The elusive iPad mini: A tiny force to be reckoned with.

If there is one thing I have learned about rumors, the more people talk about a product - rumored or not, the more likely it is to come to fruition. I like my iPad 2, I would like an iPad 3 (I will refuse to call it an iPad retina) - but am waiting to see the final specs on the Mini. 

The iPad came from out of nowhere and moved those silly netbooks back to where they belong - in gag shops. The netbook was no computer nor was it a tablet, it was bad at everything but being portable. The iPad has changed many consumers into tablet users. The tablets of today are like the laptops of the last decade, neat, novel and serves most computing functions. For many computer users the need for a laptop let alone a desktop may be overkill.

You cannot argue with the exceptional battery life and the applications designed around the hardware. Often times I find working on the iPad preferable to even the best laptop. The iPad is light, quiet, does not get hot, and has an industry leading display.

Enter the iPad mini...  I do like my iPhone, but data collection is not nearly as efficient as my iPad. I  think the device will do well in the market as long as apple uses it as a cost sensitive product - perhaps a loss leader. The iPad alone is nothing more than an expensive display without the cool apps. Android definitely has some compelling hardware and hits the entry level price point, but as far as I am concerned iOS has the best developers (you guys all rock!)

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="385"] Lightning Fast![/caption]