Would a 7-inch iPad be useful?

9th August, 2010 by adina
Tags: 7 inch, Apple, Gadget, iPad, Kindle, News, Tablet

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Rumors about Apple launching a new iPad, seven-inch sized, seem to give customers another option for a more mobile option of a tablet. The device is supposed to boast the same important features, with the main difference of 2.7 inches less of screen for the new model. The question is if the new device is as exciting as it seems at first sight.

Some people are excited about the perspective of having a new 7-inch iPad. There are many reasons for that, such as the easiness of carrying it, a cheaper price, and perhaps the most important reason would be that it would get closer to the size of the Kindle, which is the iPad’s main competitor when talking about the e-reader market.

Everything seems to be fine and there is an expectation for a cheaper iPad. The device would be smaller, easier to carry, but if only the size is the one that counts, buying an iPhone or an iPod touch would be the best option for those users.

The iPad is a tremendous device. Its screen is perfect for a device of its size. The introductory price is $499, which makes the iPad relatively affordable for a large category of users. Furthermore, those who have bought an iPad had no major complaints about it. Well, they could have some if it was about a seven-inch device.

That is because this size is probably too small for those who want to watch movies or Web videos on it. This could generate some discontentment. More than that, the seven-inch smaller footprint places the iPad in that dangerous area where consumers really have trouble to make up their minds. Why is that? Simple, for only $100 more they may acquire a bigger device, even a much bigger one. Or, they have the option of buying a smartphone providing the same functionality, but with calling added, for $100 less. Such confusion would certainly not help sell the product and what is sure is that Apple masters very well the avoiding of overlaps.

Users do like pocket-friendly devices, but is this all that matters in the case of the iPad? It depends on what consumers appreciate more: having a tablet which helps them be more productive and lets them enjoy entertainment or having a device easy to store in their pockets and ready to be used when they have nothing else to do.

If the latter alternative is the true one, then maybe there is no value in it. In this case, the size of the pockets is to be considered, to see what size makes the users comfortable with slipping the device in. but, if the iPad becomes too small, it could easily turn to a PDA. Everybody knows what happened the last time when Apple made a device that was too big to be put in a pocket but too small to be considered a notebook.

The iPhone and the iPad are certainly great creations of Apple. The perfect size of the iPhone and its design are created for people who want to be productive all the time. Meanwhile, the iPad is an ideal device for users looking for an entertaining experience in any circumstances. The disparity between these two devices renders them appealing to any consumer. Is it worthy to give up all this for the unique purpose of having a slightly cheaper iPad?

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