Apple is Planning to Launch Smaller Size iPad in 1Q2011: Digitime Research

According to Digitimes Research senior analyst Mingchi Kuo, Apple is expected to launch 5- to 7-inch model of the iPad in the first quarter of 2011. Kuo said that the price of the iPad is going to be below US $400 and will be targeted for the very portable mobile device market. It will also serve the purpose of the consumers who is going to use the device mainly for reading and there is not much demand for text input.

Now the question remains whether the upcoming HP Slate is going to make any dent on the sale of the new version of iPad. But, Kuo commented that HP is not supposed to have much competitive advantage because it will be based on Intel processor which takes more power. HP Slate is due to be launched in the middle of 2010, as per the report from notebook players.