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Why do I NEED/WANT an iPad mini??

vampyr said:
I'm just curious what everyone's justifications are for buying this iPad mini??

Yeah... it's an iPad that is smaller, which may make it easier to carry it around.
Other than that.... is there any other reason to get a mini?

It doesn't do anything differently than the iPhone or the iPad. And other than Apple using some sly marketing words to describe it: "Remarkable" "Amazing" "Incredible" "Rich, Immersive" "Powerful" "Beautiful" "A concentration of, not a reduction of..."

I guess what I'm trying to ask is.. is there anything that the iPad mini would allow you to accomplish that you cannot do on any other device??
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I barely use my ipad 2, and find myself using my kindle fire HD the most. Why? well i use a tablet for mainly reading, light web browsing (Fire sucked for this), and reviewing work docs.

The Ipad Mini hits a big market of commuters/travelers. I fly about once a week for work, and i see tons of people using ipads more rather than laptops. The Ipad Mini will be even better for people like me.

So no it doesn't do anything that i can't do on another device, but it does the same stuff as the ipad 2 in a smaller/lighter form factor, which is important for me. I try to keep my bag as light as possible. MBA 11 or thinkpad X230 + Ipad Mini = Road Warrior's bag.
 
I'm invested in the Apple ecosystem. I have an iPhone and and MBA. iCloud, Photostream, etc. I have hundreds of apps, many bought. I need to keep the iPad. But I wanted it smaller and lighter. And Apple listened and gave me the mini. That's why I'm buying it.
 
The only real complaint I have for the iPad 3 is it's too heavy to hold single handed for reading for long periods. The iPad mini looks like it will fix this and keep most of the advantages of the iPad so I'm going to get one to try it out.

As some as the full iPad gets down to .68lbs, I'll chuck the mini and go back. ;)
 
Very small and light for reading or light browsing. The ipad is better as an all around computing device.
Also easier to throw in a bag or for the kids to play on.
I have an ipad 3 that I'm extremely happy with. I'm expecting the mini to augment not replace the ipad. If I had to choose one, I'd do an ipad 3/4.
 
vampyr said:
I guess what I'm trying to ask is.. is there anything that the iPad mini would allow you to accomplish that you cannot do on any other device??
Click to expand...

Nope. I'm replacing an iPad 2 with it simply for the ease of one hand use. I read a lot of PDF manuals and Kindle fiction books on my iPad... it is too heavy/awkward to hold one handed for long periods of time. I can't wait to get the mini as the iPad is my number one travel tool.
 
If the mini only had the retina display I would buy it in a second. The mini makes more sense, it's smaller and lighter.
 
jessica. said:
Nope. And I don't buy a single item if I have to justify it that much ... or at all.
The iPad will perform similar to the large iPad and iPhone. You're not going to get some feature that is not on the larger iPad other than the fact that it is smaller and easier to hold with one hand.
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Agreed. I've been trying to find a justification to buy the iPad mini just because I have a disease that involves me having to own the latest and greatest of everything. But now that I'm engaged, I have a bit more personal responsibility holding me back from spending money on toys willy-nilly just for the sake of owning them. That being said, I'm waiting til rev 2.
 
Skika said:
Cheaper, thinner, lighter more portable. With all the benefits and more of an iPad 2.

What else do you need?

( this reason are for someone that doesnt have an iPad )
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Yeah same performance level as iPad 2, with the horsepower, plus better camera. Will definitely have to try it in store.
 
Size and size alone are the determining factors in my decision to get one.

Previously I owned an iPad gen 1, loved the device, but reading on it was not so great - it's heft and size were just not comfortable after awhile. Since then I bought a Kindle, and I love, love, love my Kindle. The size is great, the weight is great, but it displays PDFs poorly, and does nothing else.

Now I have an 11" MBA, which is a fantastic laptop, just the size I wanted - excellent specs so it functions extremely well, plus it's so light weight it's hardly noticeable when I throw it in my bag. One thing, however, it (and my desktop iMac) don't do well, is allow you to read book comfortably, and what I read more than anything for school is PDFs - I end up printing them out so I can read them more comfortably and freely.

I could get an iPad 3/4, which would be wonderful, especially for the retina screen, but again, the weight and size are not perfect - it would seem to be a bit silly to throw my MBA in my bag, then include a full-sized iPad in the bag - they are both such portable devices, it would almost seem redundant to be adding so much weight in devices to my bag, defeating the purpose of having and favouring devices that are small.

The iPad mini complements so well and is a perfect companion to the devices I own.
 
I can't image the reason I would need a smaller ipad. Unless I was using it take swipe credits for payment and didnt want employees carrying a big pad. Other than that, the 10" is perfect size.
 
Of course there isn't anything you can do on the Mini that you can't on the regular one. Its smaller, that's the point. Why do some people prefer the 11" air to the 13" Air? It's smaller.
 
I can be honest and say I've have zero reason to buy any of the iPad buts I've bought every gen since they were introduced. Minus the 4th gen so instead i got a mini. I enjoy grabbing whatever new device comes out from apple. Guess I'm a fanboy. Do I use the iPad? Yeah but not really for all the main selling points. Other then web surfing or watching YouTube/Netflix it never leaves the house. I barely use apps on it. Maybe that will change with the size of the mini.
 
