Potential buyers of the Apple iPad are often put off by the price or the size and weight of the ubiquitous tablet computer. The new iPad Mini could be just the thing to tempt those fence sitters – it's smaller and lighter as well as cheaper than the full-size 10in iPad.

The 7.9-inch touchscreen device bridges the gadget gap between Apple's 4-inch iPod Touch, and the 9.7-inch

I got the 16GB wifi-only model for my wife and within a very short time she had ditched the eReader she had been using for the past year. It's a testament to its user friendliness that she made the transition effortlessly, which was in stark contrast with the drama she has when changing mobile...

A hands-on look at Apple's new iPad mini 7.9 inch tablet.

Love it or hate it, Apple's 9.7-inch iPad is the archetypal ‘tablet'.

The Ipad Mini is what the ipad should always have been. Its feather light and is so easy to carry with you that you may not notice the weight at all. Perfect to read books, surf web, photos, skype among other.

The iPad Mini is a 4th generation device with a 2nd-generation hardware. For first time iPad users, the sleek form factor and app ecosystem in a more affordable price point (compared to all other iPad models) makes it an enticing offer.

It wasn't exactly the best kept secret. For weeks the rumour mills churned out tidbit after tidbit with supposed details of a smaller, more compact iPad. Speculation swirled and finally on October 23rd Apple unveiled the mythical iPad Mini, just as the rumours suggested.

pricey compared to 7-inch tablets; no Retina display; no HDR or panorama options for camera; beautiful design; great battery life; fits in one hand

pricey compared to 7-inch tablets; no Retina display; no HDR or panorama options for camera

Two months down the line and the iPad mini has been elevated as my go-to tablet of choice, which is surprising for someone who relies on the larger iPad for so many things.

Forget the headlines and exit the hype train at the next station. The iPad mini is here and it's not the shining beacon we all expected it to be, but it damn-well got close.