iPad Mini

Blotto The Clown wrote:

I dont actually want another full size ipad. I was initially going to grab a kindle, but then the mini came out. I do a lot of reading, but it would be great to have access to all my iphone/ipad apps still. /sigh

I did a bit more reading, most reviews are pretty down on it. The verge liked it, gizmodo, cult of mac, and a a couple others are most definitely NOT fans. Dont much feel like waiting for next years edition, maybe a refurb ipad 3 is the answer.

I don't know what the risk would be -- you know exactly what the Mini *is* and *isn't*. If you want a smaller sized iPad and are OK with the screen resolution, then go for it. A Fire or a Nexus might be cheaper and have better specs in some areas, but they're still not going to satisfy if you want the iOS infrastructure.

If you want it AND have the money, go for it.

So I got my hands on an iPad Mini yesterday and I was really impressed. Part of why I sold my iPad and got a Kindle Fire instead was because there was too much crossover between my iPad and my MacBook Air. Most of the time I'd rather use the device I can program on and has a full keyboard, so the iPad was fairly redundant. I did, however, want a smaller form-factor eReader for magazines, comics, tech books and the occasional movie or TV show. The iPad Mini is basically that, but with a better screen than the Kindle Fire and access to the Apple ecosystem. I'm tempted now.

DSGamer wrote:

So I got my hands on an iPad Mini yesterday and I was really impressed. Part of why I sold my iPad and got a Kindle Fire instead was because there was too much crossover between my iPad and my MacBook Air. Most of the time I'd rather use the device I can program on and has a full keyboard, so the iPad was fairly redundant. I did, however, want a smaller form-factor eReader for magazines, comics, tech books and the occasional movie or TV show. The iPad Mini is basically that, but with a better screen than the Kindle Fire and access to the Apple ecosystem. I'm tempted now.

Do you have the original Fire or the FireHD? the FireHD has a better screen.

Yeah, I have the Fire HD. I know the screen would be a step down. I think the Fire HD is closer to the Retina iPad. But the trade-off to have access to TV content and one less adapter when I travel is compelling.

This whole thread just depresses me.

Because of the iPad Mini? Or because of the compromises made to get Retina on a MacBook?

Can I just mention how much I hate how this is used now (along with the "PC gaming master race" misuse)?

I don't think anyone is denying that a certain screen resolution exists somewhere on the continuum of awesome, but if comparing two things or saying something could be better is wrong, I don't want to be right.

What Scratched said. Is anyone saying the Mini is terrible? I personally was just saying that there are trade-offs on which 7" tablet I chose.

I picked up a Mini tonight. I was looking at them this weekend at the Apple Store as I mentioned earlier and I was taken with how small they were. Wanting to cut down on the number of cables I traveled with and be able to share my wife's apps and TV/movies I returned my Fire HD today and purchased a Mini instead once I found out they were in stock. I'm very happy with it so far. It's so small and yet perfect for what I need. Happy camper here.

Does anyone know if there is an app for transferring movies between iOS devices? I've read that there are some, but they seem to use Bluetooth and the like. I'm not sure how fast that would be. I'm looking into it so I can take movies from my 64GB iPhone and move them to the iPad as needed.

DSGamer wrote:

Does anyone know if there is an app for transferring movies between iOS devices? I've read that there are some, but they seem to use Bluetooth and the like. I'm not sure how fast that would be. I'm looking into it so I can take movies from my 64GB iPhone and move them to the iPad as needed.

Try GoodPlayer.
Also checkout Airplayit that allows you to stream videos from a computer to the iPad wirelessly using a server/client that you install on both devices. Airplayit also does video conversion wirelessly that is then saved to your iPad.

EDIT. Crap. Reading fail. So sorry DSGamer, didn't catch it's from device to device till a 2nd read through.

SIlly purchase or not, I bought one and I love it. The Mini is so much light and is the perfect dimension for reading. Yes it lacks a retina display and a fast processor, but I still really like it.

Blotto The Clown wrote:

SIlly purchase or not, I bought one and I love it. The Mini is so much light and is the perfect dimension for reading. Yes it lacks a retina display and a fast processor, but I still really like it.

