Sam OliverCiting its senior analyst, Mingchi Kuo, DigiTimes reported Thursday that Apple is "expected" to release the new device in early 2011. Kuo cited "talks with upstream component sources," who said the device will focus mostly on reading and other mobile tasks that do not have a "high demand" for text input.
The analyst also said he believes the forthcoming HP Slate will not have an impact on sales of Apple's iPad, largely due to its Intel processor which consumes more power than Apple's custom-built A4. With virtually no competition in the tablet space, Apple managed to sell 300,000 iPads on its first day of availability.
The first-generation iPad has a 9.7-inch LCD, LED backlit screen with IPS technology. The existing iPhone and iPod touch have screen sizes of 3.5 inches.
Last year, reports suggested Apple tested screen sizes ranges from 4 inches to 12 inches in size as its iPad was in the prototype phase. Some of the orders placed were said to be enough for a significant small production run, rather than just a simple sample.
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84 Comments
that is actually the perfect size for the iPad IMHO. I love the iPad i have now, but i would put it on the shelf for a 6" model.
As big as my dick and just as portable.
Five fucking inches? Why not just get an iPhone?
Go away troll!!
Apple's native resolution for the iPad is HD's 1024-by-768-pixel.
Since the apps are optimized for a fixed size, if they were to reduce the screen size, the same resolution would be the same and only the dot pix would change.
I don't think Apple would delute the user experience like that.
Its just not an option. You can't just carve up a new product nich basically on screen size between Laptop and NetPc and turn around and blow this away.
Microsoft could do this, Apple won't.
Its just stupid. But I do give points for the analysts to keep AAPL pumping up!
I'd rather see it go the other way: 8-1/2 x 11" screen. Only then could I seriously consider scanning everything on a regular basis and expect instant access to all the mundane documents that otherwise clutter up my office.
Yes, you can read everything now in a scaled-down format, but that's imposing on the user for the sake of the hardware. Having the option for a larger iPad (obviously at higher cost) would virtually eliminate such compromises and put paperless on par with paper. And having a larger screen for video playback never hurts either...
(And one could still use a smaller model for longer reading sessions and better portability.)