The #appleevent, #ipadmini and other hashtags were out in full force, as Apple enthusiasts and others took to Twitter to ooh, aah and zzzzz in reaction to the latest "gorgeous," "amazing" and "magical" iPads -- both the widely anticipated iPad Mini and the surprise iPad fourth-generation models.
NEWS: Apple unveils iPad Mini and fourth generation iPad
@Nahayan, squarely in Apple's corner, tweeted: "#iPadMini will destroy other tabs!!!", apparently going for Apple Senior VP Phil Schiller's side-by-side comparison of the new 7.9-inch iPad Mini to an Android model.
@Fluny1 lamented, for Windows fans, that it "Looks like Microsoft won't be selling a lot of Surface this year." Microsoft starts shipping the Windows RT edition of the tablet this Friday, Oct. 26.
Some felt bad for those who bought the iPad 3, which debuted just six months ago, now that Apple has introduced a twice-as-speedy full-size model with a new A6X chip.
@Blue_bookworm wrote: "i guess it sucks to own an iPad 3 now.. it's no longer the 'new' iPad. there's already a 4th gen one after 6 months!"
@Spunkdd knows exactly what this feels like: "Pad mini?! And tech specs for iPad 4?...... Whaaat? But I just got the new iPad."
Some users expressed mixed feelings about Apple's products:
@JermaineAranar tweeted: "im so glad I pre-ordered a Surface and still a proud owner of a Windows Phone."
The price of the iPad Mini, starting at $329 for a 16GB model with Wi-Fi but no LTE, got under some observers' skin.
@Thecore wrote: "$329 is a bit on the rich side, but they'll sell 'em by the pallet anyway."
@a5kme added: "#iPadMini a bit too pricey! $299 for 16GB WiFi would have been a reasonable yet competitive!"
@KeilaBee1 agreed: "Lol the ppl on the 'hell naw to $329'? Apple doesn't care about us. They know their audience. We ain't it."
The price of the iPad Mini convinced some their decision to go with Android tablets was the way to go:
@Romanintheoink tweeted: "#iPadMini $329 is too high for something pretty darn close to my $199 Kindle Fire. Camera and cult following is not worth $130 difference."
And @NoDanaOnlyZool wrote: "Only thing that you need to know about the #iPadMini, don't bother. google.com/nexus/#/7 #nexus7"
With all the excitement projected by Apple's execs and its home crowd, the company's gadget and computer news (yes, there are new MacBook Pros and iMacs, too) almost drove some to drink. From @Marioarmstrong: "if I had a drink for every time they said the words 'Love, awesome or cool' Id be plastered."
Though hopefully, no underage drinking: @Drusome2 wrote: "I think the new #iPadmini is definitely little kid sized. #Apple #iPad #xmas," referring to the ability to hold the device in one hand, as displayed by Schiller on stage.
Finally, one observer put the whole frenzy into some perspective:
@abhijitmajumder: "If #iPadMini can put Twitter through such frenzy, mind boggles to imagine the excitement if the miniskirt were launched in our time."
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