But will that be enough to cause Apple fans to line up outside the company's retail stores on launch day next Friday (March 16)?

Remember, only "Apple fans" buy iPads. Other tablets are bought by regular people.

It now appears that Apple's move from second to third generation iPad is even less of a bold leap forward and more of a tepid shuffle from an underwhelming top dog.

Translation: I like specs! They're easy to write up!

In the fourth quarter of 2011, despite selling more iPads than in any other quarter to date, Apple saw its share of the global tablet market fall to 57.6%, down from 68.2% at the end of 2010, according to data from market research firm Strategy Analytics.