Apple iPad Mini launch

New iMac and MBP don't have optical drives - whaaaaat??!! 

So, for anyone who burns music CDs to iTunes, receives vital work-related press releases/pics on CD/DVD and doesn't have 24/7 access to fast/reliable broadband, the message is: "Tough s***, mateys!"

Sorry Apple but I don't want the faffage, and extra expense, of a separate/plug-in optical-drive - so much for the iMac being the 'solution' for a clutter-free desk   

£269 for 16GB wi-fi only iPad Mini

And so much for the kids watching DVDs in bed. The mini's a bit zizz IMO, not because it's not an interesting product, but because they didn't do that Kindle/Nexus bashing thing with the price that some people predicted. Interesting to see them do the Nexus-bashing thing with the hardware though...

Oh well.

Looks like it'll be the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (8GB 7" wi-fi only) for me.

Samsungs are £199 (8GB) and £219 (16GB) and £30 cashback at the moment. (With two year JL warranty included.)

I'll have an iPhone 5 32GB in a week's time, but they aren't getting my money for a mini tablet. £70 extra (or even £50) is too much to pay.

We seem to have this question a lot. No one I know uses CDs or DVDs any more - not even at work. The only time I use them now is to burn the occasional CD (and to be honest, I don't find myself buying many any more now I've got my Spotify subscription). Yes, I know, some people use them day in and day out - if you do, it's either get an older model, get an external drive or get something else. But it's not really a mainstream requirement any more I'm afraid.

By getting rid of the drive, Apple can make their machines slimmer, lighter, more portable and (probably most important for a lot of people who buy Apple stuff) more attractive. Have you seen the new iMac - it looks virtually paper thin! Tell me that's not one of the most desirable desktop computers you've ever seen! I think the only machine now which arguably could have one without compromising its design is the Mini Mac. I'm guessing it doesn't have one because Apple have standardised.

I do remember similar reactions when companies started leaving out built-in floppy drives...

In what way is 1024x768 (162dpi) screen resolution nexus hardware bashing? (£269 -16GB).

Nexus 7 has 1280x800 (216dpi) and a quadcore processor. Its also in 16:10 aspect ratio which makes it ideal for watching video. Also the nexus 7 is getting a memory bump to 32GB at no extra cost next week - so (£199 - 32GB)

The Ipad has faster graphics but so what - you cant play games without joystick/buttons. If you want to play games get a Vita.

I thought the point about you can hold the mini in one hand was plain embarrassing - as its the exact opposite argument they use when saying the SG3 is too big.

Or 35%.

Can recommend the Nexus though chebby - the hardware's nice, which hasn't struck me about the Samsungs.  Slightly higher dpi as well, with Jellybean by default.

Not too far out with my guess of £280 then.  

Hi Chebby,have just watched this live on my ATV.I thought he said iPad mini was 329 usd which would be £206.51p.Maybe I heard wrong but am sure he said 329 dollars. 16gb wi fi only.

FFS. THEY were bashing the nexus in the keynote - pictures of them side by side showing how much more of a website you get on an iPad. When was the last time you saw Apple directly *have* to diss another product?

I own a nexus 7, btw, in case reading's not anybody's thing...

Makes the Blackberry Playbook seem like the steal of the year at £109 for 16GB or £129 for 64GB. Front 3mp and rear 5mp 1080p HD cameras too although screen resolution only 1024 x 600.

TBH, Nexus 7 is as useful as a dodo for me, as it's not MHL compliant. So I cannot use it for presentations at work. The 7-inch iPad is.

Or trying to load a triple-play movie's digital copy via its DVD. 

The mini looks like a rushed product to me. The specs are horrible and the price is too high.

The new new ipad??? looks quite nice - but why no widescreen?

I bought, ripped and loaded 10 BBC CDs to my iTunes last week. I guess you think I should download them from iTunes at 40 percent more in price (and in laughably low iTunes download purchase quality) just so I can boast about the thinness of the computer?

Next time the HD will vanish (cloud only), USB connections will disappear, then the keyboard. It'll end up just being an oversized tablet on a stick (Applollipop).

They should have just scrapped the range.