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Will you buy the mini without retina?

To retina or not to retina that is the question!

  • I will buy the ipad mini even though it isn't retina

    Votes: 33 32.0%

  • The mini without retina doesn't hold any interest for me!

    Votes: 60 58.3%

  • I will get the revised ipad 3 instead

    Votes: 10 9.7%
  • Total voters
    103
kristoffer4

kristoffer4

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jan 17, 2006
1,032
157
Denmark
If you are interessed in the mini ipad would you buy it even though it turns out it doesn't have a retina display?
Or will you consider a revised ipad 3 instead?

For my part I won't buy the mini if it isn't retina. I will get a current or revised ipad 3 instead.
 
Not really any interest at all...
More like if it's just a shrunk iPad 2, then it doesn't hold any interest.
 
I've decided it's about time to buy my first iPad, but these are confusing times. I would look real hard at the Mini with a Retina. Without it, I'll pass. You know that the Mini WILL have retina next year so why buy something with a screen that's a throwback to the pre-iPhone 4 days?

I also didn't choose the rebooted iPad 3 because this is just way way too close to the March iPad 4 debut. I would feel like a chump to plunk down $500+ on a revised 3 just to watch a glorious 4 come out for the same price 3 months later. Of course, the question becomes: would a revised iPad 3 mean there IS no iPad 4 in March? See? Confusing. Since this is a lot of money to me, I feel it's best to just hold off and realize that this may be an expensive toy I don't need. All their secrecy and mixed signals is making a lot of us stay away altogether.

[P.S. I find it amusing that at the bottom of this page is a big old Microsoft Surface banner ad. LOL!]
 
jigzaw said:
I've decided it's about time to buy my first iPad, but these are confusing times. I would look real hard at the Mini with a Retina. Without it, I'll pass. You know that the Mini WILL have retina next year so why buy something with a screen that's a throwback to the pre-iPhone 4 days?

I also didn't choose the rebooted iPad 3 because this is just way way too close to the March iPad 4 debut. I would feel like a chump to plunk down $500+ on a revised 3 just to watch a glorious 4 come out for the same price 3 months later. Of course, the question becomes: would a revised iPad 3 mean there IS no iPad 4 in March? See? Confusing. Since this is a lot of money to me, I feel it's best to just hold off and realize that this may be an expensive toy I don't need. All their secrecy and mixed signals is making a lot of us stay away altogether.

[P.S. I find it amusing that at the bottom of this page is a big old Microsoft Surface banner ad. LOL!]
Click to expand...

Who knows. Maybe this revised 3 means a revised iPad schedule. All iPads will now be announced in October.

I'll buy a mini most likely. I like the smaller form factor. Makes it easier to fit into lab coat pockets.
 
At first I was thinking "NEVER", but I've changed my mind recently. Even if the iPad Mini had Retina, it still isn't the iPad I intend to own for more than a year. And since Ive downgraded from an iPad 3 to an iPad 2 for the last few months and havent noticed a major difference then I could easily live with a non-retina screen.
 
urkel said:
At first I was thinking "NEVER", but I've changed my mind recently. Even if the iPad Mini had Retina, it still isn't the iPad I intend to own for more than a year. And since Ive downgraded from an iPad 3 to an iPad 2 for the last few months and havent noticed a major difference then I could easily live with a non-retina screen.
Click to expand...
Even if it won't be retina on iPad 3 level, it still will have a lot more pixel density than iPad 2, due to the fact of possesing smaller screen. I think it might be some kind of a semi-retina or something. Not quite as good as iPad 3 retina, but better than iPad 2.
 
Yes. Pixel density is better, so smaller size will look better. Plus, it's great as a point-of-service machine to use with Square. :)
 
Unless it's light as a feather, I wouldn't buy it at $249, $299, or $329. At $199 I'd maybe give it some thought but it wouldn't be an automatic buy.
 
Yes definately. Been waiting for a smaller sized iPad since the first came out. Have no problem with my Nook Color (2010) nor with my hubby's iPad 2. I'd definitely buy it as it fits my needs... and I don't think the iPad2-screen is too bad (besides it's better on a mini because of the smaller size) even for longer reading. At least for me.
 
The people I would buy a tablet for are people I love. I have an iPad 3 with retina, why would I gift people I care about with a device that has an inferior screen when I can at least gift them with a Kindle Fire HD for significantly less money?

Many of the tablets being marketed are similar when it comes to hardware, the screen quality IMHO is the make it or break it factor in my purchasing decisions. Of tablets that are currently on sale ipad 3 dominates the larger screen, the Samsung Galaxy 7.7 inch tab & 7 inch Kindle Fire HD own the 7 inch category. Cupertino needs to bring better features & screen quality that is at least as good as these devices, particularly if they e pact to charge$329 for a base model.
 
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urkel said:
At first I was thinking "NEVER", but I've changed my mind recently. Even if the iPad Mini had Retina, it still isn't the iPad I intend to own for more than a year. And since Ive downgraded from an iPad 3 to an iPad 2 for the last few months and havent noticed a major difference then I could easily live with a non-retina screen.
Click to expand...

