iPAd mini or iPad 4?

[slackerinabox]

Current owner of the nexus 7 and have realized that I prefer iOS' ecosystem. If money is no object, should I go with a mini or 4? I'm thinking that the mini may be redundant given that the 7 fits that form factor nicely, but is the 4 too heavy to be my go to tablet?

 

[bigrash]

I'd go with the ipad 4 if money is no object. Unless it's primarily for reading books (which wouldn't make sense to get an ipad just for that), then I'd get the mini.

 

[bearxor]

The Mini is nice, but it's essentially an iPad 2 with a 8" screen.

The 4 is a huge step up, processing-wise.

 

[JAG87]

I would never a Mini for the simple fact that it doesn't have a retina display. I just can't look at a display that is not high DPI. So my decision, right now at least, would be an iPad 4, despite that the Mini clearly has a much better form factor.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I bought the iPad mini, I really wanted to like it. It's so thin and light, nice to hold. And the performance still seemed great. But after owning higher DPI devices like the Nexus 7 and iPad 3, I just couldn't get used to how pixelated the low resolution screen looked, how bad fuzzy text was everywhere.

I returned the iPad mini, sold my iPad 3, and bought an iPad 4. It's heavier, but the larger screen is nice for a lot of things too. I have my Kindle Fire HD when I was to read books or just want something smaller and the iPad 4 when I want a larger screen. I think a 7 and 10 (or 9.7) inch tablets work nicely together for different situations.

 

[ponyo]

Sell the Nexus 7 and buy the iPad 4 and the Mini. Next?

 

[slackerinabox]

Thanks guys - going the ipad 4 route, woo!

 

[Red Storm]

I'd have gone Mini.

 

[kaerflog]

Mini here myself.

 

[swanysto]

Is the iPad 4 out?

 

[zerogear]

Yep, announced the same time as iPad mini, they made a real quiet announcement about it. Also probably why they got rid of the numbers, so people don't know that they made another revision within ~7 months time.

 

[slackerinabox]

Reasons for supporting the mini? I'm a little worried that the mini's not as future proof as the 4. In fact, I bet there's a version of the mini coming out in 6 months with retina and A6, which would piss me off if I was stuck with version 1.0

 

[Red Storm]

How do we know the 4 is any more "future proof" (which doesn't even make sense in the Apple world because of a lack of competing manufacturers)? You don't, you buy for the here and now, not for the future.

I like the Mini because it's lighter, smaller, quicker to charge and more sleek looking than the heavier, bigger, slower to charge and less portable iPad 4.

 

[JAG87]

How do we know the 4 is any more "future proof" (which doesn't even make sense in the Apple world because of a lack of competing manufacturers)? You don't, you buy for the here and now, not for the future.

I like the Mini because it's lighter, smaller, quicker to charge and more sleek looking than the heavier, bigger, slower to charge and less portable iPad 4.

Yes, but it has a shitty screen, which is the most important aspect of a tablet. That's just not a compromise you should have to make in 2012, when we've had retina displays for over 2 years already. The Mini is not an option in my mind if I was buying today, it's like it doesn't even exist.

But I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't notice or don't care. And I don't care to convince them.

 

[sgrinavi]

Yes, but it has a shitty screen, which is the most important aspect of a tablet. That's just not a compromise you should have to make in 2012, when we've had retina displays for over 2 years already. The Mini is not an option in my mind if I was buying today, it's like it doesn't even exist.

But I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't notice or don't care. And I don't care to convince them.

I wouldn't call it shitty, it's just not as good, at certain things, as the iPad 3/4 . Personally I'm happy to give up the display for the extended battery life and size.

 

[dagamer34]

Yes, but it has a shitty screen, which is the most important aspect of a tablet. That's just not a compromise you should have to make in 2012, when we've had retina displays for over 2 years already. The Mini is not an option in my mind if I was buying today, it's like it doesn't even exist.

But I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't notice or don't care. And I don't care to convince them.

You forget that a vast majority of people are using some cheap 1366x768 TB panel in their laptop, and they don't know any better. Plus, a device that you can carry with you easily trumps a device that pretty to look at but you often leave at home because of its bulk.

 

[JAG87]

I wouldn't call it shitty, it's just not as good, at certain things, as the iPad 3/4 . Personally I'm happy to give up the display for the extended battery life and size.

Well sure, everyone has their own tolerance and balance for things.

You forget that a vast majority of people are using some cheap 1366x768 TB panel in their laptop, and they don't know any better. Plus, a device that you can carry with you easily trumps a device that pretty to look at but you often leave at home because of its bulk.

That's true, and I understand that. My girlfriend can't even tell the difference between retina and non retina, and it boggles my mind. But this is why I don't have an iPad yet. I was very intrigued by the iPad 3 in March, but I held off on it (mostly because I don't see myself using it very often at this point in time since I have an iPhone), and now with the Mini announcement and the new form factor introduction, I have all all the more reason to just wait until the Mini gets a retina display. But what I was saying is, if I had to buy one right this moment, I would choose the better display over portability.

 

[mikegg]

I'd gotta the iPad 4 also. No retina display, no deal.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I wouldn't call it shitty, it's just not as good, at certain things, as the iPad 3/4 . Personally I'm happy to give up the display for the extended battery life and size.

iPad 4 actually has better battery life. Though both are excellent.

 

[sgrinavi]

iPad 4 actually has better battery life. Though both are excellent.

Sure, but the mini with an upgraded display wouldn't be so great.