iPad mini How practical is the Mini as a "bring everywhere" device?

I bring my mini with me everywhere I go. Fits perfectly/comfortably in my front pocket. Used to have iPad 3 and when I did bring it with me on the go, I never liked leaving it in my vehicle, but carrying it everywhere was cumbersome. With the mini I have it ready to use anytime.

I bring the mini with me if I have the slightest suspicion that I might need it. With the regular iPad I would only bring it with me if I knew for certain that I would need it. I'm a wheelchair user and find carrying things awkward, so I would not bring it everywhere, but it is very portable.

I used to bring my original iPad 1 with me everywhere I went. It is only as practical if you do not mind lugging it around.

It's ideal.

Mine goes in my laptop bag, or backpack, or messenger bag.

So thin & light it's as though its not there

Mine pretty much goes everywhere I go so long as I'm carrying some sort of a bag. I still find the iPhone more than adequate for my needs when I'm out and about, but the iPad is nice to have around in case.

to me it's pretty much the best carry-everywhere-you-go tablet.

To answer your question - not very practical.

The key thing is - you need a bag. Unless you are the type who wears a suit coat all day, Mini is just too big to fit into a pocket. Despite what anyone might tell you - a tablet is no replacement for a smartphone (I have tried).

And if you really going to lug around a bag with you everywhere you go - you may as well get a full sized iPad and enjoy full retina display experience.

I carry mine with me everywhere and find it extremely portable, but... I carry a purse so it's very easy to just add with my other things and not think twice about it. If you are someone who does not normally carry any sort of bag you might find yourself carrying the ipad Mini less often than you would carry a phone sized item. It fits in pockets of coats and maybe back pockets of pants. Very light and portable, but still an item you have to protect and carry carefully.

I've never owned a full sized ipad, but my friend has an ipad 2 and it seems huge compared to my mini. I would definitely not lug that thing around in my purse, so if a ipad 3 is your comparison the mini will seem quite light and small to you.

Get something of a similar size and bring it with you everywhere. Then you'll know for sure.

ctyrider said:

To answer your question - not very practical.

The key thing is - you need a bag. Unless you are the type who wears a suit coat all day, Mini is just too big to fit into a pocket. Despite what anyone might tell you - a tablet is no replacement for a smartphone (I have tried).

And if you really going to lug around a bag with you everywhere you go - you may as well get a full sized iPad and enjoy full retina display experience.

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I wear size 30/29 wrangler brand jeans and it fits in my front pocket just fine. Big difference in weight and size compared to full size pad.

I carry mine as much as possible. I carry a backpack to work and it is always in there no matter if I plan on needed it or not. It is so light I don't notice it.

I carry the full sized iPad everywhere in my murse.

I do wish I had the mini thou. This thing gives me hand strain but prevents the eye strain.

vipJj123 said:

I wear size 30/29 wrangler brand jeans and it fits in my front pocket just fine. Big difference in weight and size compared to full size pad.

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Agreed. I wear jeans a couple of sizes bigger than you. and it fits in my pocket perfectly.

Well, ideal is a very subjective word. But for me, the mini is indeed ideal. I loved my regular ipad, but the mini hits that sweet spot. Large enough screen for pleasurable web surfing yet small enough to carry around. I don't even need a knapsack like I did with my regular ipad. The mini fits in my blazer jacket pocket or my cargo pants pocket with ease.

I travel ALOT, and the mini is my go to device for travel blogging and for editing my videos I shoot on my iphone when on the road.

Love it.

I use mine as a camera. I just feel THAT comfortable with it, even though people think it's a joke for that use.

I also draw, play some games, have some nice music apps, some nice education/note taking stuff, and it's just nice to have it all where ever I go. It's more useful than my MacBook Pro anyway. The battery lasts longer for all the fun stuff, that's for sure!

beautifulcoder said:

I carry the full sized iPad everywhere in my murse.

I do wish I had the mini thou. This thing gives me hand strain but prevents the eye strain.

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Hah! Right there with ya
I was always against the 'murse'. Then came the iPad. Since its release in 2010, I've always carried my iPads...with a man bag! Love it!!! These days I've got a small Targus case. It's with me all the time. I carry both my iPad 4 and iPad mini. Pens. Paper. Extra battery pack (Mophie) associated charging cables, MiFi unit and USB thumb drives with my camera connection kit. I dig my murse. I'm 42. Married. And completely comfortable with it

I do run my own business and its a mobile business. Almost everything is conducted 'on the go' so I kinda have an excuse

Cargo pants as well...mini fits perfect in the thigh pocket! From experience

J

Not practical for " bring everywhere" per se unless it includes cellular or you piggyback with tethering. Just saying.

AppleRobert said:

Not practical for " bring everywhere" per se unless it includes cellular or you piggyback with tethering. Just saying.

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I use my mini for other things than Internet.

vipJj123 said:

I wear size 30/29 wrangler brand jeans and it fits in my front pocket just fine. Big difference in weight and size compared to full size pad.

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Sure, you can fit Mini into a loose fit jean pocket.. But I just don't buy it for a second that it's a comfortable experience. As I said, I had tried that for a while, but carrying a 7" slab of plastic in a pocket just isn't for me. And probably not for most people.

For a carry-everywhere device, nothing beats iPhone 5. My recommendation is a combination of full size iPad and iPhone.

what's great about the Mini is that you don't even notice that it's there in your backpack

can't say the same about the full size iPad (not the iPad 2 and def not the iPad 3/4)

ctyrider said:

Sure, you can fit Mini into a loose fit jean pocket.. But I just don't buy it for a second that it's a comfortable experience. As I said, I had tried that for a while, but carrying a 7" slab of plastic in a pocket just isn't for me. And probably not for most people.

For a carry-everywhere device, nothing beats iPhone 5. My recommendation is a combination of full size iPad and iPhone.

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To each their own. Before buying the mini I completely agreed with what you are saying, after getting it I was surprised how it fit in my pocket. Standing up or sitting it is very comfortable in my pocket. I wouldn't work with it in my pocket (I am a mechanic), for fear of breaking it but off work, driving, shopping, I have it with me (in my pocket).

Medic311 said:

what's great about the Mini is that you don't even notice that it's there in your backpack

can't say the same about the full size iPad (not the iPad 2 and def not the iPad 3/4)

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Hilarious. The weight difference between full iPad and Mini is about 300 grams. A standard *empty* backpack weighs several times that. The weight difference between full iPad and Mini in a backpack is negligible.

ctyrider said:

Hilarious. The weight difference between full iPad and Mini is about 300 grams. A standard *empty* backpack weighs several times that. The weight difference between full iPad and Mini in a backpack is negligible.

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300 grams=approx. 10.71 ounces (300/28)

Reminds me of when I do construction, most framers use a 21 ounce to 28 ounce hammer. I had a titanium hammer weighing 14 ounces. The 7-14 ounce does not seem like much, but is very noticeable when comparing the two hammers. Using the heavier hammer once is not a big deal, but a lighter hammer can save wear and tear on joints over time. The same can be applied to a backpack loaded with numerous items, 300 grams less can make a difference.

Looking forward to see when apple can get the weight, battery consumption, and charging times lessened on the full sized iPads.

Boy1der said:

Those of you who own one, how is it used inside and outside the house in your daily life?

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I bring mine with me everyday in my backpack. Whether it's going to work or to class, it's always with me and ready when I need it!