There's about 30 ppi difference between iPhone <4 and ipad 2. (163 to 132) so the ipad mini screen (if it is what we think it will be) will still look a lot better than the ipad 2. Especially if they use the new igzo displays.
 
I am VERY interested in the mini, very excited about significantly improved portability. I love my "the new iPad" but don't take it outside the home too often because of its size.

However, that being said, I will NOT purchase a iPad mini if it does not have a retina display. Apple has spoiled me with retina quality screens and therefore any non-retina display looks pixelated to me. I have a really hard time believing that Apple would backtrack and introduce a new product with a screen worse than they are introducing on updated versions of their existing products...
 
GBR said:
I am VERY interested in the mini, very excited about significantly improved portability. I love my "the new iPad" but don't take it outside the home too often because of its size.

However, that being said, I will NOT purchase a iPad mini if it does not have a retina display. Apple has spoiled me with retina quality screens and therefore any non-retina display looks pixelated to me. I have a really hard time believing that Apple would backtrack and introduce a new product with a screen worse than they are introducing on updated versions of their existing products...
Click to expand...


It won't have retina. Apple is saving that for the next gen. Mini. That's how apple does things.
 
Let me see... I have an iPhone 5 with retina display, an iPad 3 with retina display, as well as a Macbook Pro with retina display. All of these devices have extremely sharp font textures which enhance readability tremendously.

Now does the new iPad mini NEED retina? Frankly yes. If you can produce larger size panels with retina, you can do the same with this size. My guess is that if there is no retina display when launched, it will be updated with a retina display as a feature selling point in April or next October.

I want something lighter to read in bed than the iPad 3, and with a very sharp text display. Been looking at the Kindle Paperwhite for books, but not settled yet until I see what they do with the iPad mini. Honestly in my opinion, the text on the new iPad mini should compare very favorably to that device or there isn't much reason to waste my money.

It needs to be more than just a larger iPod touch or smaller iPad 3. So I'm curious what will be the feature selling point?
 
IMO- If you have a ipad 3- keep it- deal with the size and enjoy it until:
The mini-2 is released with retina.
If you buy the non-retina now- you will regret it next year.

The fun will be listening to Apple explain why the mini doesn't need a retina.
And then praise it as the second coming when next year it gets one.
 
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Scott2345 said:
It won't have retina. Apple is saving that for the next gen. Mini. That's how apple does things.
Click to expand...

I disagree, especially if they are focusing on iBooks with the mini it wouldn't make sense for it not to be Retina as text is really where Retina is amazing. Lets take a look at the current iBook options from Apple: Retina iPod Touch, Retina iPhone 5/4s, Retina iPad. To add a "Non-Retina iPad Mini" right in the middle would be insane and Apple would be slaughtered by the tech media.

Also lets look at the other possible releases at this Apple Special Event. Retina 13" MacBook Pro, redesigned Retina New iPad... To release two updated products with Retina and not offer that on the main new product release at that same media event... Wont happen.
 
Bokes said:
That said- I'm sure I will walk into the Apple store - look over the mini and buy it on the spot. And that's what Apple is counting on.
Click to expand...

Good luck with that. You pretty much can't do that with any Apple product release within the first few weeks. And online orders slip quickly to 3-4 weeks.

So I presume you mean theoretically after the hype dies down, that's what Apple expects. I'm personally not sold yet, and Apple has been known to surprise people. So I'm still waiting to see what Tim says tomorrow before making a final absolute decision on the mini.

(Shouldn't it be an iPad nano, not mini?)
 
Swampthing said:
Good luck with that. You pretty much can't do that with any Apple product release within the first few weeks. And online orders slip quickly to 3-4 weeks.

So I presume you mean theoretically after the hype dies down, that's what Apple expects. I'm personally not sold yet, and Apple has been known to surprise people. So I'm still waiting to see what Tim says tomorrow before making a final absolute decision on the mini.

(Shouldn't it be an iPad nano, not mini?)
Click to expand...

You could walk into stores days after the iPad 3 was released and get one. They had plenty of stock all over, even Best Buy.
 
For $50 maybe.

But seeing as how retina quality mobile displays are 2010 era tech, releasing less than that in almost 2013 for a new product is silly.
 
GBR said:
I disagree, especially if they are focusing on iBooks with the mini it wouldn't make sense for it not to be Retina as text is really where Retina is amazing.
Click to expand...
Not to mention the minimum storage capacity seems to be a bit low considering how huge some of those media heavy iBooks are. Plus, I desperately want an iPad Mini for myself but the lack of retina (to reduce eye strain) and the size (its a bit small for a k-12 textbook) makes it less ideal for long reading.

While I do feel tablets will eventually replace textbooks, it seems that for now its just not ready. Not enough storage, not cheap enough and no retina. (Personally, for my kids I'd actually prefer a 9" Kindle PaperWhite type of device and since Apple is in the book market I wouldnt mind them making a dedicated Apple reader like that)
 
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