Two months back when I first heard about it, I asked myself, “Then what’s the iPod Touch for?” and I guess even Steve Jobs would have been a little confused about this little piece of news which is all over the internet. But I guess he’s lucky to not witness the mockery that Apple is making out of itself these days.
Apple already has one kick ass tablet with almost everything one can hope for. Packed in a 10-inch elegant tablet, it is being used in numerous companies .They have been developing applications to support their working environment. Isn’t this a huge success? Apple could have lived with it, then why the iPad mini?
I’d blame Google and Amazon for this. For it’s their seven-inch Nexus and Kindle Fire Tablets respectively, which dominate the low cost tablets market today, and make Apple feel an itch about not having a budget tablet in their inventory. So to put an end to it they had to come up with this new concept of a smaller, but cheaper, version of their existing successful tablet (iPad 2 and The New iPad).
To be honest, I’m really not concerned about why Apple came up with such an idea, I’m just happy about the launch. Being a big Apple fan and definitely not Richie Rich, I can now think about buying a new Apple Tab.
According to a German Blogger, who luckily enough, might have got his hands on the new iPad mini before its launch, it has four variants- 8 GB, 16 GB, 32GB and 64GB. The prices might start at 249 Euros (about 322 USD and 17,000 rupees approx.) for an 8 GB, Wifi-only model. The high-end 64 GB iPad mini will be 3G enabled and might also have 4G LTE (Long term Evolution), which means faster and better Internet.
It’s not a completely new invention, for all of you who think it is; they just shrunk the bigger version, with the same iOS and engine.
The best part is not its all new portability, but its price as the iPad mini will be cheaper than its big brother.
Apple knew, sooner or later they will have to come up with a product which appeals to the budget market, where people are more concerned about utility than the looks.
Though the already existing iPad gave its users a good package, and undoubtedly, it still is worth the price tag it comes with; With a new tablet that will cost just about $300, Apple can really dig a big hole in the pockets of its competitors.
And is it really a mystery why Apple decided to come up with this idea in this part of the year?
With Holiday Season up next, and a new launch, which is nothing but a derivative of its earlier version, iPad Mini has quite a potential to conquer the low cost tablet market. Who knows, people might love the new smaller screen, and this test design could be an inspiration for some future launches.
A Mac owner will most likely buy an iPhone, and if he or she ever gets interested in buying a tablet, chances are that he or she will only go for an iPad. Also I’m pretty sure, if one is a music freak; one must have owned an iPod instead of a Zune or a Walkman.
It’s not a Richie Rich tale I’m referring to here, but the Halo Effect that Apple has on its users. If someone owns one of the Apple products, chances are that next time he or she will most likely get an Apple product. That’s why a low cost tablet.
If Apple confirms the iPad mini in its next World Wide Developers Conference, which is scheduled on 23rd October 2012, chances are that it will become one of the highest selling gadgets in Apple’s history.
But you, the Apple fans, can try to not give in to the Apple’s Halo Effect this time, and atleast consider the Google Nexus and Amazon’s Kindle Fire for once.
But if you are an Apple lover like me, then start saving!
I will anyways come up with a review of the iPad mini when it is finally announced.
So, stay tuned for the updates.
Divay Kumar
Image Source [http://www.the-digital-reader.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/ipad-2-ipad-mini-3.jpg]
