Hot on the heels of the emergence of some photos purportedly showing iPad mini parts, a new report claims that mass production on the smaller iOS slate has begun. According to the Wall Street Journal's "people with knowledge of the situation," Apple's Asian suppliers have started production on a tablet that two of the sources claim with have a 7.85-inch LCD display. This display is described as having a resolution lower than the one found on the new iPad. No availability details for this smaller iPad were mentioned.
With a 7.85-inch display, the iPad mini will be smaller than the regular 9.7-inch iPad, which could help it to appeal to folks looking for a slate that they feel is more portable that the iPad and easier to hold in one hand. The smaller iPad is also expected to be cheaper than the new iPad, though it's not yet known how much the device could end up costing. We may not have long to wait before all is revealed, though, as it's been rumored that the iPad mini will be unveiled this month, with invitations for the introductory event possibly going out as soon as October 10. Which tablet size do you all prefer? Do you like something smaller in the 7-inch range or a larger, 10-inch device?
