iPad Mini: Do You Believe?

[Graham]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Yes, the GT 7.7 is a much better direct comparison to the iPad mini. Thanks for sharing.

I've changed my comment about width: I've noticed that due to the narrower bezel the iPad is only a whisker wider than the Tab 7.7.

What I find interesting about this comparison is that the prices are quite close. It suggests that with this build quality Apple could perhaps have brought the 16 GB wifi mini in at $299, but maybe not way down nearer the 7" devices. The screen is presumably one of the costlier components, and the metal body I suppose is more expensive than plastic.

Edit: I've also moved the price to be a winner for the iPad mini as further investigation shows that you need to shop around to get the Tab for £259 in the UK, and currently the main stores have it as significantly more expensive than the iPad mini.

Graham

[DaleDe]

I think the 7" is the cheapest screen out there due to its use in photo frames and a wide variety of products including DVD players as well as a myriad of tablets and eBook readers. The Apple screen is likely much more expensive. This price point really does indicate that the Apple isn't just gouging people on the price.

Dale

[Casey57]

I am interested in it for travel; I think it would be easier to carry. I am still mulling it over.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

I think the 7" is the cheapest screen out there due to its use in photo frames and a wide variety of products including DVD players as well as a myriad of tablets and eBook readers. The Apple screen is likely much more expensive. This price point really does indicate that the Apple isn't just gouging people on the price.

Dale

Well, given that the Kindle HD 9" and especially the Nook HD+ have bigger screens and much higher resolutions, at lower price points, your point is simply wrong.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

I would say almost a full inch larger and a 3:4 ratio is a real plus for eBook reading although the small display may fit in a pocket or purse easier. The length, by the way, is likely very similar. The cameras on the iPad are certainly better. An an upgradeable OS is a plus as is the number of apps. 16GB is way better these days and battery life is important. I am not so sure the GT is automatically the winner in this comparison. I do like the GT GPS feature.

Dale

It's definitely subjective, depending on your needs.

I prefer 16:9, since watching videos is a very high priority. I have a Kindle 4 for books. Size and weight are irrelevant factors for me, since all of these tablets are generally in the same ballpark.

As to the OS, the SGT 2 will be getting Jelly Bean, but Apple does beat it in that it pushes updates immediately; whereas Samsung takes a bit of time. Nexus devices would be equal to Apple devices.

8GB and a mSD card slot trump 16GB and no card slot any day.

I gave it to the SGT because of the RAM, mSD, GPS and price.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Graham

I'd say a better comparison would be with the Galaxy Tab 7.7"...

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Yes, the GT 7.7 is a much better direct comparison to the iPad mini. Thanks for sharing.

I used the SGT 2 because their processors and resolution were roughly equal.

[david_e]

Originally Posted by afv011

Well, given that the Kindle HD 9" and especially the Nook HD+ have bigger screens and much higher resolutions, at lower price points, your point is simply wrong.

But Amazon doesn't make any money on their devices, so they say, so they shouldn't be included.

As Barnes & Noble only attempts to make money and has yet to figure out how, I don't know if I can accept that either.

On the other hand, I'm feeling uncharacteristically giddy, so it might just be the chocolate talking.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by david_e

But Amazon doesn't make any money on their devices, so they say, so they shouldn't be included.

I'm not sure that's a valid argument.

Both Amazon and Apple purport to have a wide ecosystem of books, movies, music and apps available from their devices.

The fact that Amazon choose to make their profit purely from the content doesn't alter the fact that from the consumer's point of view their devices are cheaper.

But, yes, this may well be the key difference, as demonstrated by the iPad mini beating the Samsung 7.7 on price (where although the 7.7 has better specs overall they have very similar screen sizes, batteries and build quality).

Graham

[afv011]

Originally Posted by david_e

But Amazon doesn't make any money on their devices, so they say, so they shouldn't be included.

As Barnes & Noble only attempts to make money and has yet to figure out how, I don't know if I can accept that either.

On the other hand, I'm feeling uncharacteristically giddy, so it might just be the chocolate talking.

The bottom line is that a consumer can pick a 7.9" 1024x768, 512MB RAM at $329 (mini) or a 9" 1920x1280 1GB RAM and SD expansion at $269 (Nook HD+). Apple like to play the numbers games (at least when it's in their favour), so what about

• Nook has twice the RAM
• Nook has 25% more surface area
• Nook has 312% more pixels
• Nook has 57% more pixels per inch
• Nook has SD expansion
• Nook comes at 81% of the cost of the mini

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by afv011

The bottom line is that a consumer can pick a 7.9" 1024x768, 512MB RAM at $329 (mini) or a 9" 1920x1280 1GB RAM and SD expansion at $269 (Nook HD+). Apple like to play the numbers games (at least when it's in their favour), so what about

• Nook has twice the RAM
• Nook has 25% more surface area
• Nook has 312% more pixels
• Nook has 57% more pixels per inch
• Nook has SD expansion
• Nook comes at 81% of the cost of the mini

I think a Nook HD comparison is more relevant, and makes your point equally well. Put another way, if someone shipped an Android tablet with iPad mini's specs, they might be able to ask $160 for it.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by afv011

The bottom line is that a consumer can pick a 7.9" 1024x768, 512MB RAM at $329 (mini) or a 9" 1920x1280 1GB RAM and SD expansion at $269 (Nook HD+). Apple like to play the numbers games (at least when it's in their favour), so what about

• Nook has twice the RAM
• Nook has 25% more surface area
• Nook has 312% more pixels
• Nook has 57% more pixels per inch
• Nook has SD expansion
• Nook comes at 81% of the cost of the mini

Well put

[murraypaul]

There have been several people from the UK involved in these comparisons, and so far neither the Fire 8.9 nor the Nook HD+ have been released here, so the available comparisons are iPad Mini, Fire HD, Nexus 7 and whatever Samsung have released in the last month or so.
If the Nook HD+ comes out as suggested for less than 300 pounds, it will be well worth considering, but if it is locked to just B&N's app store, that makes it much less appealing than the others.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Put another way, if someone shipped an Android tablet with iPad mini's specs, they might be able to ask $160 for it.

That would be the Kindle Fire 2

[jswinden]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

That would be the Kindle Fire 2

I consider the Fire HD specs much better than the iPad mini. The original Fire is a close match!

[afv011]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Well put

And I forgot to mention that the Kindle and Nook 7" can play 720p native and their big brothers, 9", can play 1080p native. The mini, on the other hand, has to scale down 720p and then letterbox it.