First the good.
Mini size and weight are outstanding. Extremely comfortable to hold and use for extended periods. Very good for rdp/vnc. Better wifi and camera than the 2 - better display crispness.
Ipad 4 screen is beautiful. 4 can truly replace a desktop browser for heavy tab users who bounce around a lot of apps. Great tool to present photography portfolio and edit on the go (filter storm pro etc)
The bad
-------
Apple is so close on both of these. But not there. They just missed the effect devices - for me.
Mini - aside from the not retina, the bigger issue to me is screen contrast. Black levels are bad as is the color representation. Slower processor and less ram obviously. But to me the biggest thing is, the price. It's too expensive for what it is IMO.
4 - heavier than ipad 2 tangibly. I didn't think this would be noticed let alone bother me but it was and does. Where the 2 was just about bearable for longer holding sessions the 4 feels uncomfortable. Heat - I have enough devices heating my house....and I live in az. Just using Remote Desktop warms it right up.
Wrap up
-----
I'd guess the next gen will see a faster mini with retina and slimmed down full size. Owning the ipad 2 neither of these are enough to warrant the upgrade to me, which surprises me. That said I was so sure they would, my girlfriend now owns my ipad 2. So I'm not sure where I'll go. Probably find a refurb 3 or something.
They are both good devices, the ipad 4 is close to great. The mini is good in its own right and were there an 8 gig version for $249 I'd probably own it and another full size...but the price point is too high. For my personal needs in a smaller device, I will use the nexus 7 at half the price. For a larger tablet I'm not sure. I'm heavily invested in the apple ecosystem. The retina display and colors are very good, and it has great fit and finish...I just wish it was a wee bit lighter and didn't warm up so fast.
I own a Rmbp, and several other products. My posting this was in case it could help others amidst the "greatest thing ever" and "zomg apple blew it" posts.
Mini size and weight are outstanding. Extremely comfortable to hold and use for extended periods. Very good for rdp/vnc. Better wifi and camera than the 2 - better display crispness.
Ipad 4 screen is beautiful. 4 can truly replace a desktop browser for heavy tab users who bounce around a lot of apps. Great tool to present photography portfolio and edit on the go (filter storm pro etc)
The bad
-------
Apple is so close on both of these. But not there. They just missed the effect devices - for me.
Mini - aside from the not retina, the bigger issue to me is screen contrast. Black levels are bad as is the color representation. Slower processor and less ram obviously. But to me the biggest thing is, the price. It's too expensive for what it is IMO.
4 - heavier than ipad 2 tangibly. I didn't think this would be noticed let alone bother me but it was and does. Where the 2 was just about bearable for longer holding sessions the 4 feels uncomfortable. Heat - I have enough devices heating my house....and I live in az. Just using Remote Desktop warms it right up.
Wrap up
-----
I'd guess the next gen will see a faster mini with retina and slimmed down full size. Owning the ipad 2 neither of these are enough to warrant the upgrade to me, which surprises me. That said I was so sure they would, my girlfriend now owns my ipad 2. So I'm not sure where I'll go. Probably find a refurb 3 or something.
They are both good devices, the ipad 4 is close to great. The mini is good in its own right and were there an 8 gig version for $249 I'd probably own it and another full size...but the price point is too high. For my personal needs in a smaller device, I will use the nexus 7 at half the price. For a larger tablet I'm not sure. I'm heavily invested in the apple ecosystem. The retina display and colors are very good, and it has great fit and finish...I just wish it was a wee bit lighter and didn't warm up so fast.
I own a Rmbp, and several other products. My posting this was in case it could help others amidst the "greatest thing ever" and "zomg apple blew it" posts.