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So the iPad and iPhone are retina, but this iPad mini will not be retina? Surprised that a technology author would assume Apple would take a step backward like

by pxlpshr 14y ago

So the iPad and iPhone are retina, but this iPad mini will not be retina? Surprised that a technology author would assume Apple would take a step backward like that.

SquareWheel 14y ago
Why do you think a retina display would be more likely?
- ceejayoz 14y ago
  The most recent three generations of iPhone, one of iPad, one of Macbook Pro, and one of iPod touch have all been Retina. I looked at a 3GS the other day and had a "this display looks like shit, what's wrong?" moment before I remembered. That's not how Apple wants the first encounter with an iPad mini to go.
  - SquareWheel 14y ago
    It may be necessary if they want to hit a certain price point. Competitors are at the $200 mark and that's with razor thin margins. I understand that the screen is an expensive component and I wouldn't be surprised to see it be lower res, especially since it'd be marketed as a cheaper/lower tier device.
    - ceejayoz 14y ago
      Apple has consistently avoided cheaping out to compete in the lower-end market. Consumer and press response would probably be "Apple has fallen off the wagon, they're making crap now", not "Apple's moving into the lower-end market".
  - Avenger42 14y ago
    In all of these cases, Apple was introducing a retina display into an existing product; it served as a differentiator and reason to upgrade from a previous version. In addition, I'm unsure whether current 7" competitors (Kindle, Nook, Galaxy) have a display so much better than Apple's non-retina display that Apple would need to start out with a retina display just to stay level.
    - pxlpshr 14y ago
      First, this would mean the product is immediately perceived as outdated in comparison to its cousins. And for a smaller screen, why use anything less than retina? Not likely to happen. Second, the more consistency across the various products, the more efficient the manufacturing and supply chain are -- keep it simple logistics. Third, with volume purchasing of homogenous parts comes decreases in COGs and increases in profit margin across all product lines.
      - SquareWheel 14y ago
        Regarding arguments 1 and 3, non-retina screens are still being produced for the iPhone 3GS. That's Apple's current low-tier product which is often sold for 99 cents with with 2 or 3 year contracts. I don't see why they wouldn't introduce a lower-tier device in tablets like they have in phones. It's the same idea, running older hardware, just in a smaller form factor. Most people don't want to pay iPad prices for a tablet, and the $100-$250 market is ripe.

by pxlpshr 14y ago

So the iPad and iPhone are retina, but this iPad mini will not be retina? Surprised that a technology author would assume Apple would take a step backward like that.

SquareWheel 14y ago

Why do you think a retina display would be more likely?

ceejayoz 14y ago
The most recent three generations of iPhone, one of iPad, one of Macbook Pro, and one of iPod touch have all been Retina. I looked at a 3GS the other day and had a "this display looks like shit, what's wrong?" moment before I remembered. That's not how Apple wants the first encounter with an iPad mini to go.
- SquareWheel 14y ago
  It may be necessary if they want to hit a certain price point. Competitors are at the $200 mark and that's with razor thin margins. I understand that the screen is an expensive component and I wouldn't be surprised to see it be lower res, especially since it'd be marketed as a cheaper/lower tier device.
  - ceejayoz 14y ago
    Apple has consistently avoided cheaping out to compete in the lower-end market. Consumer and press response would probably be "Apple has fallen off the wagon, they're making crap now", not "Apple's moving into the lower-end market".
- Avenger42 14y ago
  In all of these cases, Apple was introducing a retina display into an existing product; it served as a differentiator and reason to upgrade from a previous version. In addition, I'm unsure whether current 7" competitors (Kindle, Nook, Galaxy) have a display so much better than Apple's non-retina display that Apple would need to start out with a retina display just to stay level.
  - pxlpshr 14y ago
    First, this would mean the product is immediately perceived as outdated in comparison to its cousins. And for a smaller screen, why use anything less than retina? Not likely to happen. Second, the more consistency across the various products, the more efficient the manufacturing and supply chain are -- keep it simple logistics. Third, with volume purchasing of homogenous parts comes decreases in COGs and increases in profit margin across all product lines.
    - SquareWheel 14y ago
      Regarding arguments 1 and 3, non-retina screens are still being produced for the iPhone 3GS. That's Apple's current low-tier product which is often sold for 99 cents with with 2 or 3 year contracts. I don't see why they wouldn't introduce a lower-tier device in tablets like they have in phones. It's the same idea, running older hardware, just in a smaller form factor. Most people don't want to pay iPad prices for a tablet, and the $100-$250 market is ripe.