This is a bit weird. But only Apple really knows the demographics of its customers. This must be filling a niche. Happy to see the 4th gen iPod touch goes.

Many seems to fall in love with the iPad mini after owning the full size iPad. I find it a bit surprising as I wonder why. I love the bigger size and the Retina Display. But I never touch the iPad mini. This could explain why I’m surprised.

What is more surprising is this: the iPad mini legitimacy seems to come because the full size iPad came before. What if Apple came out with the mini saying this is the next logical step to the iPod touch.

I think the 9.7-inch size was better to start with conceptually, to establish the iPad in consumers’ minds as something they might want to own. - John Gruber

minimalmac:

Historically, Apple’s responses to competitors has always been strategic – not direct and obvious. Additionally, they’ve always been comfortable killing off popular products for the sake of an easy-to-understand product line. For all these reasons, the iPad mini isn’t about competing directly with the Kindle Fire or Nexus 7 – it’s about quietly killing off the albatross of the iOS family – the iPod touch.

Not sure if I’m yet in complete agreement with my friend Garrick here but I’m leaning into the idea. He makes some compelling arguments.

The world isn’t made of All or Nothing. There is something in between. Look at the cars market. Why so many models? Why so many shapes and sizes? There is no way that the iPad mini will kill the iPod touch. Not for the foreseeable future. 

Would a 7” iPad be called “just a bigger iPod touch”? Maybe.