Is bigger better? A look at the iPad mini

Reuters

Yesterday was the 4^th of July also known as the birthday of America. In America we often like the idea of “going big.” We have phrases like “Go Big or Go Home” and “Supersize” that help define our national identity. In America, land of giant things (including the largest ball of yarn in the world (it’s in Minnesota)) often times small things are over shadowed.

But one thing that cannot be overlooked because of its small size is the new iPad. According to the Wall Street Journal the new iPad is projected to be less than 8 inches long – 2 inches smaller than all of Apple’s previous tablets.  Considering Apple’s success with any product they’ve launched in recent times, the stellar retina display, ease of use and incredible operating system, the iPad mini might just also be a runaway success.

However, will the new iPad be well-received by people or will it fail to impress? I used to have a 17.3 inch computer (Toshiba) for many reasons but one of the main ones was that the screen made watching movies a better experience. In addition to the over all experience, many users love the current iPad, its dimensions and what it has to offer. Perhaps by going small and affordable (projected to be only $199.99), Apple wants to capture the market that smaller tablets like Kindle Fire, Nook and the Nexus 7 have wiggled their way into.

Is this a good call for Apple? Since they already have the larger tablet market cornered, do they really need the smaller tablet market as well? Well, Apple would not be the company it is today if it was simply happy with where it stood and did not  venture into new markets.

Will people want to get the traditional iPad that they have learned to love, or will they be intrigued by the functionality and portability of the smaller iPad? Like most things: only time will tell.  At Mobinett Interactive, we are very excited about the prospects and new markets these devices, big or small, will enable.

The new iPad is projected to be released around September.

This blog post has been based on articles in the Wall Street Journal and Forbes.