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iPad mini Now that the verdict is in: Will you be keeping your ipad mini?

Will you be keeping your ipad mini?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 216 68.6%

  • No

    Votes: 55 17.5%

  • Undecided

    Votes: 43 13.7%
  • Total voters
    315
kmanmx said:
I've got it all wrong for so long. Every year I was concerned with processor speed, graphics speed. And every year I got a new iPad and after a while I just stopped using it. And each year, I thought the new specs would make all the difference. But it never did.

I was a little dubious about buying the mini. But the second I powered it up while holding it in one hand, I came to a startling conclusion: this is the iPad they should have made all along. Suddenly it's clear, the internal specs are not nearly as important as I once thought. The fact that I can pick up this light, slim device easily and comfortably is totally refreshing and makes it an absolute pleasure to use. When I use an iPad 3 now, it feels labored.

I'm not for one moment saying that I wouldn't prefer an A6X and Retina display (Who wouldn't ?). But what I am saying is for me atleast, this seems like a perfect form factor. And that form factor plays a far greater role in likability than I ever imagined until the second I picked it up.
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I only played with a mini this evening but I agree it just seems awesome. I do think that many including myself get all caught up in the hype of a new gadget that we sometimes like it more initially and less later on realize that it isn't what we need. I like the feel of the mini but I need a larger Ipad to view the web more comfortably. The Nexus 7 and the mini are a bit too small for me.
 
Alright. I voted undecided and I've been a very vocal hater on the non-retina screen, but I change my vote to Yes, I'm keeping it. I kinda love it. I don't love the slightly blurry font and I *do* notice it whenever I read anything or even look at apps on the home screen, but it's so thin and light and I love that everything on my iPhone transitions so easily onto the iPad. and it's a great device for Facetime. I do think it's actually a bit bigger than I'd like--I like the screen estate, but it's not comfortable to hold one-handed for me very well as I have small hands BUT I like the way web pages show, etc. I think it's quite interesting that Apple went with a 7.9inch screen significantly larger than the competition.. it's definitely nice for screen real estate but it makes it less portable (yes, it's very thin and light and very portable, BUT if the whole point of a 7" device is portability, well, some could view the screen size as a negative--and I've noticed people on other forums who do think that it is a negative in a device meant to be portable) and in some ways I think it makes cannibalization of the full-sized iPad even more likely. In fact, I don't miss the screen size of the full iPad at all while using this. it's a great size for browsing the web, reading, playing games. and I certainly don't miss the weight.

I'm almost starting to think Apple won't put Retina in just to be contrary/save costs/and try to make the bigger iPad more special. Because honestly, the bigger iPad does not seem that special to me in comparison right now. Other than the retina. and the speed, yes--I've had a few apps crash on me, sadly, and web pages don't render very quickly, I bet iPad 4 and iPhone 5 do a lot better in that regard.. but again, there's a tradeoff here and the trade off is way better browsing device than iPhone and WAY lighter than iPad.
 
Keeping it, best iPad yet. Glad I dumped my Nexus 7 to get it. Speakers are great, I can type faster and more accurately on it, all my old iPad apps are on it, iPhone 5 coming UPS next Friday....good week.
 
Lindenhurst said:
I agree it is a sweet device but for the last 6 months all I have been reading is how retina is all that, and now that the Mini is out, people are willing to settle for non retina.
This time next year the Mini will be crap, and the retina Mini will be king.

So predictable.

Remember how we all loved the Ipad 1 when it first came out?

I guess that's just the way things progress.
Click to expand...

I know the retina is what a lot of people when crazy for, but honestly when I got my 3 I was sorry I moved from the 2. I really don't use the iPad for gaming or movie watching so the the improved screen was not a biggie for me. When friends asked me which one to buy I told them I would get another 2 (because of price) and explained why to me the screen wasn't a big deal. Everybody wants or needs something different, but this mini fits me prefect!
Having said that I will agree that next years will be even better!
 
I think the whole retina thing is an enthusiast/blogger thing. Most normal people can barely tell the difference. I remember when I first got the iPad 3 I showed it to my friends and family as I was so excited about "retina". They looked at me, the looked at my two iPads side by side (2 & 3), and looked back at me puzzled.

"They look the same."

