Apple Has Begun Production On The iPad Mini?

According to some squealers in the supply chain, production has already begun on Apple's long-rumored iPad Mini, the Wall Street Journal reports. This teeny little iPad is said to have a 7.85 inch diagonal screen and a slightly smaller resolution than the current iPad's 2048 x 1536 display.

And remember, Apple wouldn't release a product that would just be thought of as a lesser version of an already existing product, so expect the iPad Mini to have another great feature for Apple to talk about. Given how thin and light the retina Macbook Pro and iPhone 5 have become, many are suspecting the iPad Mini will feature an extremely light form factor. Will Apple have to remind consumers not to use the iPad Mini while eating chips and queso?

You do not want to accidentally dip your iPad Mini in queso.
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The iPad Mini is expected to be priced in the 299 and 349 range. Can you imagine? An iPad for 300 dollars? That's INSANE. If this comes to fruition you'll be able to stock up on them — leave a few iPads on the coffee table for guests. Use them to fix wobbly tables. Throw them at intruders, maybe.

This air mattress is about to be stuffed with iPad Minis.
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While the iPad Mini might not be right for you — maybe you're satisfied with your iPhone, Macbook, or even, bleuch, Android phone — there is certainly a market for smaller, less expensive tablets, as shown by the success of Amazon's Kindle Fire HD and Google's Nexus 7. Apple wants to get all up in those markets, and have an iPad available for eveyone in the world. For example, say you wanted to get an iPad TODAY — what is there for you if you're a baby, or a small pet? That's right, NOTHING.

Finally an iPad for you, little guy!
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It's been said that 299 is the psycological sweet spot, pricing-wise, for people to be convinced that an iPad is something they can afford. If that's true, soon we'll see EVERYONE with iPads. Moms. Scientists. Farmers. Jugglers. Even homeless people.

So make sure you judge any homeless guy with an iPad now, while you still can.
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Are you as excited as I am for the iPad Mini? Let me know on twitter @mikeyfromsu or in the comments below!