According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is planning on putting out a smaller iPad called the iPad Mini that will compete with the new Nexus Tablet 7 inch tablet.  Which has been getting great reviews (see review here).

The new iPad Mini as reported by Bloomberg is directly attacking the new Android  7-inch tablet made by Asus that is running the pure Google “Nexus” version of Android.

The first thing on the investor’s mind is of course: Will this stop the momentum of the Nexus 7.   The Nexus 7 Android tablet is a powerhouse that offers most of the iPad’s performance at the price of the Amazon Kindle Fire, which is a powerful proposition.  But for many reasons, in its current format it will not knock Apple off its market-leading position.

Apple is about to take their game to another level after blocking Samsung in a preliminary injunction ordering them not to sell Nexus units.  Just this week I  wrote an editorial called Apple’s $95 million wet blanket – on Apple’s strategic move to block the Samsung Android efforts.

The New iPad Mini

The new model will have a screen that’s 7 inches to 8 inches diagonally, less than the current 9.7-inch version to be announced in October timeframe, according to Bloomberg report.

Why is Apple doing the iPad Mini?  Because the format is a winner.  I’ve been using a Nexus 7 since Google IO.  Nexus 7 is perfect for me except it has no cellular wireless which is the only negative.

The current iPad is great.  It’s the gold standards.  But in its current format it will not knock win against the Nexus 7.

Why will Apple win?  

As SiliconANGLE reported earlier it’s about marketing and a superior product. A tablet is something most people buy only after having touched it and played with it. The place to do that is the Apple store. Game over.

Google and Microsoft don’t have retail stores, and physical retailers who may carry their tablet.  Face it in the consumer’s minds, relatively seedy places such as Fry’s and Best Buy are not in the same league as the Apple stores. Maybe Microsoft with the Microsoft stores, but there are only 20 or so of those, and obviously they won’t be carrying this Google-based product.

Until Google opens 500 or so stores world-wide, in premium locations, just like Apple, it can offer a superior product all day long, at lower prices, and Apple will remain the market leader.