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MacMost Now 783: Choosing Between the iPad and the iPad mini
Comments: 18 Responses to “MacMost Now 783: Choosing Between the iPad and the iPad mini”
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Your advice to visit a store is good. I have an original, which is too slow and has too little working memory these days. I read all the reviews and was spending too much thought pondering the decision. A visit to the Apple Store made the choice of mini pretty clear. The device is perfect for me.
Hi Gary,
After handling and using apps on the iPad Mini in the store, I am considering selling my iPad 3 and getting an iPad Mini. It would be an easy choice if the value hadn't dropped due the iPad refresh, because I could have made money and gotten an equivalent iPad Mini. Now it is basically a swap.
I use my iPad and carry it with me all the time. The size and weight make a dramatic difference.
Am I crazy for considering selling my iPad 3 for an iPad Mini?
Thanks,
John
Hi Gary:
One small correction, and potentially a significant difference: the Mini has stereo speakers, while the full-sizw iPad has a mono speaker. This is obviously a bit strange (what we Marketers call "cross-positioned"), so Apple has been pretty quiet about promoting the dual speakers on the Mini. I have not listened to them side by side to see how bug the difference is, but this is a factor some users may want to explore and consider.
I noticed that. My feeling is that the next iPad (5th gen) will include stereo speakers. Since the mini is a new design, it was easy to add them here in the first gen, whereas the iPad will need an interior redesign to get them, so the 4th gen couldn't include stereo.
I don't see it as being a real factor. If you care about stereo separation of your music, you surely won't be using the tiny built-in speakers, but headphones.
Which do you prefer for, say, reading the Wall Street Journal?
That's completely subjective. I would probably go with the full-size iPad since I have both and it would be easier to read on the nicer (larger, retina display) device. But that doesn't mean it is the best one for you. And it doesn't weigh cost as a factor since I have both anyway.
Speaking as a senior, I think that this decision will probably be similar to when I was deciding between a MacBook Air 11" and the 13". If you have young 20-20 eyes, it is a no brainer, you go for the smaller, lighter, and cheaper device. However, for us older folks the actual physical size of text when reading is very important. I will take a look at the new mini, but I've tried reading books and magazines on Kindles, Nooks, etc. in the past, and I've found it a lot easier on my Retina display iPad. For me, reading text is much easier on the Retina screen iPad than is was on my old non-Retina iPad. I don't want to have to use pinch to zoom on every page.
Hi Gary,
Just a little positive feedback. You videos help me out a lot.
For me it is neither. As much as I have been a Mac user since the beginning, not yet. Because they do NOT have built in GPS. There are some Bible apps that work with iPads that I would like and may be 2 or 3 other apps. But with no GPS' I probably will not go that way unless I have money to not use wisely. Or the Holly Spirit says I should get it for the Bible apps, etc.
Not sure what you mean. The iPads with mobile connectivity DO have GPS. And the ones that are wi-fi only will use the wi-fi signals to figure your location. So you will only not have location information if you are using a wi-fi only iPad and are not on wi-fi at the moment. But if you are not on wi-fi then having GPS won't matter anyway as you can't load data, so maps and other apps will not work.
Rick Hi,
Actually both iPads do have GPS. And they have both the GPS that you would commonly use in the USA and Russia's GPS, GLONAS.
-Alan.
Rick,
To add further to my previous comments.
If you intend to use the iPad for reading the Bible, then this would not necessarily be a strong draw over a paper Bible, based on how you positioned your reasons.
However, if you plan on studying the Scripture and having a large database of references materials with multiple versions readily available at a much reduced cost over the paper equivalent , then get and iPad immediately. IF you plan on purchasing much references material in paper form in the future, the cost savings alone is worth it. But the ease in having a computer in your lap with 500 published works that you can immediately cross-ref and search makes the purchase and non-hesitation issue—GPS aside.
As for GPS just take a look at the iPad/mini spec page: http://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/specs/
-Alan.
Thanks for the consideration about iPads folks. If one has internet access, than there is "assisted" GPS. With out internet access there is no GPS. I know because I went to the Mac store in Santa Barbara and they said no Stand Alone GPS. Apple's web site says GPS only as internet connection or assisted. But internet connection is not every where all the time where as GPS is, pretty much.
Rick,
I'm going to try to quell your fears about the "assisted" language that you quoted.
Clearly, you think that "assisted" means inferior or partial or less than.
Assisted GPS should be thought of as: GPS on Steroids.
GPS is completely independent of WiFI or radio or any other type of Internet-access. The assisted part comes in handy for things like using additional location markers to give more detail in your location and for reasons of initial speed in some cases.
The iPad's GPS is full, standalone independent self-reliant GPS.
Now, if a particular program that makes use of GPS, also wants or needs other data to go along with it, then that program may decide to access the Internet for the additional data. Or maybe they do something else. But they are not acquiring any GPS Satellite signals from the Internet
To reiterate. the iPad's GPS is full complete and standalone. –Internet not required.
-Alan.
Here is my rationale for the purchase I made yesterday.
1. Background: Family wide I have 3 iPhone 3gs and a NookColor. I haven't upgraded the phones yet, since IMHO, the power of the iPhone is in the apps, not the hardware. The NookColor is a good reader but clumsy at internet (although free and no contract), so I was looking for a replacement for the NookColor, which I'm selling on Amazon ($89).
2. Going outside of the house: When traveling, I use the trusted and compact iPhone. The most important apps are on my iPhone. I determined to prevent unwanted redundancy of carrying two devices, not to mention duplicate apps, the new device would be for the comfort of the home. At home there is no need for cellular (satellite) since I have high speed cable internet with an Airport Extreme base station. This led me to a Wi-Fi device and no cellular.
3. Service fees. I dread adding another cellular service fee for a devise, so this confirmed the free Wi-Fi feature w/out cellular.
4. Around the house meant the iPad4 since the portability feature of the iPad mini was negated by the larger size, convenience and retina display of the iPad4. To go between rooms, I don't need the size advantage of an iPad mini. And there is the lightening fast internet - its the fastest Apple product in my house, even faster than the MacbookPro, although 1st gen.
5. The purchase: iPad4 Wi-Fi 16 gig black $528 includes tax. And no service fees.
Hello Gary,
I have a new white iPad mini and love it! Went straight from the original iPad to the mini. I feel that it is a good move for me - although I do have a bit of the display envy for the full iPad.
That said, I am very happy with the mini! It's an absolutely wonderful device. I would recommend it for anyone. Some day I look forward to when we can all carry around small devices like the mini - yet have the power and productivity of a full desktop.
I've ordered a white iPad Mini, after a few times playing with it at an Apple Store.
Although I'd never owned an iPad, I had often used a friend's regular-size one.
I loved it but agreed with many people who felt it became too heavy during long reading sessions.
The iPad mini is so light, you can hold it forever and your arm doesn't get tired. Not only that, you can read with it (or watch videos, etc.) in bed and it's the perfect size for curling up with — and not disturbing your spouse!
To me, that's a deal-maker.
Thanks for the advice. I never had an iPad before, and bought the mini - primarily, for having a nice-sized ereader. I know it's not retina, but it's fine for me since I wear reading glasses anyway. Although other readers (nexus and paperwhite) have better displays, the mini gives me extra functionality, like checking emails, when traveling. It's not my primary computer - for that I use the iMac.