[BvS]

So according the the rumors it will probably have a screen of lesser quality than the Nexus 7, it will probably be more expensive and it will probably be heavier (because it is much bigger).

What's the point again? Ok, it's bigger but if there is any advantage of a 7 inch tablet it is the form factor (being small and light). So if Apple won't/can't adress the problems mentioned above the only reason I see anyone buying the iPad mini would the the eco-system. A huge plus, no question, but enough?

[MrJagil]

Why do everyone always forget the small things when it comes to Apple? It's what makes them great, and it's why customers will choose the 7-inch iPad over the Nexus. It's about battery life, lack-of-lag, build quality, trust in brand, better camera.

When people ask me why i buy a mac i usuallly answer "because of the magsafe adapter".

[mrich]

Battery life for the Nexus has been measured at over nine hours for watching video at 100% brightness, 100% volume. Not too shabby and probably hard to beat.

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/07/divine-intervention-g...

There is no more lag in Android 4.1, which adds triple buffering and runs at a constant 60 fps.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/12/06/27/project_butter...

I think the price point will play a big role too. $200 is hard to beat and Apple will have to decide whether they want to continue serving the high end with more expensive products and big margins, or whether they want to keep their platform mainstream for years to come. For that they need more market share which the Kindle, Nook and now the Nexus are aggressively attacking on the low end.

[ljf]

I think the 'small thing' that will swing many people (who haven't yet got a full size iPad) will be bringing their iPhone/iPod apps over. I know many people that have a considerable number of apps and games that they are loathed to ditch when they move on to a tablet, and that will be the main reason they won't go Android any time soon.

I am the inverse - I've 'bought in to' the Android eco-system so much so that to set up an iOS device with all the apps/features I love on Android would set me back a fair whack - plus I know what works for me - I'd have to research the best apps etc. for iOS - and I'm just too lazy now.

[pooriaazimi]

> What's the point again?

A plethora of already existing quality apps (iff the stupid rumors that it has a 1024x768 screen is true).

(I personally don't believe in this rumors one bit. Apple releasing an iPad mini is the most stupid move I can imagine. Just sell iPad 4 for 100-150 dollars less and you're still the king and will sell 100 million of them in 2013)

[gnaffle]

I doubt it will be more expensive. After all, they still sell the iPad 2 for $100 more than the Nexus 7. The only other advantage would be price. Apple's been willing to cut some corners to achieve price before, for instance the iPod displays are (or used to be) worse than the iPhone ones even though they had the same resolution.

[BvS]

Don't they sell the iPad 2 for 400 US$? This would be at least 150US$ more than the most expensive Nexus 7 and 200US$ more than the standard version or the kindle fire (assuming the next version won't be more expensive). I'm sure Apple could meet the price point or even undercut it (bear in mind that Google ads 25US$ credit for the Play store) but that would mean their margin goes down a lot. I'm not sure Apple is willing to go down that route.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't believe that Apple is going to release a product that is inferior in some main aspects (eg screen resolution) and trying to compete on price.

[fab13n]

> I don't believe that Apple is going [...] to compete on price.

Probably not on price, but on market share. iPads currently are the only decent game in town, except for the e-reader niche; they're safe as long as Android doesn't reach a critical mass, which would allow a healthy apps market to develop, and competitive HW prices to be reached through economy of scale.

That's worth giving up some gross margin, and even cannibalize part of the iPad 3's market share. I don't know how they'll address the Nexus 7 threat to their monopoly; through a 8'' tablet, by further dropping the iPad 2's price, by litigation or other means... but they will fight back with all their might.

[ricardobeat]

A screen of lesser resolution. The IPS screen on the iPad is unmatched except maybe for the PlayBook.