US survey suggests that even Apple fans think the idea is "pointless".
The one thing that has been missing in all the speculation about the seven inch iPad mini is this important question: does anyone actually want it?
With the success of the Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 it would seem to make sense, but a new study has found that a large number of people really aren't that bothered about the iPad's little brother.
According to a survey of 1,873 Americans conducted by CouponCodes4u (76 per cent of which already owned an Apple product of some type), 78 per cent said they would skip purchasing an iPad Mini in order to purchase a new iPhone, despite 77 per cent of those indicating that they already owned an iPhone.
Furthermore, nearly half of respondents who said they would skip the iPad mini said they didn't think very highly of the idea, with 46 per cent saying the device was “pointless”.
The timing simply may not be right for a seven inch iPad, not if it's coming at the same time as the new iPhone. Given the rabid nature of Apple fans, and the not insignificant outlay involved in obtaining one of the company's new toys, consumers are going to have to choose between the baby pad and the new smartphone. Is it any wonder that the phone wins?

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