iPad Anyone buy the new iPad Air?

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I'm waiting until the new iPads are released.My iPad is old and I'm finding more and more sfotware no longer working. But I just cannot justify getting a 2020 model in 20201.

Fortunately my iPad Pro 9.7 and mini 5 are both new enough that I haven’t run into that issue yet.

[OtinG]

Just a short FYI: My Sony xbrx800h TV arrived today. Unfortunately it had a cracked screen so it is going to be replaced. The box looked like it had been dropped in transit. Two corners of the box were crumpled up rather badly. UPS was the carrier, so no surprise there. I did plug it in for a few minutes and it has a terrific display albeit a cracked one. Very impressed with it. So I decided to ask for a replacement rather than just return it. I think the crack is likely the fault of UPS. My security cameras caught a UPS delivery guy literally throwing a package onto my front porch a week before xmas. Thankfully it wasn’t something that was breakable. I was told Amazon will deliver the replacement rather than UPS. I hope that it true.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I'll be somewhat surprised if the iPad gets refreshed before September. Both the iPad and iPad Air had new releases in September, the iPad Pro came out in March. The iPad mini is the only model that didn't get updated in 2020.

iPad mini updates can be glacial. The iPad mini 4 was released in 2015 and it took 4 years before we got the iPad mini 5.

The 2020 iPad Pro sports the A12Z chipset which is practically the same as the chipset in the 2018 iPad Pro. It's really more of a minor refresh (almost same performance + 6GB RAM + 128GB base storage + LiDAR). Meanwhile, the iPad Air 4 has the 5nm A14 chipset which has nearly the same single-core performance as the M1 Macs.

Between 2020 iPad Pro and iPad Air 4, I'm inclined to get the Air. I know the A12Z is still very fast but it just feels wrong to pay full MSRP for what is practically 2+ year old hardware.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by OtinG

Just a short FYI: My Sony xbrx800h TV arrived today. Unfortunately it had a cracked screen so it is going to be replaced. The box looked like it had been dropped in transit. Two corners of the box were crumpled up rather badly. UPS was the carrier, so no surprise there. I did plug it in for a few minutes and it has a terrific display albeit a cracked one. Very impressed with it. So I decided to ask for a replacement rather than just return it. I think the crack is likely the fault of UPS. My security cameras caught a UPS delivery guy literally throwing a package onto my front porch a week before xmas. Thankfully it wasn’t something that was breakable. I was told Amazon will deliver the replacement rather than UPS. I hope that it true.

Bummer. My TV is scheduled to come on tomorrow. Based on the fact that it hasn't been shipped yet, I think it's going to come via Prime delivery from the local warehouse, so hopefully it won't get banged about too much. I should be home when it's delivered, so I can at least example the box before they make their get away.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Bummer. My TV is scheduled to come on tomorrow. Based on the fact that it hasn't been shipped yet, I think it's going to come via Prime delivery from the local warehouse, so hopefully it won't get banged about too much. I should be home when it's delivered, so I can at least example the box before they make their get away.

Most of what I buy through Amazon gets delivered by them these days, but my TV came from AZ so they let Oops deliver it. The replacement is due next Tuesday because they require the returned item to be returned and examined before they ship the replacement. The CS rep said Amazon would pick up the return item today (Thursday) and deliver the replacement on Friday. He lied. Oops is scheduled to pick up the return item but no time has been given, the email says they will call me beforehand. Since the replacement hasn't shipped yet, I don't know which carrier they will use.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by OtinG

Most of what I buy through Amazon gets delivered by them these days, but my TV came from AZ so they let Oops deliver it. The replacement is due next Tuesday because they require the returned item to be returned and examined before they ship the replacement. The CS rep said Amazon would pick up the return item today (Thursday) and deliver the replacement on Friday. He lied. Oops is scheduled to pick up the return item but no time has been given, the email says they will call me beforehand. Since the replacement hasn't shipped yet, I don't know which carrier they will use.

It came. They delivered it to my neighbor at 7:30 am, leaving it at the door without cover in a drizzle. Sigh. Fortunately, I was here and went looking for it when I got the email that it had been delivered, so no damage.

Works fine.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

iPad mini updates can be glacial. The iPad mini 4 was released in 2015 and it took 4 years before we got the iPad mini 5.

The 2020 iPad Pro sports the A12Z chipset which is practically the same as the chipset in the 2018 iPad Pro. It's really more of a minor refresh (almost same performance + 6GB RAM + 128GB base storage + LiDAR). Meanwhile, the iPad Air 4 has the 5nm A14 chipset which has nearly the same single-core performance as the M1 Macs.

Between 2020 iPad Pro and iPad Air 4, I'm inclined to get the Air. I know the A12Z is still very fast but it just feels wrong to pay full MSRP for what is practically 2+ year old hardware.

The major driver for the iPad 2020 for me is the 1TB capacity rather chip speed. Yea, it's way more than I need, but I like the flexibility, plus I like the extra screen size.

The iPad mini seems to be more of a niche device. I keep expecting Apple to drop it.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

The major driver for the iPad 2020 for me is the 1TB capacity rather chip speed. Yea, it's way more than I need, but I like the flexibility, plus I like the extra screen size.

The iPad mini seems to be more of a niche device. I keep expecting Apple to drop it.

Ah yes, if 256GB isn't enough, then the only option for higher is the iPad Pro.

That said, I'm waiting for the 2021 iPad Pro updates before upgrading from my 512GB 2017 iPP. At $1600-1800 with tax, I'd like to buy something that's not essentially 2+ years old. I used to upgrade my iPad every year but the prices are just too high now. At least longevity's gotten a lot better.

