR machine is going on overdrive.

Just because they buzz doesn't mean we're all really listening, or understand, for that matter. People get that the retina screen is a sharper picture, more memory means faster, the rest of it ....blah, blah, blah.

Price wise, it just isn't as important a factor for some, like it is for others. I don't care what the cost versus retail is. Frankly, I don't even care what the retail is. If I need it, I get it.

I think you overvalue that PR machine you like to mention. It might get people into the store the first time but they wouldn't come back if the products didn't work for them. Oohhh! Shiny! Pretty! Only gets you so far.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Apple explains their pricing when questioned by Reuters.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/49536244

I like the way they preface the piece with (my emphasis):

Apple marketing wizard Phil Schiller defended...

Whatever else they are, Apple really are very, very clever at sticking to a message and getting it out into the ears of the public.

In this case, Schiller has deflected the critics' arguments that the mini is actually a poorer-specced product than its rivals with the assertion that people will "pay for quality".

In another thread I've compared the mini with the similarly sized, aluminium-bodied Samsung 7.7", which is coming in more expensive than the iPad mini, so there is a discussion to be had about where the price of quality has been spent, but Schiller's remarks are pure marketing spin, when there are Fire and Nook devices with higher specs and larger, high resolution, quality screens arriving offering a similar experience at a lower cost.

Graham

[Fbone]

The article did mention that Google's and Amazon's offerings were most likely at or below cost. And Apple doesn't price their products that way.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by WillysJeepMan

How do you differentiate between Amazon's and Apple's walled gardens? Is one better than the other? Except for expense, those other things apply to Amazon's Kindle Fire as well, maybe even more so.

I'd call Amazon's more of a low fence than a walled garden. Both ecosystems 'lock you in' to a point, but Amazon's content is much more accessible on a variety of platforms which makes things more flexible.

[wizwor]

It'll say a lot about Apple's shine if these things sell well. If they do, then I say Cook will be successful -- Apple is too big to fail. If they don't, people will immediately second guess him for violating the Tao of Steve (who knew the mini was not a good product).

Should be interesting...

[Penforhire]

pl001, what do you mean "Apple doesn't allow sideloads?" Perhaps you mean strictly through iTunes? I had quite a few sideloaded e-books on my iPhone in different apps (e.g. loading/reading PDF's using Air Sharing). Even iTunes allows sideloaded music (99% of my collection are rips from my own CD's). I've made plenty of my own free iPhone ringtones (even before there were free apps for that). The garden walls are not as high as people like to think.

[robertc88]

It will sell well. I hate to stereotype but the "majority" of folks will preorder and be on line day 1 without any thought to specs.

The process is they wanted an IPAD but it was too costly for them. This is a MINI Ipad (smaller only in size to them which is now more portable), its cheaper, etc. so viola!

[david_e]

Originally Posted by Penforhire

pl001, what do you mean "Apple doesn't allow sideloads?" Perhaps you mean strictly through iTunes? I had quite a few sideloaded e-books on my iPhone in different apps (e.g. loading/reading PDF's using Air Sharing). Even iTunes allows sideloaded music (99% of my collection are rips from my own CD's). I've made plenty of my own free iPhone ringtones (even before there were free apps for that). The garden walls are not as high as people like to think.

iTunes allows you to sideload music, books, tv shows and movies.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Penforhire

pl001, what do you mean "Apple doesn't allow sideloads?" Perhaps you mean strictly through iTunes? I had quite a few sideloaded e-books on my iPhone in different apps (e.g. loading/reading PDF's using Air Sharing). Even iTunes allows sideloaded music (99% of my collection are rips from my own CD's). I've made plenty of my own free iPhone ringtones (even before there were free apps for that). The garden walls are not as high as people like to think.

I'll take a guess that he means having to use iTunes, versus sideloading via open standards and common connectivity. Having to use iTunes to get sideloaded data into Apple's encrypted database before the files can be used, versus just copying stuff via a USB MSC connection represents a far more prison-like walled garden then Amazon, when you can simply plug the device into any modern PC, copy files over, and use them.

ApK

[JoHunt]

Apple has released a new iPod, iPad and iPad mini at the same time. Surely sales of one or more of these devices will be cannibalized - it's hard to imagine even fan boys buying one of each.

[pl001]

Originally Posted by Penforhire

pl001, what do you mean "Apple doesn't allow sideloads?" Perhaps you mean strictly through iTunes? I had quite a few sideloaded e-books on my iPhone in different apps (e.g. loading/reading PDF's using Air Sharing). Even iTunes allows sideloaded music (99% of my collection are rips from my own CD's). I've made plenty of my own free iPhone ringtones (even before there were free apps for that). The garden walls are not as high as people like to think.

I wasn't clear on that, sorry. I meant sideloading apps, not content. ApK and AnemicOak also make good points about iTunes and accessibility across platforms.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by darksaber35

Then Just maybe the fact that even for that rip off starting price of $329 you don't even get GPS and have to stump up another $100+ on top to buy the Wifi Cellular version will.
Read the specs and it's clear to see that the Wifi version only comes with Wifi and a Digital compass

I'm not sure why anyone would be surprised by that, given that it has been true of every iDevice released so far.