First Impressions and Hands On with iPad Mini

[phpmaven]

Do you have 20/20 vision? I've owned the original iPad, used the iPad 2, use a friend's iPad 3 daily and own the retina MacBook Pro. I also use, on occasion, a 27" Thunderbolt Display and non-retina 15" MBP.

Let me be clear, anyone who can't tell the difference is either lying or doesn't have on their glasses. It's not even close for me.

I had the same reaction when I got my iPad 3 and posted to that effect when people said on these forums that they couldn't tell much of a difference, but since then I've come to the realization that the average person just doesn't notice the difference much. I know dozens of people that own iPads, because of social connections I have, and I can tell you that the vast majority of them wouldn't notice the difference or even care. I have a couple of friends that are nerds like me and they feel like I do but they are the exception. I personally find it incredible that they don't see it like a bolt of lightening, but they don't.

 

[needfx]

hey hun, wanna check my mini?

 

[tylernol]

Name the top 10 apps you use on an iOS device.

name 10 decent android tablet apps that are not ports of iOS apps. Or..I'll make it easier for you...name 10 android tablet apps, period.

 

[iSee]

$299 for an iPod touch but for $30 more I can get an iPad mini?? Why would I buy an iPod then? Doesnt make sense.

You might not... but someone who wants to put the device in their pocket would. Is that really so hard to understand?

 

[Chrjy]

LOL. My wife will regularly watch the non-HD version of a show even though there's an HD channel showing the same show. She doesn't seem to see a difference. And don't even get me started on 720p vs 1080p.

Cracked up...exactly the same as my girlfriend. I'm like FFS turn it over to HD will you, much better image quality and Dolby Digital what part of that do you not understand?!

 

[iSee]

The mini iPad looks great.
But $329 is not really competative.

The most comperable Kindle Fire is $214 (or $199 if you like ads pushed at your eyeballs all the time).

The mini has nice aluminum, a larger screen (but somewhat fewer pixels), is thinner and lighter... but costs $115 more

Of course the Apple ecosystem is much, much better than the Amazon one except for books. But the Amazon ecosystem will grow if the device is popular.

If I were looking for a small tablet, I'd have a really hard time chosing the mini over a Kindle or Nexus 7. It's nicer than those, but is it really that much nicer?

 

[Marcus-k]

Yeah, the kindle fire has 169 ppi and the iPad mini has 163 ppi, what a total failure /sarcasm

What about the Nexus 7 then, it costs only 199$ instead of 329$ and has a PPI of 216.

 

[AnonMac50]

You've completely missed his point. You don't use the iPad with one hand, unless it's lying on your lap or a table. You might HOLD it with one hand, but you use it with two hands. The new iPhone 5, despite its larger screen, can still be USED with one hand. What this means is that you can chop off one of your hands and still use the iPhone 5. The iPad mini? Not so much. Don't go chopping.

This post made me chuckle.

Anyway, sure I can't use the iPad big with one hand, and I can't use the mini with one hand, but I can hold either with one hand, why is this feature showed as a selling factor of the mini over the big?

 

[Builddesign]

maybe our pockets need to get bigger

 

[simmo0916]

I call BS on that.

Many apps like web browsers and book readers aren't size dependent at all, it's easy to scale to any resolution.

And for any that are a specific size, if they went up to 1200x800 anything that can't just be scaled up can be letterboxed. Which they have already done when running iphone apps on ipad. The notion that apps somehow wouldn't "work" is silly.

I wasnt referring to the apps not working - But they will be optimized with the display running at 1024x768. Letterboxed apps are unsightly. Im learning that with the iPhone 5.
Native support from 275,000 apps on day is awesome in my book.

 

[brettizzle]

I think it looks like a nice piece of hardware that can attract a different crowd that doesnt want a large tablet.

 

[Dan--]

Well, I'm a man and it will fit very nicely in my backpack, next to my tampons & birth control pills.

I'm sorry to respond this way to you, perhaps you're genuinely interested in getting someone you love a really nice device, but this device is not gender oriented, and I just find so offensive any comments relating in any way size of device (or usage, as if a man can't read a frigging ebook) to gender.

LOL. Well, no offense taken on my part. And I had no intention to offend any males considering this device. I literally wanted to know cause my wife has commented that my current iPad was too big for her to easily carry around all the time. For me, I expect the new one is too small because of my friggin eyesight... I'm too old apparently.

But dude, what's up with the tampons in your backpack?

 

[thetruest]

Nobody reads posts where the author takes issue on a sentence by sentence basis.

we're addressin a list of apps. Each "sentence" was dealing with each app.

Duh.

 

[WilliamLondon]

LOL. Well, no offense taken on my part. And I had no intention to offend any males considering this device. I literally wanted to know cause my wife has commented that my current iPad was too big for her to easily carry around all the time. For me, I expect the new one is too small because of my friggin eyesight... I'm too old apparently.

But dude, what's up with the tampons in your backpack?

You have a problem with the tampons in my backpack, but not the birth control pills?! What's up with that?<haha!!>

I'm so glad you didn't take offence, I meant none by it (which is why I attempted to insert a little humour), but I have seen so many people assume this device is aimed at women (or for people who don't want to spend or can't afford to spend the money to get a full sized iPad), no one ever considers a man who reads a lot and merely wants a smaller device might want a device like this.

