Sorry, no. There is no evidence the reviews are biased, as far as you or I know. The selection of these particular reviews for this article may have involved a certain bias, but you don't know that either.
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First iPad Mini Reviews: "Shockingly Nice to Hold", Non-Retina Display, Pricier than Rivals
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Sorry, no. There is no evidence the reviews are biased, as far as you or I know. The selection of these particular reviews for this article may have involved a certain bias, but you don't know that either.
You made some excellent points about the iPhone. Apple's growth the last 4 years has been fueled by the iPhone. But the overwhelming majority if Apple customers buy their phone subsidized. They don't mind paying a 'premium' because they don't feel the pain of the high initial cost.
It's sort of like when you go to the drugstore and pay your $20 copay. It doesn't matter if the drug cost $25 or $250 or how profitable it is because you're paying a comfortable amount.
The tablet game gets a little hairier. Apple pretty much invented the 10 inch market. People fell in love with the iPad and saw it as a device similar to a laptop..something they were willing to $500-$700 for.
The 7 inch market is a bit different. It's more the 'disposable'/entertainment technology that's been in the $199-$299 range frequented by game consoles, smartphones, iPod touches, etc.
Over the long term is Apple going to be able to compete in that cutthroat environment where the competitors are selling at a loss and will push hardware that is arguably better than Apple's.
Is it going to be an impulse buy? Will parents want to buy multiple units for presents? Will households see it as a reasonable device to buy...or dismiss it as a luxury.
I'm admittedly a bit frugal. I had originally thought I'd buy two so me and my kids didn't fight over my wife's iPad. But unlike other Apple devices I've preordered or bought on launch day....I'm just real lukewarm about the Mini.
Gp$
1. You should be able to get GPS in BOTH versions for the $$
2. If you have a LTE version and do not activate a wireless account (IE dont get a contract) will GPS will work?
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YAWN. And if you don"t get a celluar enable product??????
1. You should be able to get GPS in BOTH versions for the $$
2. If you have a LTE version and do not activate a wireless account (IE dont get a contract) will GPS will work?
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YAWN. And if you don"t get a celluar enable product??????
Amazon managed it. Google managed over 300ppi with stunning displays on their Nexus 7 and Nexus 10.
Apple could have done it if they wanted to
Depends on the design priorities. The N7 and the Kindle both have higher resolution screens but both are also thicker and heavier than the mini. In design you need to establish one or two core goals that become the foundation of the design. All of the other goals are subject to compromise to ensure that the core goals are met. If Apples core goal for the mini was size and weight than anything that worked against that goal would be subject to compromise. We already know that the 3rd gen iPad was thicker and heavier than the iPad 2 due to the retina screen. It's not a stretch to assume that the same would have been true with the mini. So yes Apple could have made the mini with retina but it would have been a thicker heavier mini and that was a compromise they may not have been willing to make.
While I have no plans on getting the iPad Mini, at least not for myself, I am not sure why so many people are up in arms about the price. Apple products have always been more expensive - with good reason. The whole reason I became an Apple loyalist is because of the quality of their laptops. After a string of Windows machines that all seemed to have a 2-year lifespan before slowing down to the point of uselessness.
However, the price of the Macbook almost scared me off. I took the plunge and it truly paid off. Even though the Macbook was more expensive, when dividing the cost over the years I used it compared to the same with previous computers, it was actually cheaper because I didn't have to upgrade so often.
Because tablets are still relatively new, I wonder if the same would still apply. I've only had my iPad 3 a few months and I don't plan on upgrading until I absolutely have to. I have to wonder, will the iPad, and the iPad Minis, hold up to Apple's reputation for quality products. Would spending the extra money on their products pay off in the long run? Will the other tablets on the market start breaking down sooner? It may be too soon to tell.
I only know 1 person with the original iPad and as far as I know, it still works like a champ for him. I do not know if the lack of ios6 has affected any apps he uses regularly, but he has not said anything about wanting to upgrade. I have to wonder what percentage of iPad 1 owners are still happy with it. I don't know if I'll get those answers here. It seems like most people on here upgrade every new release, which just doesn't make sense to me.
So to me, the $329 price point seems fair, though I guess the long-term durability of the iPad Minis as well as the kindles and nexuses etc will tell.
