Ipad Mini

[Ezzie]

We have a load of users at work that have both a Samsung phone and a Samsung tablet. Unfortunately not the same experience. Phone works great, tablet not so much. Even Android is not Android, depends on the device. My experience with the tablet is less than good.

 

[v_roma]

My first thought was that this never would never have seen the light of day under Steve.

Not saying that you're wrong but I have a feeling people will be saying that about most products launched by Apple from now on. Such is the flip-side of having had such a strong personality at the helm.

 

[willie_901]

The iPad mini can be ordered with 3G/LTE cell tower compatibility. These models will be delivered at a later date in 2012.

As was pointed out above, Andoid hardware and software environments are diverse and heterogeneous. This means a satisfying phone experience may not necessarily translate into a similar tablet experience. Of course it is also possible many Android phone-tablet products will be similar. And, there are disadvantages to the homogeneous iOS ecosystem.

I don't think it bodes well for Microsoft that no one has mentioned the Windows 8 tablets yet.

I think web content producers, especially photographers, face a challenge trying to make their content look it's best on all the different platforms. At least Flash for mobile devices is dead... Adobe killed their mobile Flash support last summer.

 

[arpinum]

I use seven (7) different tablets on a daily basis, I've become very familiar with the options. And yet there are times when I don't realize when I'm using and iPad 2 or iPad 3. The retina quality just isn't always apparent. The screen on the iPad mini is special though, similar to the iPhone5 and Macbook Retina where the image is much closer to the front of the glass. This makes a big difference.

There is a night and day difference between iPad and Windows 8 or Android. The Nexus 7 is the first Android that is usable and has a compelling reason to exist, namely the size and weight. With iPad mini, if you can afford a premium experience, it can satisfy the size and weight needs that you get currently with Nexus 7.

The iPad mini might be the first tablet I spend my own money on. And yes, it has 4G/LTE cell data + GPS, if you spend the extra coin for it.

 

[PatrickT]

For $329, the iPad Mini should have a retina display. Just saying.

I've owned the original iPad and currently own a Nexus 7 (that I love). While I am enjoying my Nexus, I do find the lack of quality apps for it dissapointing. The iPad has a far and away better app selection and it really does make a difference. I'm considering getting the mini just because of this.

However, I think I'll wait for some apple refurbs to come out in order to get it 🙂

 

[mwooten]

Until now I have not really been tempted to buy a tablet. The size of the mini and my understanding of the iOS makes it very appealing. Maybe when DoDoCase comes out with a moleskin type cover I'll tip over.

 

[Godfrey]

Until now I have not really been tempted to buy a tablet. The size of the mini and my understanding of the iOS makes it very appealing. Maybe when DoDoCase comes out with a moleskin type cover I'll tip over.

Go to the DODOcase website and sign up for notification on their iPad mini case. It's on the way. *

I'm very happy with my iPad 2 ... after using the iPad with Retina Display a lot (at work ... company machine), I still haven't seen much real need for it, not for what I do or my eyes. I'll buy an iPad mini because the only thing that gets in the way of my using the iPad 2 is that it is just that little bit too bulky to carry in several of my camera bags and a little too much to carry all the time. The iPad mini will complement it perfectly, presenting essentially the same use experience in a much smaller package without giving up much screen size.

* The DODOcase is my favorite case for the iPad. Mine has saved my iPad from countless drops and damage. I've been using it since I bought the iPad 2 in March of 2011. It's about ready to be replaced—I cracked one of the end pieces and have reglued it five times—and I see that DODOcase has both improved it AND made it less expensive. Bravo!

 

[splitimageview]

I have compared directly my iPad 3 with retina, with an iPad 1. The retina is not that big a deal...really. Yes, one can detect a difference, but it's hardly noticeable unless you have them side by side.

If you are interested in an iPad mini, don't let the lack of a retina display hold you back.

 

[splitimageview]

Underforming in what aspect?

Resolution is the same as the ipad1 and ipad2, they've only sold what, 75 million of those? Laughable I suppose. 🙂

The mini will sell like iPhones.

 

[back alley]

i have been wanting the new ipad but have put off picking one up...too cheap...
i didn't even know there was going to be a mini but now that i see it...i think i'll wait and get one of them...seems a great size for my needs and i just might carry it around more than the ipad.

 

[splitimageview]

Yes. Given the choice of retina vs. non retina, I would rather have retina but it depends on the price. There is $500 added to the MBP 13 for example, to get retina...I am not sure it makes sense for a mini to have it. If you need the resolution get an iPad 4.

 

[back alley]

ipad 4?


.

 

[splitimageview]

About an underperforming product.


Edit: perhaps I should add that I wouldn't buy an apple pad. I'm on my way back from apple products after years of usage. Other mothers have nice daughters too (direct translation of a german saying)

Never would have guessed that you wouldn't buy an iPad! 🙂

 

[splitimageview]

ipad 4?


.

Yes, they no longer offer the 3. But you could buy mine 🙂

 

[GaryLH]

The iPad 2 w/ the a5 and the pixel density was already good enough for my needs, I never even thought of upgrading to iPad 3. The iPad mini on the other hand interest me for business trips and vacation use.

However it is something I don't plan on buying anytime soon.

Gary

 

[benlees]

The smaller size certainly appeals to me. I found the ipad a bit "much". The price seems a little high but I'll go have a fondle next week. Retina would be nice now, and now that Apple has broken their yearly upgrade cycle, it would seem this inevitable "upgrade" will happen shortly. Just have to wait.:angel:

My wife just got a Playbook for $120. It's much better than I thought in terms of function and speed but is quite awful in terms of design. Like hold on to a picture frame.

 

[NickTrop]

Apple is the gold standard, no doubt. But I simply don't want to spend Apple prices for such a purely recreational device. And I don't like the smaller screen, since I do stream movies/tv on my slate. A 7" screen? Might as well watch it on my phone. That said, I do love my definitively downmarket Android tablet. $147 new/shipped (including a case). What do I like about it over Apple? 1. Price. 2. MicroSD slot (additonal 32 gigabytes) 3. USB slots. A slate (at the moment) is a toy. It's not a PC, it's not a laptop. I use my slate to stream Netflix and play FarSight Studios (excellent) digital recreations of classic pinball tables, chess, blackjack, a space shooter, a little web surfing, email, view pictures, and Pandora. $150 - sure, why not? $300, $400, $500? No thanks. Here's the off-brand Android slate I use. Not a world-beater spec-wise, but I'm perfectly content with it.

Here's a Youtube demo. As always, YMMV.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnjOUM76H4s

 

[FrankS]

Some people are just going to hate Apple no matter what. Leica shares the same fate.

 

[NickTrop]

I don't hate Apple (at all), FrankS (if you were referencing me). But I don't think tablets - given what they do, are worth Apple asking price personally. They fall into the same category as "upscale autodrip coffee makers" to me.

 

[FrankS]

Sorry Nick, no I wasn't referring to you, just generally speaking.

And just to be fair, there are some people who'll buy Apple products no matter what.