The iPod mini goes on sale today and while there’s been a common complaint that it will lack the appeal of its larger cousin, columnists for CBS News and the Associated Press disagree. Larry Magid of CBS News “was totally underwhelmed” when the device was announced, but is starting to see what all the fuss is about. “Specifications don’t tell the whole story. You have to see and feel this machine to truly appreciate it,” he writes. “A half-inch thick and otherwise the same dimensions as a business card, the iPod mini is a truly elegant accessory.” Still, Magid says if the iPod mini were US$199 instead of $249, it would be an excellent value. The AP’s Michael Felberbaum says the device is “a wonderful choice if you can live without as many songs.” He writes that the iPod mini offers “a sensible alternative” to some of the market’s most popular flash card MP3 players and is great for portability and convenience.