Had two iPad minis on order but one became available locally (white 32gb) via the apple store pick up system last night to so I picked it up and have been using it all day. Previously I have owned or own: iPhone 3G, 4, 5 and iPad 1, 2, & 3.
1. The iPhone for me was the transformative device. It was the moment I began carrying a computer in my pocket and being connected to the internet at all time. Nothing is more important than the iPhone.
2. The iPad was the device that allowed me to stop carrying my laptop when I travel weekly as an airline pilot. I loved having the bigger screen and lighter weight (for my luggage) but I often found myself using my phone much of the time just to avoid the awkwardness of late night reading in hotel bed. The biggest issue was the iPad weight but even the screen size itself made the device bulky to handle without a constant source to prop it or a table top.
3. THE IPAD MINI... Wow. I printed out a scale picture of one and was very concerned it was too small but the actual device... So, so, so perfect for me. 90% of my use is reading, web browsing, twitter, Facebook, photo viewing, movie viewing and FaceTime. In other words I mostly consume content... The iPad mini is perfect. The thinness and weight are just less than the regular iPad, they are in a whole other class and make this feel like a space age device. It is the nicest feeling iOS device I have ever owned and it clearly will be more useful to me in many, many more situations than the regular iPad. Besides further lightening my luggage I know this becomes my primary reading device from my iPhone in nearly all situations other than a quick glance in a line. The form factor is just amazing.
4. The screen. I am coming from retina everything and I promise this is ten million times worth it. I was worried it would be pixelated like the iPad 1 and 2 were. Because the screen is smaller I really don't see the pixels but it is obvious text appears soft. You can pick out the pixels from a normal distance but the text itself looks just a hair fuzzy like you focused a camera lens perfectly and then just nudged it a hair off. It isn't bad but it isn't retina. Obviously if this device had retina I could tell you it was the perfect device but it doesn't yet. Still I am so happy to be rid of my retina iPad 3 (although I will upgrade the instant a retina iPad mini becomes available.)
Summary: this is a breakthrough form factor for an iOS device and is the primary future of the iPad. If you have the cash and don't mind upgrading in 1 or 2 years to the retina version of the mini (because face it, you will love this so much that you'll have to upgrade to a retina version of it when it comes) this is the iPad to buy for almost everyone.
1. The iPhone for me was the transformative device. It was the moment I began carrying a computer in my pocket and being connected to the internet at all time. Nothing is more important than the iPhone.
2. The iPad was the device that allowed me to stop carrying my laptop when I travel weekly as an airline pilot. I loved having the bigger screen and lighter weight (for my luggage) but I often found myself using my phone much of the time just to avoid the awkwardness of late night reading in hotel bed. The biggest issue was the iPad weight but even the screen size itself made the device bulky to handle without a constant source to prop it or a table top.
3. THE IPAD MINI... Wow. I printed out a scale picture of one and was very concerned it was too small but the actual device... So, so, so perfect for me. 90% of my use is reading, web browsing, twitter, Facebook, photo viewing, movie viewing and FaceTime. In other words I mostly consume content... The iPad mini is perfect. The thinness and weight are just less than the regular iPad, they are in a whole other class and make this feel like a space age device. It is the nicest feeling iOS device I have ever owned and it clearly will be more useful to me in many, many more situations than the regular iPad. Besides further lightening my luggage I know this becomes my primary reading device from my iPhone in nearly all situations other than a quick glance in a line. The form factor is just amazing.
4. The screen. I am coming from retina everything and I promise this is ten million times worth it. I was worried it would be pixelated like the iPad 1 and 2 were. Because the screen is smaller I really don't see the pixels but it is obvious text appears soft. You can pick out the pixels from a normal distance but the text itself looks just a hair fuzzy like you focused a camera lens perfectly and then just nudged it a hair off. It isn't bad but it isn't retina. Obviously if this device had retina I could tell you it was the perfect device but it doesn't yet. Still I am so happy to be rid of my retina iPad 3 (although I will upgrade the instant a retina iPad mini becomes available.)
Summary: this is a breakthrough form factor for an iOS device and is the primary future of the iPad. If you have the cash and don't mind upgrading in 1 or 2 years to the retina version of the mini (because face it, you will love this so much that you'll have to upgrade to a retina version of it when it comes) this is the iPad to buy for almost everyone.
