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iPad mini Elephant in the room - iPad Mini 3 is a huge disappointment

I really like my rMini (2). Light, fast, great 326dpi screen.

I wouldn't have upgraded it this year even if the 3 had had a spec update, like the Air.

But as it is, this is perhaps the first time an iDevice is looking like a solid 2 year period before getting a (proper) upgrade.
 
KPOM said:
Many people didn't notice or care about the color gamut issue. If it were "laughable" it wouldn't have gotten such a high customer satisfaction rate. We don't yet know if the color gamut has been improved in the 2014 version since no one has tested one yet, though Ryan Smith of AnandTech said that at first glance it appeared a bit nicer than how he remembered the mini 2.
Click to expand...

Many other people did notice and care about the color gamut issue. I'm one of them. I owned the R-mini and I know my customer Satisfaction level was not 100% (as Tim Cook stated). Mainly due to the lackluster display (muted colors, inferior gamut).
 
Glad I got my mini 2 on eBay for a good price last month and didn't wait for the new one.
 
KPOM said:
Many people didn't notice or care about the color gamut issue. If it were "laughable" it wouldn't have gotten such a high customer satisfaction rate. We don't yet know if the color gamut has been improved in the 2014 version since no one has tested one yet, though Ryan Smith of AnandTech said that at first glance it appeared a bit nicer than how he remembered the mini 2.
Click to expand...

Come on....you didn't really believe that shyster, did you? As you can see by the look on his face, he's really enjoying the fact that he knows a bunch of suckers will actually believe him.

1413548886425


I love how he didn't even cite a source. Probably 100% of lower level Apple employees, all bucking for a promotion.
 
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Apple has always asked top dollar for what they sell. Sometimes they have the "best of breed" but that's usually short lived.

The mini has never been best of breed if you just look at the specs. Nexus 7.2 was better and cheaper.

One thing buyers got before was a price reduction on prior models, but look at the iPT... It's still the same price and got no update.

The mini go a joke of an update and wasn't state of the art on spec at the launch last year.

Apple is shooting themselves in the foot by expecting that anything they do will be seen as God like and the buyers will buy on command, no questions asked.

As a developer, one of the better things about Apple was that they only have a few choices, less fragmentation.

This is what they bashed MS over, it was confusing over versions of the OS... Pro vs RT...

Apple really dropped the ball here, the mini1 is now a joke, wasn't well received based on outdated specs upon release and is now still in the lineup? WTF is Mini1 doing in the lineup?

They need to come to terms with the fact that you can as more money _IF_ you offer what the people want and keep it updated.

IPT, sill in the lineup without a price change? WTF?

I hope the mini3 sales are so bad that they wake up.

Someone need a dose of reality.

I've never seen this much negative written about any Apple release.
 
I'm still on the 1st Gen Mini, and I was really looking forward to this. Such a let down.
 
Plutonius said:
What if you want a new 64GB rMini ? You have no choice but to pay the higher cost and get an iPad Mini 3.
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You can always buy a refurbished iPad mini 2 with 64GB on the Apple online store while they last. I've got the original iPad mini with a huge crack in the screen and I'm holding onto it lol. Cause this update was so meh.
 
Apple does not have a lot of money to make iPad mini 3 with a better hardwares. I hear Steve Jobs is screaming very angry frm his coffin.
 
It's disappointing. While I "get" that Apple usually try to upsell people to the more expensive (in this case, larger) variant, this is just blatant and lazy. (As well as a big middle finger to those who buy the mini because of its form factor and not because it's the cheaper option and would hence appreciate if it packed a bit of a punch, too.)

I was going to skip this generation anyway and upgrade on the next cycle. Must say that the current release is making waiting easier than I may have imagined.
 
I'm impressed with the new prices of refurbs on Apple.com. I just ordered a rMini 32 gb as a gift for my wife at $299. That's a great price! No need for an iPad Mini 3.

On a side note...it shipped from China. Didn't expect a refurb to ship all the way from China. However it is supposed to be here by Thursday on standard shipping. Not bad!
 
Lachhh said:
It's disappointing. While I "get" that Apple usually try to upsell people to the more expensive (in this case, larger) variant, this is just blatant and lazy. (As well as a big middle finger to those who buy the mini because of its form factor and not because it's the cheaper option and would hence appreciate if it packed a bit of a punch, too.)

