iPad Mini a hit with Shanghai women

The iPad Mini is a runaway hit with trendy women in Shanghai because of its size and mobility, replacing men who previously spent long hours queuing up for all things Apple.

About half of those people lining up at the city's three Apple Stores to get their hands on the latest iPad product, which had its Chinese mainland debut yesterday, were women.

When the iPad hit the local market earlier, women only accounted for about 20 percent of those queuing up at the stores.

Even though iPad Mini seemed to have won over the female customers, the enthusiasm for the new product was still way short of the excitement over the previous products like iPhone 4S and iPad.

"It fits well in my LV and Chanel handbags. The iPad is too big for small bags," said a young woman who only gave her surname as Yang. She already owns an iPad and an iPhone 4S.

Another young woman told Shanghai Daily that she would play games on iPad Mini as she commutes by Metro. "The old iPad is too bulky," she said.

Also, a new version of iPad - iPad 4 - featuring Retina display was released on the mainland market. The new models have Wi-Fi that supports cellular network not yet available on the Chinese mainland.

Apple fans have to make online reservations to buy both iPad Mini and iPad 4.