iPad Maybe no retina iPad mini this year?

[MeSue]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

I recommend playing with the Mini at an Apple store. That's what I did since without seeing for myself, it's hard to tell if the pixel density of the Mini would be good enough. Based on my experience with various devices, my personal minimum is around 200ppi.

I played with one at an Apple store earlier this year and decided then to wait for a better screen, but in the Apple store I could not download Marvin and set it up how I like it for a realistic comparison. I just love the size and weight of it for reading, but really think the screen is probably a deal-breaker. :-(

My Gripster case makes the iPad 3 tolerable for reading, but ever since I cracked the screen and my husband did a DIY repair, there is still a weird flaw in the screen where it shows a shadowy area almost like a wrinkled piece of paper. Kind of annoying. So I am getting impatient.

I also have a Nexus 7 and I like the screen on that but I hate Android and battery life is the pits.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by MeSue

I played with one at an Apple store earlier this year and decided then to wait for a better screen, but in the Apple store I could not download Marvin and set it up how I like it for a realistic comparison.

Sure you can, or at least you can in UK Apple stores.
The store has WiFi, so you can sign in to the iTunes store as yourself, download any of your existing apps and play around with them. When I was testing an iPad Mini I put some of each type of media into dropbox, signed into that to download them, then Open In...'d each to the app I wanted to test.
Just remember to delete everything and sign out of the store once you are done.

[MeSue]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Sure you can, or at least you can in UK Apple stores.
The store has WiFi, so you can sign in to the iTunes store as yourself, download any of your existing apps and play around with them. When I was testing an iPad Mini I put some of each type of media into dropbox, signed into that to download them, then Open In...'d each to the app I wanted to test.
Just remember to delete everything and sign out of the store once you are done.

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind for next time.

[voracious71]

Originally Posted by meeera

I'm fine with my original iPad for wittering time away playing games or web browsing or chatting on Twitter, but I really notice the poorer resolution when reading graphic novels or reading longer-form text. My partner has a retina iPad and I have an iPhone 5, so there's plenty to compare it to, and the difference is quite stark to my eyes at a normal reading distance.

I'm rather jealous of people who can't see the difference!

I can see a difference but it doesn't bother me. I'm one that thinks that if a retina screen is going to negatively effect portability or battery life, then I'd rather not have a retina Mini.

I did go check out a Mini in Best Buy before I bought it, just to make sure that I was OK with the lower resolution..I was actually surprised at how nice it looked.

[MeSue]

Well, the side by side verdict is....

I love the size and weight of the mini, but I can definitely see a difference in the screen. I don't think I would be happy with it without a better screen. Reading wasn't awful... I could probably learn to live with it, but it would bug me.

[jojoba]

Originally Posted by MeSue

Well, the side by side verdict is....

I love the size and weight of the mini, but I can definitely see a difference in the screen. I don't think I would be happy with it without a better screen. Reading wasn't awful... I could probably learn to live with it, but it would bug me.

That's how I feel, too. But seems like there's a bit of a wait for the retina version. I've started using my Kindle more instead of my full size iPad.

[MeSue]

🎶 The way-yay-ting is the hardest part. 🎶

I'm still hoping we'll see retina iPad mini revealed next week. I got an email from Sam's Club advertising $50 off all iPads (including mini) for a limited time. This bolsters my hope that new models are coming sooner than later.

[drofgnal]

One of our IT guys at work who is an apple afficinado heard the rumor that ipad mini was being delayed till early next year because the a7 processor was delayed.

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by MeSue

I'm still hoping we'll see retina iPad mini revealed next week.

Definitely not tomorrow. The new iPad mini Retina would be revealed along with the "big" iPad 5, which likewise won't be revealed tomorrow. The wait will last at least until October.

And just like Sue, I find the current iPad mini's screen unacceptable. Sorry, but screens below 200 dpi just won't cut it for 2013, especially not in competition with the new Nexus 7 which is over 300 (!) dpi.

[MeSue]

Originally Posted by Faterson

Definitely not tomorrow. The new iPad mini Retina would be revealed along with the "big" iPad 5, which likewise won't be revealed tomorrow. The wait will last at least until October.

NO NO NO NO NO NO... covering ears and stomping feet. Just let me have my denial one more day. ;-)

[MeSue]

Guess we're all waiting a little longer.... Yeah, I knew in the back of my mind but the front of my mind was being optimistic.