Apple has always been a pricey company.  A macbook is more expensive than a laptop or ultrabook, the iPhone is more expensive than most smartphones, etc.  This has become the "thing" about Apple products, and it appears that the iPad mini will continue this trend with a somewhat high price tag of around $350 USD.

Although this is nearly half the price of the regular old iPad, it's still not nearly low enough to compete with tablets like the Nexus 7, which at $200 USD is an insanely awesome tablet.  In other words, Apple presents very little threat to the rising popularity of Android tablets simply because the Android OS is becoming such a well-tuned and polished OS, which is only even better with a super low price tag.

The iPad mini has a confirmed size of 7.9" diagonally, which is roughly the same size as the Nexus 7 at almost double the price.  This wouldn't sound so bad if the iPad mini offered something new; something that the Nexus 7 couldn't do, but it doesn't.

This is truly setting a new trend that we see in technology; devices that are sold for cheaper than other devices are becoming more and more like their more expensive counterparts.  We have reached a point where a $200 USD tablet can do the exact same, if not more, than a $400, or even $700 USD device.  Companies that refuse to adapt to this new norm may ultimately fail.

For now, what do you think about the iPad mini as competition for Android Tablets?  Do you think that a Nexus 10 with a similar or lower price to Apple's iPad can deliver the final blow to Apple that Android tablets have been waiting for so long now?