Galaxy S3 Mini - a masterstroke by Samsung?

No for someone like me a phone like this would be perfect, i personally feel a 4inch screen is the largest a Phone needs to be. I don't think people relise how stupid they look with a big phone next to there heads, and why do people get so personal and sensitive over such devices " its a phone! "

I think we seem to forget about the mid range market for phones because we get so wrapped up with specs of the latest flagship phones but when you think about it, its a part of the phone market wich is just as important as the flagship models.

Firstly the low upfront cost on a contract and the ability of being able to do everything in the same way the flagship models can do.

Not only that phones around £250 mark is pretty affordable to most of use even on pay as you go and can be changed a year down the line without any major expenses.

Not only that the mid range market has more of a choice and a phone like the S3 mini will stand out with alot of people thinking they would love the S3 but can't afford it or are not willing to take a 24 month contract out and my bet the S3 mini would be the first phone the springs to mind when considering a mid range phone

I think its going to sell big regardless of what the S3 purists think  

The lines are blurring between phones and tablets, especially with the new Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Guess you either want a phone with the ability to take photos, play movies and games or you want a tablet that will act as a phone. I just sold my iPhone 4 and went over to the Galaxy S3, mainly because the screen is much better and I have the facility to stream from the phone to my tv with ease.
I don't often use it as a phone - I watch movies, play games and it serves as a great sat nav with the free Nav Free app (also available for iPhone)- both movie and still camera modes are beter hen iPhone + the expandable memory and 50GB free Dropbox storage.

the missus is, like Missus Big Boss, not overly keen on having a slab of techy rattling around her handbag.  We're from a happier age, when a phone was for making calls, sending texts and had buttons.  Then cameras came, which were ok.  Then it was touch screen and the use of the phone as a digital meeja device.  That's of naff-all interest to her (well, it's okay on a "passing interest level").

Given the above, the s3 mini seemed perfect but judging by the specs, she may be better off with a HTC One S (which I have, and rather like), or a HTC Windows8S  (soon to be released).

Any views on where these phones rank?

Quality of the (hated) touchscreen for actually using and quality of camera in extreme light (by that I mean sunny days, or indoors under a single bulb!).  My HTC OneS makes skin tones look gloss yellow on a very sunny day, or has lots of noise in a room illuminated by a single bulb...