­Nearly half (45%) of existing iPad 3 owners  feel disgruntled that Apple has released a new iPad 4 only seven months after the release of the latest iPad 3, according to a USA based survey.

Reaction to the iPad Mini was more positive with 14% of respondents saying they will 'definitely buy one' and a further 32% say they will 'probably buy one.'

However, when directly asked which device they would prefer out of the iPad Mini, Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 Tablet, the Kindle came out on top with 46%, followed by the iPad Mini (40%) and Nexus a distant third (14%).

Size was the major factor driving demand for the iPad Mini with 25% saying it was the most impressive feature, followed by "speed and performance" (22%) and enhanced battery life (22%).

The survey, by Toluna QuickSurveys also asked U.S. consumers about their general attitude toward Apple. More than 1 in 4 (26%) believe Apple's reputation has been tarnished by the iMaps fiasco following the iPhone 5 release, and nearly half (45%) believe Apple is an inferior company since current CEO Tim Cook took over from Steve Jobs.

Other notable findings from the research found:

• Current iPad owners were even more likely to purchase the iPad Mini with 30% saying they would "definitely" purchase the new device and 39% saying they will "probably" purchase one.
• The 3G or 4G iPad Mini is set to be marginally more popular than the Wi-Fi only version with 51% of those intending to buy an iPad Mini preferring the cellular version.
• Environmental friendly materials are a key driver for more than one-third of US consumers with 35% claiming the environmentally friendly and recyclable materials will positively impact their decision to buy one.
• The iPad Mini is set to become a hot holiday gift with 1 in 5 (21%) planning to buy the tablet as a holiday gift.
• The double camera was the least impactful feature with only 7% nominating it as a standout feature.