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How many of you with iPP also have minis?

ssledoux

ssledoux

macrumors 601
Original poster
Sep 16, 2006
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Down south
I have the 12.9" pro and an iPhone 7+. I am really considering an iPad mini 4 mainly to use for reading in bed (I want to be able to comfortably hold it in one hand). I'm sure I'd wind up doing other stuff like checking social media pages, playing a few games, etc. that I do now on my phone.

I LOVE my iPP, and even my Air 2 was bigger than I wanted for just reading and stuff, so I wouldn't want the smaller pro; just wondering if it's stupid to get a mini, or if I should just get a Kindle. Guess I'm just itching to buy something new...
 
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i too have a 12.9 inch Pro and am in the market for a mini, both for gadding about and for vacations. infact, i was hoping we'd see an update last week as i've a Christmas holiday coming up. obviously not :p

so, do i get a mini4 or the possibility of a mini pro next year? for the sake of the potential of a fantastic upgrade over the 4 and the longer longevity over the 4, i'm going to hold on until Apple's spring event see what happens. i know if i buy a mini4 now i'll be well pissed off if it's upgraded early next year possibly.
 
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ha! I'm in the same boat. I was hoping for a Mini Pro to be announced in Oct. That obviously didn't happen. Since the Mini 4 is virtually identical (spec-wise) to the Air 2 and the Air 2 still runs great, I'm keeping an eye out for holiday deals on the Mini 4.

I'm not too concerned about the remaining lifespan of the Mini 4 as it won't be my primary device. If there are no spectacular deals on the Mini 4, I'll wait for the Spring event to see if a Mini Pro materializes and/or a price drop on the Mini 4 happens.

I'm in no rush.
 
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I'm definitely not worried about the specs since it's mainly for books/reading. I could likely get by with a mini 2, but I want to get the lightest weight I can, and I don't want it to be totally obsolete in a year (not that a mini 2 will, but a 4 will buy me a good bit more time).

I'm just thinking aloud trying to figure out if it's really worth it...
 
I've got both the 12.9 as well as a mini4. For awhile I didn't have the mini, I had given my old one to my husband. I was using my kindle to read. But I really missed the mini, so I repurchased one. It's so small and light, I use it at home for general web browsing, email, and use the kindle app at night in bed. I can toss it onto the couch without babying it. The 12.9 I use mostly at work, and at home it will be my second monitor for my mac.
 
ssledoux said:
I have the 12.9" pro and an iPhone 7+. I am really considering an iPad mini 4 mainly to use for reading in bed (I want to be able to comfortably hold it in one hand). I'm sure I'd wind up doing other stuff like checking social media pages, playing a few games, etc. that I do now on my phone.

I LOVE my iPP, and even my Air 2 was bigger than I wanted for just reading and stuff, so I wouldn't want the smaller pro; just wondering if it's stupid to get a mini, or if I should just get a Kindle. Guess I'm just itching to buy something new...
Click to expand...

You have such a nice apple configuration, i am getting my iPhone 7 on Monday and due now for an upgrade on my iPad Air 2 so just waiting for the new iPad Pro 12,9".

I would say the mini for reading in bed, on the sofa or on the deck chair out side would be an excellent addition to your setup!
 
ssledoux said:
I have the 12.9" pro and an iPhone 7+. I am really considering an iPad mini 4 mainly to use for reading in bed (I want to be able to comfortably hold it in one hand). I'm sure I'd wind up doing other stuff like checking social media pages, playing a few games, etc. that I do now on my phone.

I LOVE my iPP, and even my Air 2 was bigger than I wanted for just reading and stuff, so I wouldn't want the smaller pro; just wondering if it's stupid to get a mini, or if I should just get a Kindle. Guess I'm just itching to buy something new...
Click to expand...

I had exactly that thought myself and bought an iPad 4. But after a few days I felt like I couldn't really justify the expense and returned it.
 
Hey!

I have an Ipad 12.9 for work and I bought a mini 4 to read. It's also this one I pick up to surf the web or check things out when I am in bed. It just sits on my night table. Like a (magic) book.

At first I thought it was a false need but I am now really happy with that configuration.
 
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ssledoux said:
I'm definitely not worried about the specs since it's mainly for books/reading. I could likely get by with a mini 2, but I want to get the lightest weight I can, and I don't want it to be totally obsolete in a year (not that a mini 2 will, but a 4 will buy me a good bit more time).

I'm just thinking aloud trying to figure out if it's really worth it...
Click to expand...

I struggled with this question before I bought my first Kindle 5 years ago. I upgraded to the Voyage last year out of want, not need. I love it. My PA appreciated the hand-me-down Kindle and it still works for her.

If this is a reading device, get the Kindle - Voyage or Oasis for better light especially in bed/low light. I don't have an iPP but I do have a regular iPad, a Mini 2, an iPhone 7 and a Kindle Voyage. Reading on the iPad for extended periods is a strain on the eyes. The Kindle is also a MUCH better size and weight to hold for reading if you have smaller hands*.

The Kindle will last you a long while. You have an iPhone 7+ if you really want to do other things. If you read a lot, the Kindle wins every time. I say get the Kindle and test it out for a while. If you buy it now, it falls within the Holiday Return Policy so you have until jan 31, 2017 to return it if you don't like it.

*I'm a New Yorker so one handed device usage is a necessity when riding the subway. :)
 
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A second thumbs up for the Kindle here. I currently have the Voyage, my second Kindle device, and am very happy with it. With wifi off battery life is great, the Kindle has no distractions, no notifications, just a nice reading device that gets out of your way. While I like my Air 2 for reading, the Kindle is still a nicer experience for me. The Origami cover for the Voyage comes highly recommended- and if you want it takes one second to take the case of and the device itself is much lighter than a tablet.
 