And I won't comment on the lack of retina display until I actually see one.
However, the price of the Macbook almost scared me off. I took the plunge and it truly paid off. Even though the Macbook was more expensive, when dividing the cost over the years I used it compared to the same with previous computers, it was actually cheaper because I didn't have to upgrade so often.
Because tablets are still relatively new, I wonder if the same would still apply. I've only had my iPad 3 a few months and I don't plan on upgrading until I absolutely have to. I have to wonder, will the iPad, and the iPad Minis, hold up to Apple's reputation for quality products. Would spending the extra money on their products pay off in the long run? Will the other tablets on the market start breaking down sooner? It may be too soon to tell.
I only know 1 person with the original iPad and as far as I know, it still works like a champ for him. I do not know if the lack of ios6 has affected any apps he uses regularly, but he has not said anything about wanting to upgrade. I have to wonder what percentage of iPad 1 owners are still happy with it. I don't know if I'll get those answers here. It seems like most people on here upgrade every new release, which just doesn't make sense to me.
So to me, the $329 price point seems fair, though I guess the long-term durability of the iPad Minis as well as the kindles and nexuses etc will tell.
And I won't comment on the lack of retina display until I actually see one.
You raise some good points about pricing. There has been a lot of discussion on the mini's price being out of line, but I think some further discussion is warranted as to where its out of line. When viewed as part of the Apple line up the mini's price seems to be in line with other Apple products. There is roughly a 35% price gap between the entry level mini and the entry level iPad with retina display. The price gap between the 13" MBA (also non retina, and with a less powerful CPU compared to the MBP) and the 15" MBPr is 35-50% depending on configuration. In otherwords going bigger, faster, sharper comes at a 35% premium across both product lines.
The mini is out of line when compared with other 7" tablets, but when has Apple not been out of line with the competition. Apple could have sacrificed margin to be more competitive in this market but doing so comes at a cost. The first is the race to the bottom. If Apple introduced the mini at $249 Samsung could easily have dropped the N7 below that price. If Apple doesn't respond and drop the mini price lower they face the same accusation that their pricing is out of line. Apple has avoided this race to the bottom in the laptop market why would they jump into it here.
It's also interesting that the mini's price is seen as put of line but the same claim is not being made of the full size iPad. I believe we can attribute this to the fact that up to now Apple has had no real competition in the 10" market while they are jumping into an already competitive market in the 7 "market. It will be interesting to see what will happen if Samsung starts selling their N10, or whatever they are going to call their 10" tablet at a price substantially below the price of the full size iPad. Does the full size iPad now become a bad buy as some have labeled the iPad mini?
Thanks, and you are confirming some of the points that I am considering.
Plus, with Facetime capability... the new iPads should already have microphones built in... although earpods or the like may work a bit better.
Really the two issues that are not very common, but might be a bit tricky in a pinch, is receiving incoming calls or being notified of voice messages, and 911 access in an emergency situation.
I have thought about migrating my iPhone 4 to basically be an iPod Touch plus Pay-as-you-go phone backup. I could replace the screen if I knew I was going to keep it a while longer, or get a solid but "dumb" burner as a replacement to stash in the car or go-bag.
The iPhone 5 is fancy, no doubt, as a smart phone. I am just not sure that I would use it's advantages, for the money and contract committment-re-up that it would cost.
The big thing swaying toward iPhone 5 or iPad 4 is the A6 chipset, and the big increase in system speed. It may be a big boon now, but it also is a benefit for the longevity of the device for future software.
An iPad Mini with that performance boost would be welcomed, no doubt... but that doesn't necessarily make the A5-equipped iPad Mini a bad device as some of the commentary around here suggests.
The screen resolution doesn't bother me so much, but it is one of the things I am waiting to see first hand. iPad 2 looks quite good... and that resolution shrunk to ~7.8 inches is only more pixel-dense.... even if it isn't "retina".
I probably have more concern with keeping my glasses clean enough to see that precisely, than I would with the difference in resolution.
Part of the issue with iPhone for reading and info presentation is that things are so small that you have to look closely.
If the text and such were really small on the iPad Mini, you'd have to hold it closely also... and at 20-30 inches away (bent arm's length from face) from one's eyes (rather than having to hold it actively closer at 6-10 inches from face), I doubt there will be night&day difference for iPad Mini vs if it were "retina" and scaled to be text-legible. Again, welcomed if it were there... not a deal breaker for me not to be there.
