RIM chief takes on Apple "distortion field"

I'd have to say that I would probably go down the 7" tablet route (if I ever see the need for one!). I own an iPhone & think it's great other than the screen being too small for prolonged usage. I recently had a go on an iPad & found it simply too big & heavy - even in my big farmer's hands!

7" may be the "sweet spot", but only time will tell.

By Narnain on 20 Oct 2010

History ...

is littered with the corpses of predictions that this or that will not take off. Remember "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Watson and just before the iPhone launch, "We've learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone. PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They're not going to just walk in." http://daringfireball.net/2006/11/colligan_head_st
uck. Either Job's wanting to join this stand-out group or Apple's about to release a 7-inch iPad!

By mnj_lim on 20 Oct 2010

The evidence shows that Apple bought a load of 7" touch screens, so they have at least tried it, and speak from experience.

My favourite quote for this surely must be the prediction that no one would want an iPad - it won't take off. Now everyone is scrambling to me-too. Me, I think the 10" screen is an ideal size and allows multiple people to use it comfortably. 7" would indeed be small, and not as versatile, while being more portable.

By MJ2010 on 20 Oct 2010

Silly games

@MJ2010: Surely the iPad is a personal device, so why would multiple people need to use it at the same time? If you need more than one person viewing, plug it into a monitor.

By The_Scrote on 20 Oct 2010

Most eBook readers have 6" to 7" displays, so there is obviously some sense to this size.
Although most iPads are being used as personal devices, the 10" screen does allow better use when one person is using it as a display device and showing content to a second person.
We will have to wait and see if the RIM device succeeds or fails which will probably revolve around how it addresses the specific needs of the Blackberry community.

By milliganp on 20 Oct 2010

Time distortion field

So, Blackberry can see into the future; "we know that seven-inch tablets will actually be a big portion of the market".

By Stiggy on 20 Oct 2010

Aiming for a sweet spot that's not there?

I can't see 7" being an ideal size; it feels like it's too big for a phone / pocket and too small for much other than ebook reading. Maybe if it had a really high-res display?

By Chronometric on 20 Oct 2010

iPad comparison

Most people seem to use the iPad in portrait mode whereas the PlayBook seems firmly a landscape device. In this mode it's a half-height iPad.
Wheras 10" is the de-facto standard for Netbooks (smaller screens having been quickly abandoned) 7" is pretty common for personal dvd players and small TV screens.
So both sizes are popular depending on use.
the PlayBook should be cheaper to run as it does not need a separate 3G contract but tethers to the mobile phone.
Oh the wait is killing me! What shape and size is the future?

By milliganp on 20 Oct 2010

The future is already here

My feeling about the iPad is that if it had been released first the iPod Touch/iPhone would be trumpeted as the future. After all, you can put it in your pocket and barely notice it's there. Pocket an iPad? Hardly.

By milboro on 20 Oct 2010

Living in a dodgey Apple world

Yet again we have the gospel according to Jobs. My experience with apple products is that they are overpriced, aftersales service is woeful and expensive even within the warranty period and generally not worth half the hype that accompanies them. I have had 2 ipods (died weeks after the warranty finished) and 2 macbook pros. The first died and I was fortunate to get the replacement on household insurance as apple refused to acknowledge the warranty because of their loopholes. Never again will I buy apple, so if jobs is whinging yet again he can go jump. Padraigh

By padraigh1 on 21 Oct 2010

No surprise there!

The entire Apple community lives in a distorted world where any other fruit is rotten! Try telling them that Apples do crash and can get viruses and see what reaction you get. The wriggling that went on over the iPhone 4 signal problem was positively comical.

By MIssingLink on 21 Oct 2010

7" screen is too small

7" screens are too small to be any use with a general purpose device (which is what most people want). Small screens have been tried in the past and are generally targeted app-specific/niche markets. (like phones and PDAs)

No thanks. A 10-inch screen is the absolute minimum I would choose.

By technogeist on 21 Oct 2010

More History ...

"... 640k should be enough for anyone..." - Bill Gates

By Dairs on 23 Oct 2010