Size

The iPad Mini reviews hit the web last night. (That's the world wide web, to you.) Initial impressions are, almost universally, that it is a fantastic device — far nicer to use and hold than the full-sized iPad, but that the lack of a Retina Display is bothersome. No surprises, really. (That's the way it goes — I'm sure the next iPad Mini will have a Retina Display.) All was to be expected.

All was to be expected except just how much people really seem to love the new size of the iPad Mini. Reviewers are not simply saying that it is slightly lighter and thus nicer to hold. They are not saying that it would simply be better for reading books on. No. Rather they are all saying that the smaller form-factor is night-and-day superior to the full-sized iPad. Apps run the same way, if not better. That, perhaps even without the Retina Display, they would all switch to using the iPad Mini over their full-sized iPad. And that, although the full-sized iPad will continue to sell well, the iPad Mini will sell better.

Despite how Apple seems to be seeing it now, it appears the market has decided that it is, in fact, the iPad Mini that is the superior device, with the full-sized iPad relegated to those that, for some reason, feel the need to have a slightly larger, heavier, and bulkier iPad.

This all made me wonder if, despite all the extensive research that went into determining the size of the original iPad, Apple got it wrong with their initial 9.7 inch iPad display. Everybody is singing the praises of the new iPad Mini size — exclaiming just how perfect it really is. Maybe Apple did make the iPad a bit too big. Maybe Android and Samsung really got to this first. Perhaps the 7.9 inch display is the way to go. Perhaps it truly is better for most people.

Or maybe this is all just a matter of price and the market backing the lower price up. I don't know. My next iPad will without a doubt be the Mini though — especially once it goes Retina. It's cheaper and, seemingly, superior.

Either way, choice (in this case) is a good thing.