A 7-inch iPad?

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/10/12/apple_rumored_to_counter_amazon_kindle_fire_with_ipad_mini_in_2012.html' target='_blank'>http://www.appleinsider.com/article...ni_in_2012.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Spurred by the recently announced Amazon Kindle Fire and its $199 price, Apple is rumored to be exploring a new low-cost iPad for release in the first few months of 2012."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1318451381.usr105634.jpg" /></p><p>We don't go into too many rumors around here, especially since most don't end up being true (such as the iPhone 4/5 rumors of which only about 28% were true according to at least one source, but even worse actually when taken overall as evidenced <a href="http://stupidapplerumors.com/news/2011/rumor-accounting" target="_blank">here</a>), but this one does bring up an interesting question. Namely, would a smaller tablet aka iPad interest you at all, if it was priced comparatively to the Kindle? How popular do you think something like this would be? I find the current iPad just about right so I'm not that interested in something like this, but what are your thoughts?</p>

[Sven Johannsen]

Been saying this would sell like hotcakes for some time, priced right, of course. Wife has a Nook Color and loves it. The advantage of the backlit screen is unquestionable in her mind, and the oft remarked drawback of eyestrain is overhyped, IMHO. This is a generation that lives in front backlit LCDs.

The idea of reading at the beach on e-paper is great, but my wife had no problem reading her Nook in an open convertible on a trip we took recently, so color LCDs can be made with reasonable outdoor viewing properties.

Yes, she has an iPad, and both Nook and Kindle apps on it (she'd have Sony Reader on it too if they made it). The iPad is too big to throw in the purse though, the Nook isn't. Does she use some apps on the Nook? Yes, but not heavily. Does she buy from iBooks? No, largely because she would be limited to reading on the iPhone (too small) and iPad (too big). It's not that the iPad is to big inherently, but it is too big to carry around away casually. So, an Apple iOS device, about the size of current eReaders, at a reasonable price, would probably have a great market, especially with iCloud keeping your 3 iOS devices in sync.