Steve Jobs has loudly dismissed the notion of 7-inch displays being big enough for touchscreen tablets -- a shot across the bows of the companies producing rivals to his iPad.
The Jobster told investors on an Apple earnings call that 7 inches was not ideal for a touchscreen device, our sister site CNET.com reported, and that normal fingers were too big to hit icons accurately on a screen that size.
"It's meaningless unless your table includes sandpaper," Jobs said, "so that the user can sand down their fingers to around one quarter of their present size." He said 7-inch screens were actually 45 per cent the size of an iPad, which wasn't sufficient.
"Apple has done extensive user testing and we really understand this stuff," he added. "There are clear limits on how close you can place things on a touchscreen, which is why we think 10 inches is the minimum screen size to create great tablet apps.
"No tablet can compete with a smart phone. And given all tablet users will already have a smart phone in their pocket, giving up screen area to fit in a pocket is a bad trade-off."
Samsung and RIM plan to launch their own 7-inch marvels, the Galaxy Tab and the BlackBerry Playbook. Dell also has one in the offing. It'll be some time until the iPad 2 is likely to make a debut, so these 7 inchers will be its principal competition this Christmas.
Steve Jobs is a master of pushing Apple's agenda and dissing the competition. But this is a loud and clear message that you shouldn't expect a 7-inch iPad next year, despite rumours circulating that a 7-inch iPad 2 was being developed.
But as far as your fingers being too fat for these displays, the Samsung Galaxy Tab will be out at the beginning of next month. Let us be the judge of that, ol' Jobsy.
Android App 
RSS Feeds 
iPhone App 
Newsletters 
Comments 11
Add your comment
mark2410 19 October, 2010 10:13
gosh then how shall we ever cope with the 3.5inch tablets!!! you know the ones we call phones
anonymous 19 October, 2010 11:27
He was talking about the screen size in terms of apps which are designed differently to apps on phones
Anonymous 19 October, 2010 11:46
So this idiot claims you need to file your fingers to QUARTER the size to use a tablet thats HALF the size of the ipad. Surely that means you have to file your fingers to HALF the size they are to use the ipad??
Anonymous 19 October, 2010 11:53
i think most companies will be in the know enough to design icons that fit the size of the screen.
i manage to cope with typing and pressing icons on the iphone so don't see why an even bigger screen will pose any problems for my fat unsanded fingers.
personally i am becoming more and more frustrated with the ipad the more i use it and it is too bulky and heavy to be carried around outside of home. Yes i know some laptops are heavier but they all provide much more functonality than the ipad.
looking forward to trying a galaxy tab if samsung deem me special enough to be included in their 'tube trials'!
Anonymous 19 October, 2010 16:33
"Surely that means you have to file your fingers to HALF the size they are to use the ipad??"
No that's a half in each linear dimension, width and length. In terms of the surface area fingerprint that's one quarter.
573W1E 19 October, 2010 17:39
7 Inches too small. Wow, I really dont think 40 million people have had problems using their iPhones this year, where the screen is around a 1/3 of a an iPad and a 1/2 of what Jobs deems too small
Anonymous 19 October, 2010 20:40
No jobs 'the tool' says you would need to make ur FINGERTIP quarter the size. Stop defending his bull%&#& comments
anonymous 19 October, 2010 21:38
He is simply attacking something he sees as a threat to the iPad. Samsung, RIM and Dell are launching at this size because they know consumers want it. I could see myself with a 7 inch tablet, but the iPad is too big for me.
Anonymous 31 October, 2010 21:44
I can feel a tingling in my fat fingers, when I think of the 7" Galaxy Tab. That 10" Apple device is too big to carry around, that's not cool... the Galaxy Tab will probably fit in my jacket pocket, and it's not annoyingly heavy.
Anonymous 9 November, 2010 15:56
Typing is ok but for web context a 10†display is adnantageus. Even at close proximity you will still need to zoom a lot on a smaller screen.
As an ebook reader a 7†tablet is a fine option but dedicated devices cost a lot less and although lighter and smaller than the iPad it is not really mobile either.
So I think for now the iPad wins and is a viable net-book alternative. We will probably have to wait for the next generation of android based tablets. Furthermore android 3.5 will be optimized for tablets and big hardware manufacturers like Sony, LG or Lenovo have yet to enter this new market.
von dutch 25 July, 2011 13:36
what an arrogant C*ck. he obviously doesn't have an iphone, he uses an ipad for calling WHICH IT DOESN'T DO. biatch.