Your eyesight is a problem? I'm no spring chicken myself, and I have to say I was a bit disappointed with the screen resolution as I was hoping for something better, given I'll be reading a lot on this device (especially PDFs). I'm going to give it a try and pre-order one on Friday (because it's pretty close to ideal), but as soon as gen 2 of this device is announced, I'll be listing mine on eBay and upgrading.

 

[phpmaven]

Cracked up...exactly the same as my girlfriend. I'm like FFS turn it over to HD will you, much better image quality and Dolby Digital what part of that do you not understand?!

Tell me about it. I will sit there sometimes flipping back and forth between HD and non-HD and I say "can't you see the difference?" "I guess" You guess!!!!?

 

[JAT]

LOL. My wife will regularly watch the non-HD version of a show even though there's an HD channel showing the same show. She doesn't seem to see a difference. And don't even get me started on 720p vs 1080p.

Or 1080i vs 1080p. (speaking of orig sources, of course)

 

[Husky1992]

maybe our pockets need to get bigger

I thought the same thing watching the keynote

 

[TM WAZZA]

You kids and your 'retina' this and your 'retina' that, lol.

You'd be hard pressed to even tell the difference on a device that small. Certainly not a deal breaker.

Srs?

Erm. iPhone is way smaller. And you can definitely tell the difference. Unless you have poor eyesight.

 

[Adokimus]

Yeah, the kindle fire has 169 ppi and the iPad mini has 163 ppi, what a total failure /sarcasm

You got a lot of upvotes for incorrect data. Goes to show how much people fact check things on their own.

The newest 7" Kindle Fire, the "Kindle Fire HD" has a resolution of 216 ppi for $199 vs. 162 ppi on the iPad mini for $329.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2411313,00.asp

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What about the Nexus 7 then, it costs only 199$ instead of 329$ and has a PPI of 216.

Google it. The new Kindle Fire HD has the same resolution as the Nexus 7. Also 216 ppi. Also $199.

 

[macfacts]

name 10 decent android tablet apps that are not ports of iOS apps. Or..I'll make it easier for you...name 10 android tablet apps, period.

I asked for a list of 10 ios apps cause I wanted to see an example of good ios apps and the list did not impress me much. The ios exclusives seemed to be only apps made by Apple.

 

[AJsAWiz]

It is for folks who want an iOS device that is smaller and lighter than the iPad but still syncs with their other iOS devices. Also it is for people that want Apple build quality. The price difference, especially is you are including cell service charge for a year, is meaningless for many people.

You can't imagine who this is for, but even you must realize that Apple will sell millions of these before the end of the year. My god, 100 million iPads have been sold in just a few years. This will sell at the same rate, I suspect.

Couldn't have said it better myself

 

[Soura2112]

Good and bad

I see why Apple made the mini to compete with the kindle. As an iPhone and ipad user since first generation the only negative I see is price, rather have an Ipad Mini then a Kindle but it should be the same price. The iPhone has at last started to hurt my hand after texting, email, typing, etc. Same would happen with all smartphones of course. Ipad 1-3 does not hurt my hand nor my vision after hours of use. I could possibly see the mini causing similar problems like my phone. Of course and selling huge. I have not been on the mini for hours and hours like my iPhone. But don't get me wrong, this is a great move for Apple and can see the mini taking off. Those are my only concerns. I think it's a great idea, keep up with the Kindle and rest. Thankfully my ipad 3 does not feel heavy. For instance on vacation I didn't expect a mile plus walk to occur, but it did, felt stupid carrying it, but had no choice, wasn't going to make the GF carry it, be interesting just for her point if view though. Back and fourth to the hotel was like carrying a paperback book. Only reason I told that story because its the first time I had to carry it that far without a briefcase nor shoulder case, like a tiny backpack, and had an ipad from day one of the ipad 1. Mini would be even easier to carry in that situation, another mini plus. Also for those who can't afford an ipad. It's a great price for powerful machine. I have never used a current Kindle, only past versions, want to be fully honest.

 

[AceTracer]

Yeah, the kindle fire has 169 ppi and the iPad mini has 163 ppi, what a total failure /sarcasm

Kindle Fire HD 7" and Google Nexus 7 are both 216 ppi.

 

[Peter Harrison]

I had the same reaction when I got my iPad 3 and posted to that effect when people said on these forums that they couldn't tell much of a difference, but since then I've come to the realization that the average person just doesn't notice the difference much. I know dozens of people that own iPads, because of social connections I have, and I can tell you that the vast majority of them wouldn't notice the difference or even care. I have a couple of friends that are nerds like me and they feel like I do but they are the exception. I personally find it incredible that they don't see it like a bolt of lightening, but they don't.

I found that the difference wasn't as noticeable moving from non-retina to retina, but that after you get used to retina and then see a non-retina device, it's like night and day.

 

[firewood]

Do you have 20/20 vision?

It takes more than 20/20 vision to care about noticing the difference. Ask your optometrist about how many customers come in only when their old pair of glasses, which they were fine with, are broken, and it turns out that they need a very different prescription to see decently. They didn't care enough to notice.