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It's gonna be very hard to decide between the Air and the Retina mini for me. Can't wait to try them both at the Apple store. I just wished they increased the RAM for easier web browsing and multitasking.
 
2GB RAM, 2560 x 1600 pixels, 10.1 inches (~299 ppi pixel density), Corning Gorilla Glass 2, 1.9 MP Front Cam, Dual-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A15 (this beats many quad core Android processors even)

VS

1GB RAM, 1536 x 2048 pixels, 9.7 inches (~264 ppi pixel density), No Gorilla Glass, 1.2MP front cam, Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cyclone Processor

I do concede that the Nexus 10 is heavier and thicker than iPad Air and battery life is 1hr less but that's because it's pushing more pixels and it's more powerful. Keep in mind the Nexus 10 is ONE YEAR older which is like a light year for tech. The new Nexus 10 that will be released in the next few days will blow iPad Air out of the water on pure specs no question. I'm not saying the experience will be as pleasant though. We'll have to see.

Where did you get the 1GB RAM info. As far as I can tell that spec has not been made public yet.

edit -- I see this has been addressed by others already. haven't read through the whole thread yet.
 
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Anyone know of a good iPad keyboard case for the new iPad air? I know it'll be a bit before companies make new ones that are compatible, but surely there are some good recommendations from previous generations?
 
I regularly use an iPad, Macbook Air, ATV, etc. I also use a Windows desktop, Android phone, Roku streaming box, etc. I don't see the desperation to be acknowledged as "best" on Android or Roku forums. I don't read Windows forums, so I can't comment on them. :eek: I think it has to do with interoperability in the end. I can use Google, Amazon, or Spotify services across any platform I want. But Apple locks you in. When locked into Apple services, it's really important to believe that the devices are the best too.

That's not true at all. Those same Google services that you mention can be used on your iPad as well. In addition, there's a whole additional layer of free Apple services. There's nothing at all "locked in" about it. Very few apps are turned down by the App store. Do you expect Apple to spend money to make its software available to other platforms? They're not advertisement driven, like Google. They make money off of hardware. Even so, iCloud syncs to my PC. iTunes and Safari run on my PC. What more do you want?
 
Seeing as how my iPad stays at home 99%, I'd want touch ID to prevent family from seeing my browsing history. It would be bad.

LOL, but if they see you have it locked all the time, their imagination will come up with far worse than is actually on there. :p
 
Agreed. I believe that a more useful feature would be separate user accounts.

The iPads get shared a lot in my home, just as the Macs do. I don't get why Apple has not done this yet. There has to be a better way to control access to mature/adult content than to have my kids run to me every time they want to download an app or me have to enable/disable restrictions...

It may have to do with storage. Multiple accounts means your iPad gets full quickly with different apps/media. Maybe they will when their entry lever will start at 32GB.
 
I'm excited about the new versions. Lack of the touch id is not a consideration - I hate it so much on the iPhone that I finally shut it off.
 
It's gonna be very hard to decide between the Air and the Retina mini for me. Can't wait to try them both at the Apple store. I just wished they increased the RAM for easier web browsing and multitasking.

For $100 more, rather buy the iPad Air.
 
That's not true at all. Those same Google services that you mention can be used on your iPad as well. In addition, there's a whole additional layer of free Apple services. There's nothing at all "locked in" about it. Very few apps are turned down by the App store. Do you expect Apple to spend money to make its software available to other platforms? They're not advertisement driven, like Google. They make money off of hardware. Even so, iCloud syncs to my PC. iTunes and Safari run on my PC. What more do you want?

I probably wasn't clear enough. Apple devices do a great job of supporting other services. Apple services are locked down so they cannot be supported on other devices. Here are some examples:

1. Music in iTunes cloud storage can only be played back on Apple devices. Music stored on Google or Amazon cloud can be played back on many different devices and operating systems.

2. Movies stored in iTunes can only be played back on Apple devices. Movies stored in Amazon or Vudu can be played back on many different devices.

3. Books purchased in iBooks can only be read on Apple devices. Kindle and Nook books can be read on many different devices.

