Those curious as to whether or not we might actually see the often-rumored 7-inch iPad become a reality can rest assured that we have our answer: no. During a rare appearance on Apple’s Q4 earnings call Monday evening, Apple CEO Steve Jobs went on a no holds barred tirade that ran the gamut from ragging on RIM to gibing Google, and even to nudging Nokia. Amidst the stabs and jabs, Jobs quelled rumors that Apple would soon release a smaller version of its magical iPad. The pertinent point:
We’re not not making a 7-inch tablet because we don’t want to hit a lower price point; we just believe it’s too small to hit the user experience people want. When we make decisions, it’s not about cost, it’s about value when you factor in the software. We’re all about the best products at aggressive prices.
There you have it folks… there’s not much room for interpretation. According to Jobs, bigger is better and 7-inches just isn’t enough real estate to get the job done. On the other hand, Apple has reversed its stances countless times in recent history — most notably, perhaps, when it launched the App Store after Jobs had previously claimed native apps were unnecessary on the iPhone — so no one really knows what the future holds for Apple’s magical tablet.