If there had been good sales on the 2020 or if the refurb 2018 1TB were readily available, I'd have gotten those. Alas, the pandemic has put a damper on iPad supply and discounts.

Honestly, I thought they were going to drop the mini after the mini 4. I was pleasantly surprised that they released the mini 5.

I've seen the mini deployed in fleets (e.g. UPS, etc) so perhaps that's why they refreshed it while maintaining the same chassis for compatibility with existing accessories.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

The major driver for the iPad 2020 for me is the 1TB capacity rather chip speed. Yea, it's way more than I need, but I like the flexibility, plus I like the extra screen size.

The iPad mini seems to be more of a niche device. I keep expecting Apple to drop it.

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Ah yes, if 256GB isn't enough, then the only option for higher is the iPad Pro.

That said, I'm waiting for the 2021 iPad Pro updates before upgrading from my 512GB 2017 iPP. At $1600-1800 with tax, I'd like to buy something that's not essentially 2+ years old. I used to upgrade my iPad every year but the prices are just too high now. At least longevity's gotten a lot better.

If there had been good sales on the 2020 or if the refurb 2018 1TB were readily available, I'd have gotten those. Alas, the pandemic has put a damper on iPad supply and discounts.

Honestly, I thought they were going to drop the mini after the mini 4. I was pleasantly surprised that they released the mini 5.

I've seen the mini deployed in fleets (e.g. UPS, etc) so perhaps that's why they refreshed it while maintaining the same chassis for compatibility with existing accessories.

I was pleasantly surprised when they released the mini 5 too. I agree it is a niche item. I love it for reading eBooks. It is hands down the best eReader I’ve ever owned. I also like the smaller/lighter form factor because I have really bad arthritis plus both carpel and cubital tunnel syndromes making it difficult to hold heavier iPads very long because my hand will hurt and go numb. Growing old sucks! But again, that is a niche requirement that very few would share, that is, smaller and lighter weight.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by OtinG

I was pleasantly surprised when they released the mini 5 too. I agree it is a niche item. I love it for reading eBooks. It is hands down the best eReader I’ve ever owned. I also like the smaller/lighter form factor because I have really bad arthritis plus both carpel and cubital tunnel syndromes making it difficult to hold heavier iPads very long because my hand will hurt and go numb. Growing old sucks! But again, that is a niche requirement that very few would share, that is, smaller and lighter weight.

I have RSI, too, so I can sympathize. To be honest, I find the mini to still be too heavy. My limit is around 200g (so around Kindle/Kobo weight).

When I use the bigger iPads, I don't carry the weight. I've got a Flippy pillow stand and just tap to turn the page. Before getting the Flippy, I'd have the iPad resting on my chest or pillow or something (it's got a tri-fold Smart Folio case clone) and I'd just support it a little bit.

Now I just need a remote control or something so I can keep my hands inside the blanket while reading.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

I have RSI, too, so I can sympathize. To be honest, I find the mini to still be too heavy. My limit is around 200g (so around Kindle/Kobo weight).

When I use the bigger iPads, I don't carry the weight. I've got a Flippy pillow stand and just tap to turn the page. Before getting the Flippy, I'd have the iPad resting on my chest or pillow or something (it's got a tri-fold Smart Folio case clone) and I'd just support it a little bit.

Now I just need a remote control or something so I can keep my hands inside the blanket while reading.

I use my fat belly to take most of the weight when in my recliner! With the tunnel syndromes my hand gets like ice, so I definitely agree with the last sentence! I have a Kindle Oasis, but I still like reading on the mini 5 better. The Kindle is better if in a very bright room or outside though.

[tomsem]

I concur about iPad mini being a great eBook device. I pretty much stopped using my iPhone or Kindle for reading after I got it. It could be more compact (e.g. by adopting new iPad Air style), but that probably would not motivate me to update (at least for another year or two).

Depending on the reading app (Apple Books or Kindle would work), you should be able to use a simple (and inexpensive) ‘presentation’ remote to turn pages. It just needs to have right/left key function. I have such a thing somewhere but haven’t tried it out with this use case.

In the meantime, I’m waiting to see what the next iPad Pros offer (but not as eBook device).

I have somehow found myself using Kindle much more again since the Series grouping update (which Kindle for iOS does not yet have). It’s much lighter of course, but one gives up a lot in terms of contrast, performance and versatility. But it is likely just a phase I’m going through and I’ll be back to using the mini for most of my reading before long.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by tomsem

I concur about iPad mini being a great eBook device. I pretty much stopped using my iPhone or Kindle for reading after I got it. It could be more compact (e.g. by adopting new iPad Air style), but that probably would not motivate me to update (at least for another year or two).

Depending on the reading app (Apple Books or Kindle would work), you should be able to use a simple (and inexpensive) ‘presentation’ remote to turn pages. It just needs to have right/left key function. I have such a thing somewhere but haven’t tried it out with this use case.

In the meantime, I’m waiting to see what the next iPad Pros offer (but not as eBook device).

I have somehow found myself using Kindle much more again since the Series grouping update (which Kindle for iOS does not yet have). It’s much lighter of course, but one gives up a lot in terms of contrast, performance and versatility. But it is likely just a phase I’m going through and I’ll be back to using the mini for most of my reading before long.

I've been experimenting with my Kobo recently. Its a nice change of pace, but after a week or so, I found myself returning to my iPad. The combination of CC and Marvin makes it very easy to manage what to read next. CC had a problem with Calibre's content service for a while, but now it's working again. Nothing changed on CC, so it must have been a fix that Calibre put in. I need to remember to send Govid another $20.