A real world example is the HD & Home Theater podcast. One guy (Ara) is always saying he is locked into Apple's ecosystem so he can't personally speak to many of the devices and services they evaluate. Luckily the other guy (Braden) is more device agnostic and offers more personal insight into new devices and services, and how they compare.

There are advantages to an all-Apple approach. The point of my post is that those people tend to make Apple-to-Apple comparisons and decisions rather than looking across vendors. To Siegler, the spec jump of the iPad mini is unfathomable. To many of us, it was catch up.

I was psyched when I originally heard the iPhone 5 would get a bigger screen. My iPhone 4 contract was up and I was ready to jump on board until I held it. Only then did I realize that taller but not wider didn't make the screen more readable for text and web pages. If I was Apple only, I'd have to accept that compromise, but I switched to Android and love the bigger screen and Android's features/flexibility on a phone. On the other hand, the iPad is still light years away from Android tablets, so I have an iPad 1, 3, and will buy a 5. The fact that I don't use iTunes or Apple's cloud services enables me to switch around at will without worry.
 
Fantastic choice by Apple to not skimp out on the Mini and give it a A6 processor, these two new ARMv8 tablets and the 5S will surely get the 64 bit iOS ecosystem up and running very smoothly in no time since all three use the same exact CPU.

I have the 2013 N7 and I want the retina iPad mini
 
Maybe i'm wrong here, but Apple stated in the keynote, "The new iPas mini comes with Retina display ...... It has the sane number of pixels as the ipad Air..."

No it doesn't

While it's true, both have 2048x1536, the Air only has 264ppi, while the mini Retina has 326ppi.

Therefore, the smaller display, while lighter as well at only 331g, its also more "Bang for your buck" since it's also cheaper, (not to mention better images)

Overall. Ipad mini with Retina, is a better all- round deal than the iPad Air.

Anyone care to agree?
 
Maybe i'm wrong here, but Apple stated in the keynote, "The new iPas mini comes with Retina display ...... It has the sane number of pixels as the ipad Air..."

No it doesn't

While it's true, both have 2048x1536,

Imma stop you right there. That's EXACTLY what "the same number of pixels" mean.
 
Ok.. But iPad Air has 264ppi, while the iPad mini with retina has 326ppi.

Better overall.
That is correct. Same number of pixel, different density.

Yes, the only thing separating the mini and the air now is the size. For me as a DJ, I need the bigger size screen so the choice is easy for me. It all depends on your use-case.
 
Ok.. But iPad Air has 264ppi, while the iPad mini with retina has 326ppi.

Better overall.

That's like saying a 40 inch tv is better than a 50 inch because it has a higher pixel density. Totally depends on preference of size vs density. Not better, just different.
 
I was considering getting the HP 11 Chromebook as a portable way of taking notes in class, but it looks like I might just get the iPad Air or iPad Mini instead! I had the original iPad and I loathed it after the first year because it was so ungodly slow. Might have to give iPad a second chance.
the honest thing to do is compare them side by side and consider if its worth paying 3 times more for apple products and ending up with no privacy.

Ipads really do not provide full computer experience yet, sadly they could but.... apples marketing strategy works this way
 
Where did you get the 1GB RAM info. As far as I can tell that spec has not been made public yet.

edit -- I see this has been addressed by others already. haven't read through the whole thread yet.

It hasn't. I have asked apple twice and they said that it is has not been confirmed.
 
My 2 year old has an iPad 3 with her name engraved on it. Already knows her ABC's.

Good for you :)

My point is that my son is really, really, REALLY into Cars and Cars 2 right now.

You took that as some sort of opportunity to point out what you did, for some reason. Says a lot more about you than anything else, TBH.
 
Maybe i'm wrong here, but Apple stated in the keynote, "The new iPas mini comes with Retina display ...... It has the sane number of pixels as the ipad Air..."

No it doesn't

While it's true, both have 2048x1536, the Air only has 264ppi, while the mini Retina has 326ppi.

Therefore, the smaller display, while lighter as well at only 331g, its also more "Bang for your buck" since it's also cheaper, (not to mention better images)

Overall. Ipad mini with Retina, is a better all- round deal than the iPad Air.

Anyone care to agree?

I would disagree if you need to put it on edge and show it to a bunch of people around a table all at the same time. Then physical size is more important.
 
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