What to Expect at Apple's iPad Mini Event

On Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET, Apple is in San Jose with "a little more to show you." Most pundits consider this to be a hint that this will be the very heavily rumored "iPad mini," a smaller, 7.85-inch iPad. But that might not be all.

Our mobile analyst Sascha Segan and desktop/laptop analyst Joel Santo Domingo will be live-blogging the event, and we can anticipate some iOS gadgets and some Mac OS X PCs.

In descending order of probability, here's what we might see at the event:

The iPad mini/iPad air. That one's almost a lock. This would be a 7.85-inch, lower-cost iPad. It will probably have a 1,024-by-768 non-Retina screen like the iPad 2, so it will be compatible with current iPad apps. It will be thin and light, and will probably cost either $249 or $299. A places the device's European price at 249 euros, which could mean $249, $299 or $319 U.S.

Yes, it will be slimmer and lighter, and Apple will probably deliver a dazzling presentation making the new iPad's design look better than anything else on the market. But the iPad mini/air is ultimately a defensive move, as Apple tries to protect its flank against Amazon and Google. The Kindle Fire has been a hit, and 7-inch, $199 tablets are starting to proliferate. So why charge more than $199 for the new iPad? Apple feels comfortable charging a premium because of the iPad's strong brand image and unbeatable app library.

The new iPad could, in theory, be $249 rather than $299 even though the new iPod touch is $299. While it's a larger device, it could have less storage than the new iPod touch at 16GB, the screen will be grainier, and it wouldn't have the touch's camera.

The 13-inch Retina Macbook Pro. Also , this slightly smaller version of the 15-inch Retina Macbook would have a 2,560-by-1,600 display and all-flash storage. Expect it to come in at least $200 less than the 15-inch model, depending on what other specs Apple downgrades: that means a Retina Macbook for under $2,000.

Apple wants to bring as many of its devices to Retina screen resolution as possible, but it's tough bringing the panel prices down. The best way to do that, of course, is just to sell more Retina devices. Getting the Retina display into a 13-inch model is one way to help that virtuous cycle form. (9to5Mac explains why Retina isn't coming to the MacBook Air.)

Apple iPad with Lightning. Slightly less likely but still in the realm of possibility, Apple could update the current iPad just to add a Lightning port. (That one's from MacRumors.) The world of Lightning accessories is getting off to a very rocky start, and getting as many Lightning devices out there as possible lets Apple move away from the 30-pin connector. The iPad's price would remain the same.

New Mac Mini. The last Mac mini update , so it's due. It's also a "smaller" device. This is a pretty mature product, with some established fan bases among people using it as small servers and living room PCs. So expect faster connectivity, Intel's faster Ivy Bridge processors, and more RAM (according to 9to5Mac), but few other changes.

Slimmer iMac. Several rumors out there since April have promised new iMacs with slimmer bodies and anti-reflective displays. They might still not be Retina displays, though, because of the extremely high price of large high-density panels. The slimmer body may be achieved by getting rid of the iMac's optical drive. Prices would remain the same or go up slightly, but not dramatically; the iMac is still Apple's mainstream home desktop.

We'll be reporting live from the event on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. ET. Join us.