If you looked hard and long enough you could maybe notice the sharper text, but to hear some posters here its like the iPad 2 is "horrible", "unusable", "gives me headaches", etc.

Oh please. Grow up.

The iPad 2 was "magical".

The iPad mini is a little magical. Simple.
 
At the entry price point I think apple will sell a bunch this holiday season. I have already showed 5 people my iPad mini and when I told me it was 329 they all soon that is not bad at all. That has not been the same reaction when talking about 500 dollar tablets. I think it def has its place in the lineup. Loving mine so far!

Typed on my iPad mini
 
Planning on swapping mines for an lte version but not switching to the mini full time. I'm keeping my ipad 3 for the time being as well. I do text heavy things on my iPads mainly and the blury text is noticble. It may be because text is much smaller size wise compared to the bigger one, but without zooming in a bit, text doesn't look good. Everything else I don't really notice a huge difference.
 
Originally I was going to keep it, but took it back for an ipad4 and the screen difference is seriously night and day
 
Is the 4 heavier than the 3? I have both a 2 and 3 and they get uncomfortable to hold for extended periods of time especially when lying down and using them.
 
I like the size of it, but I think the iPad 4 is more for me. I got this for web surfing and media music movies, etc...

I honestly won't be carrying it around much. I'm gonna return it today.

Plus, the screen is a detriment also. I could live with it, but not for this much $$$.
 
I've now spent three hours using the Mini. I had originally voted "undecided" but am changing my vote to "no". I suspect that if I hadn't gone from an iPad 2 to an iPad 3 and experienced the clarity, I wouldn't be so disturbed by the screen quality. I do love the form factor, but I read a LOT, and this is simply not acceptable to ME. I am going to wait until they bring out a Mini with retina, whenever that may be.
 
ZBoater said:
I think the whole retina thing is an enthusiast/blogger thing. Most normal people can barely tell the difference. I remember when I first got the iPad 3 I showed it to my friends and family as I was so excited about "retina". They looked at me, the looked at my two iPads side by side (2 & 3), and looked back at me puzzled.

"They look the same."

If you looked hard and long enough you could maybe notice the sharper text, but to hear some posters here its like the iPad 2 is "horrible", "unusable", "gives me headaches", etc.

Oh please. Grow up.

The iPad 2 was "magical".

The iPad mini is a little magical. Simple.
Click to expand...

exactly my experience with 5 friends i showed it to so far....It's a MR thing....
 
mattopotamus said:
Originally I was going to keep it, but took it back for an ipad4 and the screen difference is seriously night and day
Click to expand...

I'm seeing this more people upbuying from the Mini. I predicted this would happen... that the Mini would drive sales to the iPad full size... because people would get a taste of a tablet and then go for the full size with Retina.

I look at the Mini as a piece of junk lender car while the Porsche is in the garage getting fixed.
 
I bought this device knowing that it doesn't have a retina screen. I have an iPhone 5 and 3rd gen iPad. Yes, even though the screen of the mini is not as crisp, it is replacing my 3rd gen iPad because I really want a tablet that is big enough for ebook reading and running apps I use for work and still small enough to fit in my little bag/light enough to carry around.
 
lamonsas said:
killer battery life? lol the ipad 4 and the mini have the same battery :rolleyes:

i dont know about ya'll but i love my iPad 4, super fast and beautiful retina display.
Click to expand...

Huh? The question was if I'm keeping the mini. I don't have any other iPad, so stop trying to contextualize the question based on your idea of "it's either ipad mini or ipad 4" jeez... for me it's mini or nothing. I have a macbook air 11", why the hell do I want to carry your beastly huge full size ipad? You can have your full size.

And no, the real life results have shown the mini lasts longer in practical use... but who cares? The funny part is you probably have a 16gb model and compress the video to a 480p resolution and are singing the "retina display" song without even knowing what you're talking about.

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joshwithachance said:
I am most definitely keeping mine. Beside the iPhone 5, this may be my favorite Apple product yet! The size is flawless, the weight is just amazing, and the screen isn't all that bad in actuality. With this form factor the iPad finally feels like it properly bridges the gap between my iPhone 5 and MacBook Pro.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree with you more.
 
I'm going to keep the mini only because of the size. I will truly appreciate a better display she they end up updating to 2nd gen.
 
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