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iPad Argh, Apple has made it too hard :S rMini vs Air
- Thread starter NeuroticaPills
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I had a mini and I went with the Air, the only thing I miss about the mini is that it was the perfect size as an ereader, I'm reading on the Air, and its a tad large, otherwise I like doing everything else on the air, I'd like to get a 16gb Retina Mini at some point to read books, but don't really want to pay $399 for that.
If you don't mind having 2 devices, the Kindle Paperwhite for $119 is the perfect reading device.
Oh, my mistake. Misread the post.
That said, I really don't know what everyone is saying about the screen on the rMini. It's just as good as my 3rd Gen. Sharp, colors are fine, no worries at all.
Would need to get the latest generation. The first had some serious screen issues.
Bigger does not equate to better. It just equates to bigger. I'm using my rMini right now and don't regret the purchase in the slightest. The Air is, in my opinion, a little too big to just lug around casually. Good for many things, but for a device I can slip into my pocket and take around? The rMini wins that. For ME.
Trying to nudge peel toward the bigger version simply by virtue of its size is why smartphone companies are in the middle of this ridiculous screen size war. Making something larger is not an inherent improvement. Actually, if you think about it, the Mini has a better screen because it's the same resolution but smaller.
i have the iPad 4 and i really want to get a retina mini but i don't know if i would use both of them.
This. I didn't think resolution could really make a difference with retina devices, but after a month with the rMini, and then using an iPad 3 for quick browsing, I was stuck by my rMini's crispness. Don't get me wrong. The iPad 3 and 4 are top notch tablets, with excellent resolution and capabilities for what I want. However, the rMini's portability, PPI, chip specs, and OS made it my number 1 choice -- over the Air or a phablet.
That said, I now use my rMini for nearly everything, including listening to and writing music, texting, email -- you name it. I am now starting to wonder if I could just use Google Voice or the alike for phone message and short calls with my headphones/headset, and ditch my iPhone all together.
The Air sounds like a great device for you given your shorter commute. For me, the 45 minute, one-way trip in NYC makes the rMini ideal. Although, I do have to say that I have been questioning my masculinity lately. Looks like guys get the Air/full-sized iPad and the ladies like the mini. How do you factor that into your decision.
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I went with Air and I tried both.
I have always had a full size iPad since gen1. My current one is gen4 with retina. I tried the new Air and rMini for a few days using one exclusively each day and I could not get used to the smaller screen on the mini. Nice display and all but the screen size was just too small for me. Again I have always used a full size iPad and I use it from home. Just my opinion. So anyone that is undecided between the two and use them the way I do I'll give you something to consider and save you the hassle of trying to making a decision. I racked my brains out at first but decided on Air. Wasn't close. Still the best way is to try them for a few days. Not a few minutes in a store. Just saying'
I have always had a full size iPad since gen1. My current one is gen4 with retina. I tried the new Air and rMini for a few days using one exclusively each day and I could not get used to the smaller screen on the mini. Nice display and all but the screen size was just too small for me. Again I have always used a full size iPad and I use it from home. Just my opinion. So anyone that is undecided between the two and use them the way I do I'll give you something to consider and save you the hassle of trying to making a decision. I racked my brains out at first but decided on Air. Wasn't close. Still the best way is to try them for a few days. Not a few minutes in a store. Just saying'
I've had both the Air and the rMini. I first bought the Air when it was released, after having the first-generation Mini. I thought the slighter smaller form factor and weight reduction might bring it close enough to the Mini to satisfy me... But it didn't, so I exchanged it for a rMini, and I'm totally happy. The rMini is the perfect size and weight for me, and I love picking it up and using it every day.
I have both air and min retina both cellular. The mini is still sat in its box sealed and the air is used daily. I enjoy the large screen and the weight really is negligible. I still have 2 minis in the house that are my daughters. They are a great size but watching movies and browsing the web is really enjoyable on my air.
must be fun to carry iphone and mini in the pocket.....
This. I didn't think resolution could really make a difference with retina devices, but after a month with the rMini, and then using an iPad 3 for quick browsing, I was stuck by my rMini's crispness. Don't get me wrong. The iPad 3 and 4 are top notch tablets, with excellent resolution and capabilities for what I want. However, the rMini's portability, PPI, chip specs, and OS made it my number 1 choice -- over the Air or a phablet.
That said, I now use my rMini for nearly everything, including listening to and writing music, texting, email -- you name it. I am now starting to wonder if I could just use Google Voice or the alike for phone message and short calls with my headphones/headset, and ditch my iPhone all together.
The Air sounds like a great device for you given your shorter commute. For me, the 45 minute, one-way trip in NYC makes the rMini ideal. Although, I do have to say that I have been questioning my masculinity lately. Looks like guys get the Air/full-sized iPad and the ladies like the mini. How do you factor that into your decision.
