iPad Mini: the Goldilocks iPad for kids

With the growing swell of articles about the still-hypothetical iPad Mini — see, for example, this thoughtful analysis over at Vodkapundit — I find it interesting that I see very little written about one of the hottest consumer niches for the iPad: kids. Which is surprising, since kids desperately want to get their hands on iPads.

My sweet wife and I have 14 grandkids (a consequence of having jointly raised 9 kids in a combined family). When we go to visit them or they come to visit us, here’s pretty much how it goes:

Grandchildren: “Grandma! Grandpa!”

Hugs all around.

Each grandchild over the age of 4 or so, within 60 seconds and sometimes a good deal less: “Can I play with your iPad?” or “Well, can I play with your iPhone, then?”

And that’s the last we see of our iPads (and, depending upon how many grandkids are around, our iPhones) for the next several hours.

The iPhone (or iPod Touch) is definitely a consolation prize in this race: much smaller screen and a bit harder for the kids to manipulate. On the other hand, iPads are larger, heavier, more difficult to hold, more fragile, and more expensive.

But an iPad mini would be just right for kids. The right size and weight, and the right price point. It will easily slip into a backpack. And it will have all the iPad functionality.

So if in fact Apple does announce and release the iPad mini later this month — how many iPad minis will be under Christmas trees or wrapped as Hanukkah gifts in December?

Millions, I’d wager. Millions. ..bruce..

P.S. And that doesn’t even begin to touch the K-8 educational market.

About the Author: bfwebster

Webster is Principal and Founder at at Bruce F. Webster & Associates, as well as an Adjunct Professor for the BYU Computer Science Department. He works with organizations to help them with troubled or failed information technology (IT) projects. He has also worked in several dozen legal cases as a consultant and as a testifying expert, both in the United States and Japan. He can be reached at 303.502.4141 or at bwebster@bfwa.com.