I heard news of this the other day - that Apple was considering a smaller version.
In my mind that cements the Fire as a competitor to the iPad.
In fact, looking at every "competing" tablet out there, they are almost universally smaller.
One thing I like a lot about my iPad2 is the camera and Facetime. I can keep in touch with my distant family members
visually without sitting in front of the desktop. I can even follow the kids around and make them see their grandparents.
Some of the Android tablets have cameras but the Fire isn't one of them. Still, I do wish I had a more 'pocket sized' tablet
to carry with me and to read in bed at night. The iPad is a bit heavy and unwieldy to carry every where the way I do my
iPhone (who's screen is too small to squint at for more than a few minutes at a time).