If you think about their device lineup in terms of "how is this used?", the ipad mini's size and weight ultimately makes a lot more sense. You're not actually losing any usable screen space with the mini, and that will become even more apparent once it manages to get a retina display.

The iphone: "Hold and use with one hand"

The ipad: "Hold with one hand, use with the other. And sometimes your thumb."

The larger iPad?: "Hold with one hand... for a short period of time."

In this sense, the compromise is clear. And if the ipad mini can actually prove to be every bit as immersive as the larger one's screen, partly by virtue of its superior handling, then it's pretty clear what the future of the ipad line will look like.

In terms of how I actually plan to use the thing, it's going in my jacket. Everywhere. It will augment my storage, provide a superior medium for games and multimedia when the opportunity strikes, and save my phone's battery. In other words, I think of it as the ultimate iphone accessory.
 
I need/want an iPad mini for the same reason I needed/wanted the original iPad. In my job as a director/choreographer I used to have to lug around a full script and score as well as my MacBook Pro to show photos and research, refer to video clips, take notes and walk around giving them. The original iPad was a godsend that consolidated all of those tasks into a single device with a form factor that was (relatively) lightweight and easier to use. Try walking around backstage at a large theater with your Macbook Pro propped open so you can read your notes. Even though I upgraded to the iPad 3 earlier this year, I just ordered a mini because I am confident I will be able to accomplish all the same tasks with now, an even smaller and lighter device (it's thinner than the iP5) that will fit in a jacket pocket. (Yes, I tested a cardboard cut out and it worked in all my suit jackets).

Now, I know I have a fairly unique job, but I have no doubt that there are loads of professionals who need to be fairly mobile in their profession (like doctors) who will jump on the chance to have a fully functioning iPad in a smaller package. Add in those who will buy it for the cheaper price, or as a multi-functional e-reader, and I think we're looking at a what's going to be a pretty popular device.

-and by the way, I'm thrilled to be getting it now, because if history is any indication, it will only get heavier when they finally give it a retina screen. I'll have to decide when the the time comes if there is an increase in weight, whether it will be worth it for the retina.
 
Skika said:
Cheaper, thinner, lighter more portable. With all the benefits and more of an iPad 2.

What else do you need?

( this reason are for someone that doesnt have an iPad )
Click to expand...

Other than a pointless HD Facetime camera it has no benifits over Ipad 2.

Ipad 2 was never "big" in the first place. It's one of the thinnest tablets to date yes thinner than Ipad 3 and 4! :p
 
This thread reminds me of the iPad's original release, with everyone asking "Why would you want a big iPod Touch?"

If you already own an iPad, you probably won't want a mini. Simple as that. How many people personally own a 13" and 15" Macbook Pro? or an 11" and 13" Air? No one does.

As for me though, I am selling my current iPad as I just don't use it that much because of its size - I own an 11" MBA as well and typically just end up taking both with me, and even then I end up using the Air instead.

The mini for me will serve the iPad's main purpose for me better - reading, simply because it weighs less. Plus it will still do all the other small tasks that I prefer to use my iPad for.
 
I wanted to buy it for my 6 year old because I like the size and the fact that Apple has many apps and that I've had a great experience using their OS on my MBP. We don't own any iPads or iPhones. The mini will be a first!
 
These types of threads are getting tired. If you really have to think about why you need/want something, you really shouldn't get it.
 
vampyr said:
I guess what I'm trying to ask is.. is there anything that the iPad mini would allow you to accomplish that you cannot do on any other device??
Click to expand...
The same question could be asked of the MBA vs the MBP. It's not always about what a product can do that determines its value. It's often more a out how the product fits into the way we want to do things. I don't need A6X performance to read e-books or surf the web. Retina would be nice but I've done just fine with my iPad2 so far. When I'm reading in bed I've never thought "I really wish this iPad2 had a faster processor, but I have thought "I wish it was a bit lighter."
 
People dont really want a smaller iPad.

They want one that is thinner and lighter thus easier to hold with 1 hand.


The iPad mini is for kids. Cheaper Price point to get into an iPad which will be great for taking to school.


Us Apple lovers are waiting on the iPad 5 which will incorporate everything Apple learned from doing the iPhone 5

If we want a smaller screen then an iPad we have our phones.
 
Powrie said:
People dont really want a smaller iPad.

They want one that is thinner and lighter thus easier to hold with 1 hand.


The iPad mini is for kids. Cheaper Price point to get into an iPad which will be great for taking to school.


Us Apple lovers are waiting on the iPad 5 which will incorporate everything Apple learned from doing the iPhone 5

If we want a smaller screen then an iPad we have our phones.
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Uh actually I do like a 6-7 inch size for novel reading. I read on my iPhone in waiting rooms and out and about but trust me that is not the size I would grab to read in bed at home. Nor is it the full size iPad. it would be my ~9oz 7inch e-ink reader. or an iPad mini if I want color and pictures and web browsing on top. maybe if full sized iPad was 10oz too, but you know that day is not coming any time soon, if ever.
 
Yr Blues said:
folks like you don't account for novel sized reading

jeez :mad::mad:
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The current mini is bad as a reader because it does not have Retina display yet.

So its only good for kids who want a small cheap iPad.


When the 2nd gen iPad mini comes out with Retina display then I would say its good to get for an E-reader. But not till then.


Besides when Apple comes out with the thinner and lighter iPad 5 it will be so much easier to hold and use. It will be very enjoyable to read on.
 
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