Strong rumours Ipad 2 could be available by Christmas

[garygibsonsf]

Originally Posted by simplyparticular

Although, now that I've got an e-Ink device, i rarely read on my iPhone anymore, since the e-Ink screen is easier on my eyes. I can get 2-3x the reading done on an e-Ink with a clip light before my eyes start to water.

I'd mostly agree with that, although I do find that there are certain kinds of publications I think would work much better on an Ipad - even a smaller Ipad - and those are comics, art books and non-fiction titles, particularly the kind with lots of pictures or illustrations. Plus, as a writer, if I've got books on my 505 I'm using for reference when I'm working, I can't just flick through them the same way I could with an Ipad.

Essentially, what I'm saying is that 505's, Kindles etc are great for long periods of sequential reading, but Ipads (and by extension, I guess, laptops and regular pc's) are great for browsing or scanning long text items for particular chunks of material. Whenever I do get an Ipad - and I suspect it's 'when' - a fair chunk of its lifespan will be spent propped up beside my macbook, being used as a stand-in for all my physical reference materials when I'm writing.

Let's imagine, then, that Apple have taken a look at the demographics for the people who've already bought Ipads and found there's a substantial chunk of people who want the same device, but smaller and cheaper, enough so to make it worthwhile manufacturing this smaller device. That would be my guess.

[JSWolf]

If it has a lesser battery life, it'll tank.

[garygibsonsf]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If it has a lesser battery life, it'll tank.

'Lesser battery life' and 'Apple Computers' aren't phrases very often found in the same sentence together, it must be said.

[Talldog]

Too small for a general purpose browser, IMO. The iPad I have is just the right balance between screen size and overall size/weight.

[Solicitous]

I'll believe it when I see it. Can't count the number of articles that had a solid source to say Apple were bringing out a netbook. Anyone see one? Me neither. Sorry, not a device for me, I'll wait for a reasonably good priced Android tablet (not a Chinese knock-off that apparently are pretty unreliable from what I have read). I still can't get my head around the Apple warranty in regard to batteries for the iPad/iPhone, makes me even less want to be a customer.

[greencat]

Originally Posted by Talldog

The iPad I have is just the right balance between screen size and overall size/weight.

I'd agree with this. The iPad initially felt heavy for it's size but i've got used to it. It feels quite lightweight to me.

Since I already had a 505 I was looking something bigger in terms of screen size but still very portable.

Still everyone is different and a handbag sized iPad would probably be very popular.

[GeoffC]

no chance, I suppose, of a USB port .... otherwise it's the right size as a reader (price depending).

[leebase]

I think Apple will do this to combat the Android tablets that will be coming out. While I like size of the iPad, I'm sure there is a market for something smaller.

Lee