I picked up a 4th gen iPad, an iPad air and an rMini during the extended holiday returns period to see what I'd like to use/keep the best.
All three units had very good screens, etc...
I liked the rMini for its portability and reading but not for web and playing the games I use on my full size iPad so back it went (it was on sale for $470 w/ a store coupon).
I like the air for its portability and the screen was full sized but I didn't like the safari crashing (less than the rMini but more than the 4th gen) and the fact that it only still had 1Gb RAM like the 4th gen iPad (it was on sale for $530 w/ a store coupon). For some reason, I also had trouble getting it to sync with 2 of my BT keyboards?....not sure why.
I ended up keeping the 4th gen iPad even though it was only 16Gb it also had cellular built-in and it was on sale NIB w/ a store coupon for only $330. It will hold me over fine until iPad air2 & rMini2 come out - hopefully with the izgo screens and more RAM
The $200 saved will go toward the new iPad (?) I decide to pick up in a generation or two...
...and the last plus is I already had cases I liked from my 3rd gen iPad that I gifted to a family member who re-gifted their iPad original to another family member
All three units had very good screens, etc...
I liked the rMini for its portability and reading but not for web and playing the games I use on my full size iPad so back it went (it was on sale for $470 w/ a store coupon).
I like the air for its portability and the screen was full sized but I didn't like the safari crashing (less than the rMini but more than the 4th gen) and the fact that it only still had 1Gb RAM like the 4th gen iPad (it was on sale for $530 w/ a store coupon). For some reason, I also had trouble getting it to sync with 2 of my BT keyboards?....not sure why.
I ended up keeping the 4th gen iPad even though it was only 16Gb it also had cellular built-in and it was on sale NIB w/ a store coupon for only $330. It will hold me over fine until iPad air2 & rMini2 come out - hopefully with the izgo screens and more RAM
The $200 saved will go toward the new iPad (?) I decide to pick up in a generation or two...
...and the last plus is I already had cases I liked from my 3rd gen iPad that I gifted to a family member who re-gifted their iPad original to another family member
Entirely subjective and dependent on usage of course, can totally see the attraction of the Air if you're using it mainly around the house, always carry a bag anyway when you go out or to replace a laptop (assuming you're a very light user).
Myself, the absolutely chronic, debilitating limitations of tablets irritate the hell out of me when I'm at home so I predominantly use my 15" retina mbp - I want stacks of tabs, multi windows, a keyboard and trackpad and the ability to do the things an iPad either doesn't do well, or the million things it doesn't do at all.
Flipside, all those irritations about tablets evaporate when I'm using the iPad anywhere but home, and it is absolutely the very best anti boredom device ever conceived, bar the old schmeckel. The ability to slip the Mini into my coat pocket almost renders my iPhone kind of moot beyond making phone calls and listening to audio. Had I bought an Air, every time I leave the house I'd have to make a decision "am I taking the iPad", whereas the Mini is simply something that is almost always on my person along with keys and wallet.
Myself, the absolutely chronic, debilitating limitations of tablets irritate the hell out of me when I'm at home so I predominantly use my 15" retina mbp - I want stacks of tabs, multi windows, a keyboard and trackpad and the ability to do the things an iPad either doesn't do well, or the million things it doesn't do at all.
Flipside, all those irritations about tablets evaporate when I'm using the iPad anywhere but home, and it is absolutely the very best anti boredom device ever conceived, bar the old schmeckel. The ability to slip the Mini into my coat pocket almost renders my iPhone kind of moot beyond making phone calls and listening to audio. Had I bought an Air, every time I leave the house I'd have to make a decision "am I taking the iPad", whereas the Mini is simply something that is almost always on my person along with keys and wallet.
Sounds like the dilemma I'm having right now. I was 'awarded' a 64gb iPad Air thru work & I've been debating attempting to trade it in towards an rMini with whatever they deem the difference to be going towards accessories for same. If they'll even let me trade it in, given that it'll a) still be sealed & b) will not have an actual receipt. I'm not holding my breath on this, but I figure that it is worth a try.
I bought an Air and a rMini, and returned the Air because I was convinced that I preferred the Mini's smaller form and portability, sacrificing the Air's superior screen in the process.
After using the Mini for about a month, I soon realized that it was just too small for my needs, and pick up a VZW Air today. My advice is to pick up an Air, play with it for a couple weeks and then decide which is better suited for your usage of the device.
After using the Mini for about a month, I soon realized that it was just too small for my needs, and pick up a VZW Air today. My advice is to pick up an Air, play with it for a couple weeks and then decide which is better suited for your usage of the device.
Apple did that on purpose. They want you to find out sooner about the inferior rMini screen and take it back to get the Air or find out later and sell it to buy the Air. I'm sure they prefer the latter.