E3BK said:
I struggled with this question before I bought my first Kindle 5 years ago. I upgraded to the Voyage last year out of want, not need. I love it. My PA appreciated the hand-me-down Kindle and it still works for her.

If this is a reading device, get the Kindle - Voyage or Oasis for better light especially in bed/low light. I don't have an iPP but I do have a regular iPad, a Mini 2, an iPhone 7 and a Kindle Voyage. Reading on the iPad for extended periods is a strain on the eyes. The Kindle is also a MUCH better size and weight to hold for reading if you have smaller hands*.

The Kindle will last you a long while. You have an iPhone 7+ if you really want to do other things. If you read a lot, the Kindle wins every time. I say get the Kindle and test it out for a while. If you buy it now, it falls within the Holiday Return Policy so you have until jan 31, 2017 to return it if you don't like it.

*I'm a New Yorker so one handed device usage is a necessity when riding the subway. :)
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It doesn't have to be either-or (iPad Mini or Kindle). Getting a Kindle is a no-brainer. A few weeks ago I bought a few Kindle keyboard-editions... Woot was selling them for $15 each. :D
 
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sracer said:
It doesn't have to be either-or (iPad Mini or Kindle). Getting a Kindle is a no-brainer. A few weeks ago I bought a few Kindle keyboard-editions... Woot was selling them for $15 each. :D
Click to expand...

The OP's question was either-or in relation to a reading device specifically.
 
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sracer said:
It doesn't have to be either-or (iPad Mini or Kindle). Getting a Kindle is a no-brainer. A few weeks ago I bought a few Kindle keyboard-editions... Woot was selling them for $15 each. :D
Click to expand...

Nice deal!
 
I originally bought an iPad mini as an e-book reader. I tried a kindle e-ink reader, but many of the documents I want to read are PDF's, and the iPad mini turned out to be much more flexible in that regard. I also use it on the go as a GPS device, for browsing the Internet, and for reading e-mail.

I bought the 12.9 iPad pro, because I'm a teacher and I was looking for a pen device I could use with a projector as a whiteboard as well as a math notebook. I originally tried a Lenovo two in one laptop, but for me at least it was neither as satisfying a laptop as a macbook Air, nor as satisfying a pen-based device as the iPad Pro turned out to be. The iPad pro is also very nice for watching videos, though I wouldn't have bought it just for that.
 
The ipad mini is the hidden gem of the lineup. It is pocketable in all my pants, except my jeans. So, it is easy to take around with you. I got the cell data option on my 128gb mini, so I don't need/want/own a phone. The mini makes a fine mobile companion, with the benefit of running real ipad apps. The screen splitting features in ios 9 and 10 work on the mini. It's great as an e-reader too, as it supports many different reading apps.

If you feel that you don't want to carry around your 12.9, mini is the way to go!
 
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There are definitely times when the 12.9" feels to big and clumsy. For me that doesn't happen often, really only when I catch a bus, which is seldom. I tried our spare mini (1) last time I caught the bus, and the size was good, it was just painfully slow. I don't catch a bus often enough to justify buying a new mini, but I have an iPhone 7 plus on the way and I think that will fill the gap for me.
 
Jim Nasium said:
The ipad mini is the hidden gem of the lineup. It is pocketable in all my pants, except my jeans. So, it is easy to take around with you. I got the cell data option on my 128gb mini, so I don't need/want/own a phone. The mini makes a fine mobile companion, with the benefit of running real ipad apps. The screen splitting features in ios 9 and 10 work on the mini. It's great as an e-reader too, as it supports many different reading apps.

If you feel that you don't want to carry around your 12.9, mini is the way to go!
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How do you not have a phone? Do you not make a lot of calls and just deal with the speaker, or do you always have headphones on?

That's practically what I do, but I still have a phone for when carrying an iPad in your pockets is impractical. And with free phone service on my phone, there's no reason to not also have a phone for me.
 
i cant wait to purchase my first mini. just hope there's a new one out early next year. if not, hopefully there's a fair bit of longevity left in the mini4 as far as ios upgrading goes.

i too dont own a mobile phone :)
 
I have an iPP 12.9 and recently got a hand-me-down iPad Mini 3 (also have a MBP). The 12.9 is great for "serious" consumption and "casual" work (my most serious work is done on the MBP). Casual consumption is done on the iPM and it fills the role superbly (although RAM on the 3 seems to be a bit of an issue as it refreshes apps and tabs too often). I found having the less conspicuous iPM much more practical in certain public settings as well. And occasionally I use the iPM as a second screen for reference when I'm drawing on the iPP. I think it's a great combo for my purposes.
I'm a true small phone user, but if I was inclined to use a plus size phone, I might rethink my need for the iPM.
 
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Just upgraded to iPad Pro 12.9 from iPad Air 2 last week and might sell Air 2 because I already have an 8 inches Android tablet (just much ike a Mini 4). Or should I keep Air 2? It is hard decision for me....
 
Badrottie said:
Just upgraded to iPad Pro 12.9 from iPad Air 2 last week and might sell Air 2 because I already have an 8 inches Android tablet (just much ike a Mini 4). Or should I keep Air 2? It is hard decision for me....
Click to expand...

At the end of the day, that's a personal preference only. Keep what you like, life is short. Get rid of stuff that is not useful for your needs.
 
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