Now that the rumored October 10 date for Apple to send media invites for an "iPad mini" event later this month has passed, we'll turn our attention to a new survey that reveals consumers may not be that interested anyway.
Online deal website TechBargains recently conducted a survey of more than 1,330 people and discovered that the hype analysts and industry pundits have for Apple's mythical "iPad mini" may not extend to the public at large -- at least not yet.
The survey found that only 18 percent of those queried plan to purchase a seven-inch version of the iPad, with only 14 percent of those planning to line up on launch day to get one. One in five instead want to buy it online as soon as it's available, while 66 percent have no immediate purchasing plans.
That leaves a full 50 percent disinterested in the junior tablet, while 32 percent remain undecided. While not exactly a fair comparison, 45 percent of the same respondents plan to purchase Apple's new iPhone 5.
So who's most likely to lust for an iPad mini? Ironically, owners of the original iPad, with 27 percent committing to buying a smaller version when it's released. On the flip side of that coin, current Kindle Fire owners -- as well as those who do not own a tablet of any kind -- appear to be the least likely to purchase.
Finally, when asked what they'd more desire from an iPad mini, the survey showed there's likely to be some really disappointed folks. 78 percent want a USB port, 77 percent asked for a Retina Display, 75 percent long for a memory card slot and 74 percent want better speakers than the current iPad.
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Goldie07
October 12, 2012 at 8:22pm
"Once Apple actually announces such a product, then take the survey and see what the results are."
ya that's why all companies do absolutely no market research before spending hundreds of millions of dollars designing and manufacturing a product that they hope, with crossed fingers, that consumers will like and buy after they've had a chance to actually see the product???????
b9bot1
October 11, 2012 at 10:34pm
First there has to be a product. How can you take a survey about nothing?
Since nobody knows what it is or how it will look or what features it will have, how can you take a survey about it based on nothing?
People have to know something about it before they can get excited about it and feel they either want it or need it. So the survey is irrelevant for now because there is no iPad Mini, Mini iPad, Small iPad, Tiny iPad or whatever you want to name it.
Once Apple actually announces such a product, then take the survey and see what the results are.
