DEVASTATING for Microsoft. As the established leader in the tablet space, Apple iPads are considered the premium device in the market right now. The major barrier to even more sales of the iPad is it’s premium price ($499 and above for the new iPad). A substantial drop in the price coupled with the introduction of a new form factor would virtually lock down the tablet market for Apple in my opinion. It would be (to all intents and purposes) game over. What do you think? Would Windows 8 tablets stand a chance against a $249 iPad? Use the comments below and let me know… Source]]>
Article Tags:
'iPad' · Apple · Ipad 2 · Ipad 3 · iPad Mini · Mini · rumor · speculation · Windows 8 tablet
All Comments
Well, if the price of a smaller iPad matches the price of a Windows 8 tablet with a larger screen, I don’t see how Apple has an advantage there. You say devastating, but realize that the kindle fire isn’t causing people to stop buying iPads because the Kindle fire is designed for media consumption, not creation. Windows 8 tablet, like the big iPad is for media creation. A smaller iPad versus a bigger Windows 8 tablet at the same price, not devastating for Microsoft.
People keep talking about media creation – baffling to me. Time will tell I guess…
Good idea based on four reasons:
1) Smaller = more portable
I have a 10″ HP Touchpad (for home casual use) and an 8.9″ HP Slate (for work on the go). That one inch difference makes the Slate A LOT more portable and easier to put in my bag than the Touchpad. I barely notice the Slate is there while I do the Touchpad. A mini IPad that can be hidden in your bag and not worried about is a great idea. Creation on the go.
2) Cheaper Ipad will hurt the cheaper opposition (Kindle Fire and Windows tablets).
The non-ipad market that does well is based on a price being than the ipad (HP Touchpad – with the fire sale – and then Kindle had good sales because of the price). Non-Ipad of the same price (Samsung etc.) doesn’t do as well because why pay the same price? The price difference between Ipad and Kindle has been coming down and the logical next step is to have a Kindle-killer at a price somewhat close to it.
3) Apple will offer a product for the small, medium, big market – thus filling a gap (the medium that is dominated by the Kindle Fire and cheaper tablets).
HP had their small, medium, big campaign (veer phone, pre-3 phone, and touchpad) but they failed. Apple won;t.
4) Why settle for 2nd best (non-Ipad). I got my touchpad at firesale rates and I still look lustfully at the 4x the price Ipad at the time. Kindle Fire had better watch its back.