Everyone Happy All The Time

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Microsoft's big push behind Windows 8 (and its new tablet, the Surface) has been all about the promise of “no compromise”. Microsoft wants its offering to be all things to all people. But to anyone who thinks critically about anything, ever, that's just plain stupid. Design is all about compromise. It's about choosing what battles to fight and what battles to cede.

The 11" MacBook Air. If you want a laptop that compact and portable, the screen won't be very large. The battery life won't be as good. The thermal envelope doesn't support jamming a ton of processing power in it. Why? Because those are the things that need to be sacrificed at the altar of portability.

The 15" MacBook Pro with Retina Display has the opposite problem. It has a large (and gorgeous) display, better battery life, and scads of horsepower. But it's much bigger and much heavier than the 11" Air.

The iPad (4) is bigger, thicker, and heavier than the iPad Mini, but those are the tradeoffs that had to be made to keep the battery life the same and still run the retina display/A6X processor.

Of course, despite all the high-minded talk, this is also true of the Surface (from Matt Honan):

Microsoft’s new tablet is an altogether curious device. It’s something completely new and different. It is, in some ways, better than an iPad. In some ways, worse. It’s brilliant, and yet it can be puzzling as well. Confoundingly so at times. It’s a tablet of both compromises and confusion. It is a true hybrid — neither fully a desktop nor mobile device. That’s reflected in all sorts of ways. It is Wi-Fi only, but won’t run traditional Windows applications. It has a full-featured keyboard and runs Microsoft Office — but it’s certainly meant to be touched and swiped and tapped.

It’s different.

And of course — but again, not unexpectedly — Windows 8 runs into similar compromises (from Tom Warren):

Microsoft has made the decision to remove a number of features from its Office 2013 RT release to ensure battery life and reliability are not impacted on tablet devices.

Some compromise is fine as long as we don't go overboard (remember netbooks?). Consumers understand compromise. Further, people in general understand compromise. We do it all the time in all aspects of our lives. Our electronics are no different. And Microsoft, I don't blame you for compromising; we all knew you had to do it. But please, please don't treat us like we're stupid.

That's one thing I won't compromise on.

iPad Mini

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James Kendrick:

I am on record for using both the iPad and Android tablets to get real work done, and I also use them for the typical leisure activities tablets are famous for. The better user experience applies equally to the iPad for all uses.

Almost everything I've read about the reportedly excellent Nexus 7 ends with something to the effect of "Man, I can't wait for the 7-inch iPad." Is it October yet?

7 Inch Tablets And Their Keyboards

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Shawn Blanc on the Nexus 7:

However, typing on the Nexus 7 in landscape mode is pretty much a joke. The keyboard is too big to easily type with your thumbs while holding the device, and yet it is far too small to type home row style.

This is the exact concern I would have with the purported iPad Mini. The keyboard is so crucial on these sorts of devices and it seems to be gleefully overlooked by so many pundits and reviewers.

Siegler on the Nexus 7

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MG Siegler on the Google Nexus 7 tablet:

I’m about to do something I don’t do often — something I always said I’d do if the product deserved it. Something some people seem to think I’m incapable of: praise a Google product — an Android-based Google product, no less.

Solid review. This is one of a rare breed of balanced reviews of a tech product that is 1) made by Apple or 2) competes with a product made by Apple. This gives me great hope for the viability of an iPad Mini now that I can clearly see the use-case for a well-made smaller tablet.

iPad Mini Redux

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Ben Brooks:

Right now Apple sells and markets devices by showing users why they need/want such a device. The amazing screen on the retina MacBook Pro. The amazing form factor of the MacBook Air. The intimate web and portability of the iPad. The amazing do everything, go everywhere iPhone. 10,000 songs in your pocket iPod.

How does Apple market a seven inch iPad if they are only making it because it would be cheaper to buy? What is demonstrably better about a 7 inch tablet?

Again with the iPad Mini?

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Killian Bell reports on the new crop of iPad Mini rumors:

iPad mini will feature a 7.85-inch IGZO display from Sharp, and will start at just $249.

With that kind of price tag, the iPad mini is in a perfect position to fend off any threat from the recently released Google Nexus 7, or the upcoming Kindle Fire 2. Sure, it’s $50 more expensive than its $199 competitors, but you can bet you’ll get a lot more bang for your buck.

I'm holding my breath.

Well, when you're wrong, you're wrong. M.G. Seigler:

As for Steve Jobs implying Apple could never do a smaller tablet because users would have to whittle down their fingers to use it — welcome to Steve Jobs and Apple. Jobs saying that was just as good of an indication that Apple may eventually move into the space. And now it sure looks like they’re getting ready to.

There is just too much buzz coming from too many sources to be based on pure speculation at this point. I still feel like Jobs was right about a 7-inch tablet being a "tweener" but I'll surely be playing with one when (if) it comes out.

iPad Mini

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Yesterday John Gruber linked to an article by A.T. Faust which goes through the reasons a 7.85" iPad Mini would make sense. It is a solid and well-reasoned argument. But then Faust drops this:

Folks who want an iPad — and, most importantly, can afford an iPad — will buy one. Selling a less expensive, smaller (but still manageably large) tablet will neither cannibalize iPad sales nor displace the need for the iPod touch, and it opens a big door for anyone who wants the true iPad experience but doesn’t have true iPad money. It’s a win-win scenario.

I disagree. This sounds like compromise to me. Compromise = failure. Steve Jobs said at the launch o the original iPad that unless a product is better for something it has no reason for being. If that reason is solely to be more affordable, then I can't see it happening. Portability, weight, battery life, all of these things may come into play. I'll wait and see what happens, but colour me skeptical.

More iPad Mini Rumors

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Killian Bell:

Apple’s latest iPad was not accompanied by the rumored “iPad mini” at its launch event in San Francisco last week. But according to sources in Apple’s supply chain, the smaller tablet is still on the way. One of its features, they claim, will be a slim bezel that will aim to maximize its viewing area.

Wow. Interesting. What's your source?

…according to sources for DigiTimes.

Oh.

The iPad Mini Is Coming This Summer!

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John Brownlee:

[A] Samsung Securities document, […] explicitly states that Apple will release a new 7-inch device called the iPad mini to compete with the likes of the Galaxy Tab 7...

The emphasis is mine, and it's how you know the statement is false. No one needs to compete with the Galaxy Tab 7. I didn't even know there was a Galaxy Tab 7.

Apple Working with Suppliers on 8-Inch iPad

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Eric Silvka:

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is working with suppliers on a smaller iPad carrying a display in the range of 8 inches in diameter, down from the 9.7-inch display in the current iPad but still larger than the 7-inch display found in the Kindle Fire.

At the risk of having to eat crow… there will be no iPad Mini.

7-Inch iPad Mini

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Killian Bell:

[A] Technology Business Research analyst said Apple will launch two new products at its upcoming iPad event. And when we say “new,” we don’t mean a next-generation refresh — we mean something brand new

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a smaller 7-inch iPad.

There is no chance. They may discount the iPad 2 (a la iPhone 4) to compete with cheaper devices, but there will not be an iPad Mini.