Apple just released their newest and hottest item on the market: the highly anticipated iPad mini. As most other Apple products, it sold out within 3 days of being released. It houses a new 7.9 inch display and weighs significantly less than the standard iPad classic. It also includes Apple’s new dual core A5 chip that can be selected with several different memory options. 
It seems as if Apple is following the same trend with the iPads as they did with the iPod series. They kept making it smaller and smaller. However, this time the design process used by Apple was not to innovate something completely new, but to follow other competition for the first time. The main rivals of the new mini are the Samsung Nexus 7 and the Kindle fire. Both are extremely popular and have sold in massive numbers since being released. The iPad is no different since it has been on the market. However, the real question is if Apple is as far ahead of the competition as it was before; or have other companies caught up with the technology and easy user interface that Apple offers?
I do think the iPad mini is an excellent product. It does fill a gap in the market and in their design process they have taken into account the consumers’ requests for a mid size tablet. In my personal opinion though, I would not have one. I do not see the point of owning something that is smaller than an iPad with a smaller screen but not small enough to fit in a pocket. I also do think the day has finally come where Samsung and Amazon have caught up to Apple. I, along with many others would prefer a Samsung Galaxy, and in this case a Nexus 7 over the iPad. They are considerable cheaper than the equivalent Apple products and include the same features and do everything the same if not better. The competition is closing in on Apple by producing the same quality of work for a lower price. In conclusion then, the iPad mini is a sign that Apple needs to come up with something new; not taking the same device and making it bigger or smaller.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/31/ipad-mini-review-apple_n_2049888.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/oct/31/ipad-mini-review
http://mashable.com/2012/09/13/apple-richest-company-make-something-new/