Quote:
Originally Posted by ProfCrash
You are talking about products that are one to two models behind the current leader. While they work great and people will buy them, they are not the big seller. People are shelling out almost $1000 for the higher end IPad 3 and $399 for the higher end IPod Touch.
A 7 inch IPad is going to be a new device. I suspect that a 8 GB version would start in the $300 range, somewhere between the current IPad and current IPod Touch.
|
The most popular iPod Touch model is probably the 32GB one ($299). I reckon the 32GB model is also the most popular for the iPad 3 (Wi-Fi $499, 4G $629).
Apple doesn't need to release a smaller iPad. They've already done the same thing as they did with the iPhone - release a new version (iPhone 4S, iPad 3rd gen) but continue manufacturing older versions (iPhone 3GS & iPhone 4, iPad 2) as lower cost options. Whether they release a 7" iPad or not will probably be a function of how big a market Apple thinks exists for the form factor (that or if their marketing department can convince folks to buy a 7" iPad at whatever price they decide to sell it).
We have no idea what approach Apple will take with a smaller iPad nor do we know if Apple will even release a smaller iPad. Apple could very well release one at $349~449 (entry-level 8/16GB) with practically the same hardware as the latest model, just in a smaller form factor or they could release one at $249~349 (entry-level 8/16GB) with specs from last year's iPad and lower quality parts. Either way, Apple still keeps their healthy profit margins.