I was going to skip this generation anyway and upgrade on the next cycle. Must say that the current release is making waiting easier than I may have imagined.
Click to expand...

Interesting point on the form factor. Apple didn't get in on the size race from the stand point of bigger screens, but they did get in on the "thinner is better" race.

The iPods where always small enough to carry and packed with performance, people loved the iPods. The iPhone that 1st grew was still workable with 1 hand, it was the same width, just 1 extra row of icons taller.

This shows a concern for usability.

The Mini hit the mark between a "home" tablet and a phone in that the Mini is MUCH more portable. It would feel awkward to carry an iPad while walking around the mall or down the street. Not so with the Mini.

2nd point: You say that waiting will be easier, that might be the case now, but what happens if the Mini4 ends up being a smaller Air2 and the Air3 now gets:
-better cameras
-edge to edge screen usage
-A9X chip
-etc...

if the mini is the redheaded step child, then the Mini4 will NOT make it worth waiting for.

I'm dam tired of being the redheaded step child and paying full ticket price.

Give us what we want before someone else does.
 
I can understand why people are upset but everyone has to remember that Apple is a different company under cook. A lot of these decisions are made with stock price and margins in mind, not making the 10% of us who care about spec and color gamuts.

Most people out there don't have a clue. Most are either price conscious or want the latest and greatest. That is why we have the mini 1 still in the lineup and why the mini 3 is a ripoff.

I have an iPhone 5s, MacBook air, iPad 4, and iPad mini 2. I'm Also a shareholder. As a consumer I think the mini 3 is a joke. As a shareholder, I can understand why they are doing it.

There is no way the mini will be discontinued. I would argue that in a twisted way, the mini is too popular and is dragging asp and margins down. This is apples way of trying to nudge the margins higher by pushing some people to the higher margin air and lower costs in current minis to keep margins up.
 
poncekim said:
I can understand why people are upset but everyone has to remember that Apple is a different company under cook. A lot of these decisions are made with stock price and margins in mind, not making the 10% of us who care about spec and color gamuts.

Most people out there don't have a clue. Most are either price conscious or want the latest and greatest. That is why we have the mini 1 still in the lineup and why the mini 3 is a ripoff.

I have an iPhone 5s, MacBook air, iPad 4, and iPad mini 2. I'm Also a shareholder. As a consumer I think the mini 3 is a joke. As a shareholder, I can understand why they are doing it.

There is no way the mini will be discontinued. I would argue that in a twisted way, the mini is too popular and is dragging asp and margins down. This is apples way of trying to nudge the margins higher by pushing some people to the higher margin air and lower costs in current minis to keep margins up.
Click to expand...

The Mini is Apple's "bait" product. A cheap tablet to get a consumer's attention then once they weigh the value of the purchase, they're more likely to walk out with an Air instead. Smart strategy.
 
I'm disappointed as well. I am their biggest tablet fan and biggest defender, you could call me a fanboy but it's because of the products that I've been able to use over the last year.
I was overjoyed last year when the mini came out with the same specs as the air. So happy indeed that I bought one of each. I use the mini 95% of the time. But I thoroughly enjoy using the air also.
Enter the iPhone six. I have an iPhone 6, 4.7 screen, and that dude is fast.
I was anxiously awaiting the new releases of the iPad so that I would be able to continue to use all three devices and be equally happy with them. But no, Apple had to flub up and do nothing for the Mini.
I will keep my two original iPads and use them over the next year and hope that the mini finally does get the upgrade that it deserves. I will buy one when they give it an 8x chip. There is no need to upgrade my Air because I don't use it that much.
Apple lost 2 sales this year and disappointed very many people.:(
 
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ron7624 said:
:(I'm disappointed as well. I am their biggest tablet fan and biggest offender, you could call me a fanboy but it's because of the products that I've been able to use over the last year.
I was overjoyed last year when the mini came out with the same specs as the air. So happy indeed that I bought one of each. I use the mini 95% of the time. But I thoroughly enjoy using the air also.
Enter the iPhone six. I have an iPhone 6, 4.7 screen, and that dude is fast.
I was anxiously awaiting the new releases of the iPad so that I would be able to continue to use all three devices and be equally happy with them. But no, Apple had to flub up and do nothing for the Mini.
I will keep my two original iPads and use them over the next year and hope that the mini finally does get the upgrade that it deserves. I will buy one when they give it an 8x chip. There is no need to upgrade my Air because I don't use it that much.
Apple lost 2 sales this year and disappointed very many people.:(
Click to expand...