I played with a Mini for a while today and feel pretty much the same. I can see the anti-aliasing in the text, but I think the bigger concern for me would just be potential eyestrain from the gloss finish of the screen compared to an e-Ink Kindle. But unlike the Kindle it's good for more than reading books. Either way, if I were in the market for a new tablet I'd give the Mini a serious look simply for the form factor alone.

What are you guys using for a case/cover? I've heard the Apple smartcover sucks and would prefer something that covers the back.

LeapingGnome wrote:

What are you guys using for a case/cover? I've heard the Apple smartcover sucks and would prefer something that covers the back.

I've heard that there's doubt that the Smart Cover will hold up over time because of the past performances of the polyurethane covers. The people I know who have them though are pleased so far.

SuperDave wrote:
LeapingGnome wrote:

What are you guys using for a case/cover? I've heard the Apple smartcover sucks and would prefer something that covers the back.

I've heard that there's doubt that the Smart Cover will hold up over time because of the past performances of the polyurethane covers. The people I know who have them though are pleased so far.

I have this one and I like it so far. Mostly because it's thin and can act as a stand.

http://m.bestbuy.com/m/e/product/detail.jsp?skuId=6814625&ky=2oh0NrwOl4j1qjMx3Oy2gXfVGhMUl0WiJ&utm_campaign=bazaarvoice&utm_medium=SearchVoice&utm_source=RatingsAndReviews&utm_content=Default&pid=1218807641070

Check out this YouTube channel. He does a ton of reviews on cases.

http://www.youtube.com/feed/UCuP9Xua...

SuperDave wrote:
LeapingGnome wrote:

What are you guys using for a case/cover? I've heard the Apple smartcover sucks and would prefer something that covers the back.

I've heard that there's doubt that the Smart Cover will hold up over time because of the past performances of the polyurethane covers. The people I know who have them though are pleased so far.

bought the smart covers as well. The product [red] version... I must say the red really goes well with the black ipad mini. I dont have any worries about the durability of the smart cover, but I'll keep you posted if I have any problems.

I must admit I skimmed half the thread, but of the few who've picked up the iPad mini, how's your gaming been so far? I am still running with a 1st gen iPad and the only games I've touched regularly are CivRev, Battle of Wesnoth and GalCon. Still thinking about picking up Sword and Sworcery down the line, but I figure if the former 3 work on the mini, so will everything else (mostly concerned about text size).

SommerMatt wrote:

I don't know what the risk would be -- you know exactly what the Mini *is* and *isn't*. If you want a smaller sized iPad and are OK with the screen resolution, then go for it. A Fire or a Nexus might be cheaper and have better specs in some areas, but they're still not going to satisfy if you want the iOS infrastructure.

Deciding between a Nexus 7 and a iPad Mini this weekend. Part of the problem is that I can find a retail outlet that carries both. Office Depot carries the Nexus 7 while Best Buy carries the Mini. You can't really do a side-by-side comparison anywhere.

It really just comes down to the ecosystem. The Nexus is going to have better all-around specs, but you're not going to get the iOS app library. If you're a heavy Google fan, or someone who hasn't really bought into the iOS AppStore, you'll probably be happy with the Nexus. If you want the widest possible selection of apps, and want syncing between your iPad, an iPhone, and possibly a Mac, then the Mini is the way to go.

SommerMatt wrote:

It really just comes down to the ecosystem. The Nexus is going to have better all-around specs, but you're not going to get the iOS app library. If you're a heavy Google fan, or someone who hasn't really bought into the iOS AppStore, you'll probably be happy with the Nexus. If you want the widest possible selection of apps, and want syncing between your iPad, an iPhone, and possibly a Mac, then the Mini is the way to go.

Yep. I had a Kindle Fire HD before and felt it was a much better fit for me because I preferred that size of device. But once the iPad Mini came out the tie-breaker went to the device where I had previously purchased media and games.

