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I think that in time, there will be an array of iOS devices at all price points from the ca. $100 to the laptop like $1k. (with some adjustments for carrier sub

I think that in time, there will be an array of iOS devices at all price points from the ca. $100 to the laptop like $1k. (with some adjustments for carrier subsidies). They did it before with the iPod, from $99, add $50 for more storage, add $50 for a different form factor, and so on, for every price point between $100 and $400. Right now, the iPod touch is at $200, the iPad at 400, and 500-800. Phones are 400-700 w/o subsidies. Pushing the iPad down into the $200 range fills out that array of devices so that there's something for everyone who has a little bit of money to spend.

mtgx 14y ago
The software on the iPod wasn't much of a problem, though. For iOS devices they need to keep supporting the older hardware, and I don't think they can do that for hardware that is older than 3 generations/years. We're already seeing how some major features are not landing on even newer than 3 generations devices, like Maps and Navigation on iPad 1 and iPhone 4.
mturmon 14y ago
Sounds reasonable. This idea is in Gruber's article, when he quotes Tim Cook saying (about iPhone) that Apple did not want to leave a "price umbrella" -- an open price range leaving a niche in which competitors could flourish.
- alexqgb 14y ago
  $300 for a 7.85" with a Retina display would be outstanding. I say that as someone who loves the idea of the iPad, but has not gotten one because they're too cumbersome for extended reading.
  - wiredfool 14y ago
    I certainly didn't get my iPad for reading, but I've wound up reading a bunch of books on them, both through the kindle app and the iBooks one. While the experience isn't as good as a hardback, it's nowhere near bad enough to keep me from a good book. And it's far lighter than Stephenson's latest. Though, when opening one of the hardbacks I got this past christmas, I was very impressed with the resolution of the font and the crispness and uncluttered look of the pages. No fingerprints, no icons. Just well formatted text.
Tloewald 14y ago
The thing which attracts me to windows 8 (or maybe 9) is that it will run on everything. If I want to build giant wall sized touch apps, I can. I hope Apple releases a headless iOS box (some kind of AppleTV descendant?) at some point so that arbitrary touch surfaces can be powered by iOS. (I doubt Apple will release a software only iOS to compete with Windows, so this is the best I can reasonably hope for).

mtgx 14y ago

The software on the iPod wasn't much of a problem, though. For iOS devices they need to keep supporting the older hardware, and I don't think they can do that for hardware that is older than 3 generations/years. We're already seeing how some major features are not landing on even newer than 3 generations devices, like Maps and Navigation on iPad 1 and iPhone 4.

mturmon 14y ago

Sounds reasonable. This idea is in Gruber's article, when he quotes Tim Cook saying (about iPhone) that Apple did not want to leave a "price umbrella" -- an open price range leaving a niche in which competitors could flourish.

alexqgb 14y ago
$300 for a 7.85" with a Retina display would be outstanding. I say that as someone who loves the idea of the iPad, but has not gotten one because they're too cumbersome for extended reading.
- wiredfool 14y ago
  I certainly didn't get my iPad for reading, but I've wound up reading a bunch of books on them, both through the kindle app and the iBooks one. While the experience isn't as good as a hardback, it's nowhere near bad enough to keep me from a good book. And it's far lighter than Stephenson's latest. Though, when opening one of the hardbacks I got this past christmas, I was very impressed with the resolution of the font and the crispness and uncluttered look of the pages. No fingerprints, no icons. Just well formatted text.

Tloewald 14y ago

The thing which attracts me to windows 8 (or maybe 9) is that it will run on everything. If I want to build giant wall sized touch apps, I can. I hope Apple releases a headless iOS box (some kind of AppleTV descendant?) at some point so that arbitrary touch surfaces can be powered by iOS. (I doubt Apple will release a software only iOS to compete with Windows, so this is the best I can reasonably hope for).