Live data from Hacker News

The case for a 7.8” iPad

castirony.com

1–10 of 30 posts

Re: The case for a 7.8” iPad

#2
For visual reference, we made a printable PDF for a 7.85" iPad that shows it in actual size: http://www.macrumors.com/2011/12/23/this-is-what-a-7-85-inch...

Or you can view this page on your current iPad: http://cdn.macrumors.com/downloads/ipadmini/

The UI seems fine. As mentioned in the article, elements are no smaller than an iPhone.

Re: The case for a 7.8” iPad

#3
Given that the iphone is quite portable and a 4.5" model is all but assured, I'm not sure I see the point of having a 7" tablet. The issue with the 10" is that it's not quite as portable as some people would like -- but the 7" seems to fragment the product line a little too much given that you already have the ipod touch.

On the other hand, the one way I could see this working is if they reshuffle categories such that the lower resolution iPads and the iPod touch fade away to be replaced by the 7" wifi model. That would make some sense.

EDIT: Ooops, 4", not 4.5"

Re: The case for a 7.8” iPad

#4
post #3

Given that the iphone is quite portable and a 4.5" model is all but assured, I'm not sure I see the point of having a 7" tablet. The issue with the 10" is that it's not quite as portable as some people would like -- but the 7" seems to fragment the product line a little too much given that you already have the ipod touch. On the other hand, the one way I could see this working is if they reshuffle categories such tha…

a 4.5" model is all but assured

Citation? All the evidence I've seen points to a 4" model. http://www.cultofmac.com/177233/yet-another-4-inch-iphone-5-...

Re: The case for a 7.8” iPad

#5
post #3

Given that the iphone is quite portable and a 4.5" model is all but assured, I'm not sure I see the point of having a 7" tablet. The issue with the 10" is that it's not quite as portable as some people would like -- but the 7" seems to fragment the product line a little too much given that you already have the ipod touch. On the other hand, the one way I could see this working is if they reshuffle categories such tha…

a 4.5" model is all but assured Citation? All the evidence I've seen points to a 4" model. http://www.cultofmac.com/177233/yet-another-4-inch-iphone-5-...

Right. In addition, the '7" iPad' is rumored to actually have a 7.85" screen, so that Apple would now have a 4" phone, an ~8" tablet, and a ~10" tablet. I'd say those devices are easily distinguished from one another.

Re: The case for a 7.8” iPad

#6
post #3

Given that the iphone is quite portable and a 4.5" model is all but assured, I'm not sure I see the point of having a 7" tablet. The issue with the 10" is that it's not quite as portable as some people would like -- but the 7" seems to fragment the product line a little too much given that you already have the ipod touch. On the other hand, the one way I could see this working is if they reshuffle categories such tha…

a 4.5" model is all but assured Citation? All the evidence I've seen points to a 4" model. http://www.cultofmac.com/177233/yet-another-4-inch-iphone-5-...

ya, all the part leaks have been of a tall 4" model. Not a 4.5" model.

Re: The case for a 7.8” iPad

#7
post #3

Given that the iphone is quite portable and a 4.5" model is all but assured, I'm not sure I see the point of having a 7" tablet. The issue with the 10" is that it's not quite as portable as some people would like -- but the 7" seems to fragment the product line a little too much given that you already have the ipod touch. On the other hand, the one way I could see this working is if they reshuffle categories such tha…

a 4.5" model is all but assured Citation? All the evidence I've seen points to a 4" model. http://www.cultofmac.com/177233/yet-another-4-inch-iphone-5-...

Sorry, you're right, it's 4" I was thinking of. At any rate, the point was that the phone display is going to increase in size.

Re: The case for a 7.8” iPad

#8
I don't see Apple being one to release the tablet just to compete. The 7" would eat into 10" sales and a new formfactor only adds another resolution that devs have to account for (unless the original iPad's resolution is effectively retina at a 7" size?).

When it comes to portability, would 7" be that much more portable? I know people can put these in their pockets, but it's hardly practical.

Ultimately, it doesn't quite make sense to me at this moment. In the event that Apple does release a 7" one day, I really think there'd have to be a drastic repositioning of the 10" or the 7" would serve some special niche purpose

Re: The case for a 7.8” iPad

#9
post #8

I don't see Apple being one to release the tablet just to compete. The 7" would eat into 10" sales and a new formfactor only adds another resolution that devs have to account for (unless the original iPad's resolution is effectively retina at a 7" size?). When it comes to portability, would 7" be that much more portable? I know people can put these in their pockets, but it's hardly practical. Ultimately, it doesn't q…

Part of the point of the article is that it would not really add another resolution that devs would have to account for.

A 7.85" iPad could have the exact same resolution as a non-retina 9.7" iPad and still have the same pixel density as the iPhone. This would result in UI elements that would be no smaller than normal for the iPhone, making it relatively easy for existing iPad apps to run with no modification.

Re: The case for a 7.8” iPad

#10
post #8

I don't see Apple being one to release the tablet just to compete. The 7" would eat into 10" sales and a new formfactor only adds another resolution that devs have to account for (unless the original iPad's resolution is effectively retina at a 7" size?). When it comes to portability, would 7" be that much more portable? I know people can put these in their pockets, but it's hardly practical. Ultimately, it doesn't q…

It would fit the pattern of the iPod if Apple started moving into the lower dollar ranges with new products. Since the article demonstrates that most apps will be fine, it seems like a reasonable win. The retina display is nice in the iPad 3rd generation, so they have a clear differentiator between models besides size.
Post reply on HN