The Apple iPad mini release date may be as early as the first quarter of 2012.  This news comes as somewhat of a shock, considering the computer giant has also been rumored to release an updated iPad 3 in early 2012.

If the rumors are true, would the Apple iPad mini release date affect sales of the iPad 3?  Likely no.  The design of the mini is said to be more of an e-reader device, and rival that of the Amazon Kindle Fire, an e-reader that is currently priced at a more consumer-friendly $199, and set to be released on November 15th of this year.

So this, "mini" sounds kinda cute, right?  It has us thinking along the lines of something that will be well, bigger than the iPod and iPhone yet smaller than the iPad... makes perfect sense?

Well don't get let your imagination run too wild quite yet.

The new name, "iPad mini" doesn't necessarily mean that this will reflect the screen size and weight of the rumored device, but rather the price with talks of somewhere between the $200 to $250 USD range.  A lower price would mean that it could compete with those consumers considering the new Amazon Kindle Fire and other e-readers.  Currently more than 250,000 Kindle Fires have been sold ever since Amazon allowed it to be purchased on a pre-order basis, a number that will no doubt double with the holiday season fast approaching.

However, if the mini does not reduce in size and weight wouldn't this be a mistake?  Wouldn't Apple consumers prefer a product that is indeed smaller and lighter and more e-reader-like?  Undoubtedly, yes.  In fact, as much as we can't live without our iPad, many iPad owners complain that the tablet is in fact too heavy and, well, can't really be hand-held comfortably and suspended for too long a period of time.  And so wouldn't the thought of a mini version be the answer for e-reader enthusiasts?

Although the late Steve Jobs once criticised the 7-inch screen of e-readers such as the Kindle, he soon recognized the extensive popularity that these devices quickly gained.  Maybe it's time for an Apple e-reader, and perhaps adding 2-3 inches in screen size to that of the Kindle Fire will give it and other competitive brands some real stiff competition.

And we can be that whether the Apple iPad mini release date happens to be early 2012 and fall close to that of the new iPad 3 release or not, it's safe to say that both will be a huge hit.