And if 330$ base price is a deal breaker on price for some... A6 and Retina display would probably inched the price up a bit further, and garnered more criticism than it is now getting. Then there is the whole "fratricide" argument about competition with the iPad 4 with nearly similar prices and specs, and mini having a size quantity disadvantage, while iPhone 5's subsidized entry price would be notably lower also.
iPad Mini is in a somewhat treacherous middle-ground between other Apple products, as well as other brands' products, as other commenters have mentioned. Too far up or too far down it gets into problematic placement.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
The reason I try to reference ear buds plus microphone is that there are always about 5 guys who will ridicule the concept by referencing holding anything bigger than iPhone up to the side of one's head.
Incoming calls via VOIP does work but it requires the software to be running. When iPad goes to sleep, VOIP software usually goes to sleep too. So, if you are using it when someone calls, the VOIP software will probably make it a very iPhone-like experience. Otherwise, the call may go to voice mail.
In my case, I just provide my main (home) number and calls go to voice mail. They are then forwarded to me attached to an email (and I can have them converted to text too). Then, I call back those that aren't telemarketers, "vote for...." calls, etc.
For the 911 concern, I always think about how many times I've called 911. Never. So, while it is something to consider, I don't know if it's worth several thousand in contract fees for me. Should such a situation arise, I could always ask anyone else nearby to call 911. If I was alone and needed 911 but couldn't get the LTE/3G going, my goose would probably be cooked unless someone else came along. Then, again, if I'm so out of it I couldn't get the iPad Mini LTE/3G going to call 911, it doesn't seem like I'd be that much more likely to be able to fire up an iPhone and dial it either.
While my situation is not necessarily anyone else's, my thinking goes like this: I could sometimes use a better mobile calling option than Skype via my laptop. I don't want to pay someone like AT&T a couple of thousand dollars over 2 years for the phone-side service I would almost never use. I've got by pretty well with Laptop + MIFI (for "no wifi" emergencies, which are rare) + Skype for many years now. The iPhone screen- even the "5"- is just too small for me. So this would likely be an upgrade in terms of portability, one-device instead of 2, etc... all without the ongoing toll to AT&T whether I use LTE/3G or not for months at a time.
The nearest alternative with some appeal? iPhone 4S or maybe 5 on Virgin mobile with their $30/month plan. But that still doesn't solve the "too small" (screen) issue for me.
Incoming calls via VOIP does work but it requires the software to be running. When iPad goes to sleep, VOIP software usually goes to sleep too. So, if you are using it when someone calls, the VOIP software will probably make it a very iPhone-like experience. Otherwise, the call may go to voice mail.
In my case, I just provide my main (home) number and calls go to voice mail. They are then forwarded to me attached to an email (and I can have them converted to text too). Then, I call back those that aren't telemarketers, "vote for...." calls, etc.
For the 911 concern, I always think about how many times I've called 911. Never. So, while it is something to consider, I don't know if it's worth several thousand in contract fees for me. Should such a situation arise, I could always ask anyone else nearby to call 911. If I was alone and needed 911 but couldn't get the LTE/3G going, my goose would probably be cooked unless someone else came along. Then, again, if I'm so out of it I couldn't get the iPad Mini LTE/3G going to call 911, it doesn't seem like I'd be that much more likely to be able to fire up an iPhone and dial it either.
While my situation is not necessarily anyone else's, my thinking goes like this: I could sometimes use a better mobile calling option than Skype via my laptop. I don't want to pay someone like AT&T a couple of thousand dollars over 2 years for the phone-side service I would almost never use. I've got by pretty well with Laptop + MIFI (for "no wifi" emergencies, which are rare) + Skype for many years now. The iPhone screen- even the "5"- is just too small for me. So this would likely be an upgrade in terms of portability, one-device instead of 2, etc... all without the ongoing toll to AT&T whether I use LTE/3G or not for months at a time.
The nearest alternative with some appeal? iPhone 4S or maybe 5 on Virgin mobile with their $30/month plan. But that still doesn't solve the "too small" (screen) issue for me.
Whoa... Why would anyone buy an iPad 2 at $399 over a refurb iPad 3 at $379??
