According to a number of reports, including the USA Today, Apple is currently working on a mini iPad, about two inches smaller than the latest iPad, which is expected to become available in time for the 2012 holiday shopping season.
The size is the new mini iPad is an effort to beat out the competition being generated from devices in the ereader market like the Kindle Fire from Amazon, the Nook from Barnes & Noble and the Google’s new Tablet the Nexus 7. While the Apple iPad still dominates the tablet computer market, the company recognizes the consumer desire and market for a slightly smaller version that fits better in one hand.
Google’s entrance to the smaller tablet market with their new Nexus 7 tablet just last week lends credence to the shifting consumer market demand. Meanwhile, with their first entrance into the tablet market, Microsoft wet bigger with a 10.6 inch tablet, ‘Surface’, slightly larger than the iPad at 9.7 inches and much larger than the mini iPad at 7.85 inches.
The Microsoft Surface tablet reportedly will also differ in its functionality. The pro version of the Surface will offer more traditional PC functionality with the ability to run some 3rd party programs like Adobe Photoshop.
As for price, the rumored mini iPad will also be more attractive to buyers who have opted for other ereaders and tablets because a $500 iPad was too expensive. The mini iPad is expected to retail for about $299 when it hits the market.