SommerMatt wrote:

It really just comes down to the ecosystem. The Nexus is going to have better all-around specs, but you're not going to get the iOS app library. If you're a heavy Google fan, or someone who hasn't really bought into the iOS AppStore, you'll probably be happy with the Nexus. If you want the widest possible selection of apps, and want syncing between your iPad, an iPhone, and possibly a Mac, then the Mini is the way to go.

I'm pretty anti-Apple for myself (though I completely get why people love Apple) and even though I'm heavily invested in Android if I could afford an iPad or iPad Mini that's the way I would go. Since I am more cash strapped than I'd like to be, Android tablets are the way I'm going, personally, but otherwise I truly think the Apple products blow everything else out of the water, especially since the gaming library on iOS is better for tablets. That's still true, right?

So far ery happy. I went from an ipad 1 to the ipad mini. I know the specs arent amazing but (so far) everything is compatible from the app store. Ive played a couple games and they all work fine, but I am primarily using it for reading and internet.

garion333 wrote:
SommerMatt wrote:

It really just comes down to the ecosystem. The Nexus is going to have better all-around specs, but you're not going to get the iOS app library. If you're a heavy Google fan, or someone who hasn't really bought into the iOS AppStore, you'll probably be happy with the Nexus. If you want the widest possible selection of apps, and want syncing between your iPad, an iPhone, and possibly a Mac, then the Mini is the way to go.

I'm pretty anti-Apple for myself (though I completely get why people love Apple) and even though I'm heavily invested in Android if I could afford an iPad or iPad Mini that's the way I would go. Since I am more cash strapped than I'd like to be, Android tablets are the way I'm going, personally, but otherwise I truly think the Apple products blow everything else out of the water, especially since the gaming library on iOS is better for tablets. That's still true, right?

The Android library, Amazon stuff, Google Play and so on are not quite iOS levels of compatibility and breadth of gaming content, but there's enough in there to get you around if you're not super serious about gaming on a tablet. If you are, then a few bucks won't get you much - the premium games on iOS cost $10 each or more, so it can get pricey if you want everything.

I'm going with the Nexus 7 for now because the iPad mini is new tech and the Nexus has been out for longer. Apple's prioritization on looks and ergonomics means that they sometimes cut corners on the engineering of their products, so it's best to stay away from new releases until Apple gets all the kinks out, preferably with a generation two product or so (yes, I have an iPad 2). Since the iPad mini with a Retina display is expected next year, people are holding out for the definitive product.

I'm also waiting to see if Apple's going to do anything about the screen ratio on the Mini. Widescreen video on the Mini looks completely ridiculous.

LarryC wrote:

I'm also waiting to see if Apple's going to do anything about the screen ratio on the Mini. Widescreen video on the Mini looks completely ridiculous.

This was one of the reasons that I have an iPad mini rather than a nexus 7. I just don't like the widescreen tablet at 7 inches. For video it is fine, but for everything else the 4:3 format is just preferable.

The dimensions of the Nexus 7 are also more consistent with what the iPad mini advertises. In posters and photo ads, the mini is portrayed as being grasped in portrait mode in one hand, to emphasize its portability. Unless you're a giant, that's actually not plausible. It is with a Nexus 7, making the Nexus 7 handier for reading text in both portrait and landscape modes, and better for videos and photo displays likewise.

I actually have no idea why the mini is in 4:3. It doesn't make the net browsing better, it doesn't make reading better; I don't know what it makes better, if it's anything.

Wasn't the big win that it makes things easier on developers since it runs at the same resolution as the iPad 1 / 2? iOS development can be tricky when you have to support multiple resolutions. So one fewer resolution is better overall.

The area of the iPad mini screen is actually 30% larger than the Nexus screen due to 4:3 over 16:9 and the 7.9" over 7.0" difference. The resolution is a bit lower, but I doubt 99% of the users will be able to make out the DPI difference.

That being said, most webpages today are optimized for 4:3 or even lower aspect ratios. I couldn't think of many that benefit from or even require widescreen.

Movies and books are better on a widescreen device. Some web pages I like reading better in a tall format (such as forums, sites like engadget, gizmodo). I think it's really a matter of preference. The nexus is easier to hold in one hand, though.