I'm talking about software support, and the 8gb Nexus7 will be supported just like the others, because, besides the memory, the hardware is the exact same. If tomorrow Apple went from 16-32-64 GB to 32-64-128, same price, no one would complain.
Exactly! Retina screen!
And today's benchmarks show that the 2, the 3, and mini and pretty close in speed, except for the 3, which has enhanced GPU for more frame rates in games...
On Samsung S3 you can use the S-Beam, which links two phones with NFC and transfers data via WiFi Direct. Think about it like Bluetooth file transfer on steroids (super fast). It would be far superior to any form of cloud storage or email for heavy files, if the person you want to link to is nearby.
I simply see NFC as an easy and fast way of transferring heavy files between nearby devices, when used with Wifi Direct (like Samsung does). Having devices enabled to record 1080p videos and 8mpx pictures, I'm sure that lots of people would love it. Network-based services are far too unreliable and heavy on the data plan for everything >3MB.
About the other point, I'm just disappointed about the total lack of innovation in the new iPad mini. 20% smaller iPad 2? Really? There are lots of improvement that could be made on that design, but Apple is saving them for next year, so early adopters can fork over more money.
P.S. In the Engadget review, they said that the design could be "too wide for some". This has been a stalemate point for keeping the iPhone screen the same size for 5 years. Now they suddenly forgot and said that, compared to 7" (smaller) tablets, their design is better? Go figure.
Yeah, I was totally shocked when I bought an iPad and then got such apps as GarageBand, FL Studio Mobile HD, Korg iMS20, Sketchbook Pro, Procreate, Photogene, Snapseed, iMovie, and Pages, and not one of them allowed me to create content like they claimed.
You what else is nice to hold?
You know what else is "shockingly nice to hold"? Three Hundred and Twenty Nine Dollars!!!
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Stop telling people the iPad 3 has dropped to $379! I haven't bought one yet!
You know what else is "shockingly nice to hold"? Three Hundred and Twenty Nine Dollars!!!
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Stop telling people the iPad 3 has dropped to $379! I haven't bought one yet!
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Same thing was said about wifi and cellular at one point. Now that's everywhere. If Apple would embrace it in things that sell as fast as iDevices, it would quickly lead to stations at airports, hotels, certain restaurants, Starbucks, etc. And the more units sold with the capability would drive how quickly it shows up in more places.
Right now, many of the hotels that I stay at have the 30-pin connector for iDevices in the rooms. I can charge the "old fashioned" way even through a proprietary connector. Personally, I'd rather accelerate the pace to that particular future where I could leave more accessories at home.
The tech has existed for a few years now. It's just not in anything that sells in the millions. Apple should flex it's leadership muscles and get it going. It seems like their "magical" type of thing.
Need Recommendations..
I have a TouchPad with Android ICS 4.0.4 on it. It works OK for what I need except Flipboard which I desperately neeeeed in the morning with my coffee.
Now, I am planning to dispose of Touchpad and want to buy Ipad Mini. The only issue is it does not run all media files. I have a NAS at home which has ripped versions of many movies/TV shows. I can run probably 10% of those from my iPhone. I can run all(100%) of them from my TouchPad Android using Hipserv and choosing MX Player as Media Player.
iOS has Hipserv available, but it will only allow Apples default media player to run these media files, which only runs very few of them.
Does iOS have any app which will let me run these videos? If not, Nexus 7 is probably my next choice.
Your recommendations are appreciated.
I have a TouchPad with Android ICS 4.0.4 on it. It works OK for what I need except Flipboard which I desperately neeeeed in the morning with my coffee.
Now, I am planning to dispose of Touchpad and want to buy Ipad Mini. The only issue is it does not run all media files. I have a NAS at home which has ripped versions of many movies/TV shows. I can run probably 10% of those from my iPhone. I can run all(100%) of them from my TouchPad Android using Hipserv and choosing MX Player as Media Player.
iOS has Hipserv available, but it will only allow Apples default media player to run these media files, which only runs very few of them.
Does iOS have any app which will let me run these videos? If not, Nexus 7 is probably my next choice.
Your recommendations are appreciated.
Seriously. I posted that I wouldn't like to own one and come back with 5 quote notifications slamming me. Don't post here if you don't agree with wanting one