Doesn't surprise me. They got there (the 7 inch space that I'm confident Apple always had their eyes on in their roadmap), before Apple, with a competent device and great hardware.
And I mean, really great hardware... The rubberized backing but still has nice proportions for everything else, makes it akin to the equal and opposite to the latest iPhone. Both awesome hardware designs in their own right.
I think the Nexus 7 bests the iPad Mini in hardware design, whilst the iPad 4 still trounces the ugly Nexus 10.
Have you actually seen a Nexus 10 in person? Early reviews are praising the Nexus 10 hardware design, claiming that it's much easier to hold one handed than the iPad.
When I first saw the Nexus 7 my reaction was "that's a nice looking tablet". I think I'd even go as far as agreeing with you that it edges the look of the iPad Mini.
Conversely when I first saw the Nexus 10, my reaction was "MY EYES, MY EYES".
I have no idea whether the lawyers had waded in a told them to make it look less Apple like or whether someone was just having an off day, but cosmetically, to me at least, it's a disaster.
(Note, I'm going on looks alone, it may be a very functional design but man, is it ugly).
And I mean, really great hardware... The rubberized backing but still has nice proportions for everything else, makes it akin to the equal and opposite to the latest iPhone. Both awesome hardware designs in their own right.
I think the Nexus 7 bests the iPad Mini in hardware design, whilst the iPad 4 still trounces the ugly Nexus 10.