Apple iPad Mini Could Complicate Things For Windows 8 Tablets

Nerval's Lobster writes "Current rumor suggests that Apple is gearing up to unveil its iPad Mini Oct. 17, with invitations to media arriving Oct. 10. That's according to Fortune, which obtained the information from an unnamed Apple investor who, in turn, heard those dates from other unnamed sources. While that attribution might prove a bit too vaporous for some people, it does align with earlier reports from AllThingsD that Apple is planning to reveal a smaller iPad sometime in October. If those rumors prove accurate, the unveiling of an iPad Mini in that timeframe could prove very bad news for the upcoming Windows 8 tablets. (Gizmodo offers a pretty complete rumor rundown on the iPad Mini's possible features here.) Unlike the traditional PC market, Microsoft doesn't dominate the market for mobile-device operating systems. Windows 7 tablets never gained much of a toehold among tablet users, who prefer iPads and Android-based devices by wide margins. When it comes to Windows 8 (and Windows RT, the version of next-generation Windows for ARM architecture), Microsoft is starting out as the underdog."

Why cant i mod the story down?

[who_stole_my_kidneys]

I should be able to mod down the story so nobody has to read this garbage.

Re:so?

[busyqth]

Well I, for one, think it's a pretty big deal.
After all, it's not every day that Apple releases a new product, especially one with amazing, unheard-of new features like a smaller screen and more pocket-friendly dimensions.
Apple's best in class innovation wins the day yet again!

Re:Win8

[girlintraining]

The[sic] there's that name. Makes me think of urinate every time someone says it.

Probably best if I not tell you what I think when I hear the word 'pad'. -- Some woman

Re:Want bigger, not smaller!

[Cro Magnon]

I'm sure Apple's working on it. It will be called the iPad Maxi.

Re:Meh

[Threni]

> Agreed. Plus as someone elsewhere posted, anyone who wants an iPad, has one.

So tomorrow iPad sales will be zero? How about the day after that? Next year?

Re:how?

[cpu6502]

>>>What a stupid thing to say. I'm more likely to buy a Windows 8 tablet over the two current leaders as iOS is garbage (really, I don't know how anyone puts up with it), and I don't care for Android (I don't like the clunky UI and hate the pitiful dev tools). I seriously doubt that I'm unique.

Probably not unique given your current location (Washington, near Seattle, Microsoft cubicle). ;-)

Re:so?

[psergiu]

No, just the concept of 7.85" tablets. With a 2 minute-long movie in which Apple executives, on a white background, will describe the magic of those extra 0.85 inches.