Consider yourself the minority. I think a lot of former Mini users are now getting the Air 2 instead this year because it represents a much better value. Apple has effectively made it enticing for Mini users to fork over more money and upgrade to the Air 2.
 
ron7624 said:
Apple lost 2 sales this year and disappointed very many people.:(
Click to expand...

Really? I was ready to shell out for a mini 3 and a case to replace my launch day iPad 2, but saved $100 by buying the mini 2. I'll put the difference on a couple of PS4 games.

The only people who seem to be complaining are those who upgrade every year, and they've got more money than sense.
 
Agathon said:
Really? I was ready to shell out for a mini 3 and a case to replace my launch day iPad 2, but saved $100 by buying the mini 2. I'll put the difference on a couple of PS4 games.

The only people who seem to be complaining are those who upgrade every year, and they've got more money than sense.
Click to expand...
More money than sense? I could choose to insult you or simply point out I was looking forward to an 8X chip. I'm a very mobile person. I am not home often. I am a man. The iPad mini fits in my back pocket. The air does not.
There are quite a few people in the same boat that I'm in, but since you're narrowminded view of the world is all you really care about I guess you can continue to insult the rest of the people on this site.
Oops, that slipped out.:rolleyes:
 
I'm actually glad in a way. Had it been a massive improvement, I would have ended up buying on in addition to the Air 2 and then of course my better half would have wanted her mini updated as well. It's saved me a small fortune.
 
Scootg said:
I'm still on the 1st Gen Mini, and I was really looking forward to this. Such a let down.
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Ugh, both the Mini 3 and 2 make the first one obsolete. Just upgrade to one of them. A7 and Retina display are huge upgrades.
 
iPad Mini 3 display now analysed?

Has the iPad Mini 3 display now been analysed regarding the color gamut? Is the Mini 3 display better in this regard than the Mini 2? Or are the displays identical?
 
IbisDoc said:
Come on....you didn't really believe that shyster, did you? As you can see by the look on his face, he's really enjoying the fact that he knows a bunch of suckers will actually believe him.

Image

I love how he didn't even cite a source. Probably 100% of lower level Apple employees, all bucking for a promotion.
Click to expand...

Yeah, in today's world, you couldn't get 100 percent of people to agree that water is wet.
 
cababah said:
Consider yourself the minority. I think a lot of former Mini users are now getting the Air 2 instead this year because it represents a much better value. Apple has effectively made it enticing for Mini users to fork over more money and upgrade to the Air 2.
Click to expand...

Ron make an excellent point, the mini and ipad are two very different markets.

People had a choice last year Mini2 or Air ... Pretty much the same product with size factor being the main difference (price being another).

People that chose the mini did so for a reason. The Air1/Air2 are NOT very mobile, the Mini is.

Some carry a tablet in a backpack and other leave it on the couch/end table, others carry it with them in a pocket and use it in hand while working.

The Air is not the one to carry, who has a pocket that fits the Air? It's just too big for some of us and we picked the Mini for a reason...

Face it, Apple went forward with the Air, that left those of us that want the Mini behind. Our reasons for wanting the Mini was likely because of size more than price. If we're buying Apple products, we are less concerned about price, the Nexus 7 was much cheaper, yet we picked the Mini... Not the Air.

Those that wanted the Air, bought the Air, those that wanted the Mini, bought the Mini.

Being cut out of the upgrade party will not change the reasons we wanted the Mini. The Air is just a different product, used in a different way.

Just like a pickup truck, some want the Toyota/Ranger size, others want a full size. They've been making both sizes for decades now and they well serve their customers.

Hint: give the customers what they want... Apple nearly lost it's business because they were NOT giving the customers what they wanted.

People bought the iPhone/iPod because they wanted it, Apple translated that into "We'll tell them what they want, they'll buy it because we're Apple"

This is what nearly killed Apple years ago.

Apple: Take some of that profit and buy a clue.
 
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