ipad Mini (retina) or regular iPad?

[tomsem]

The new mini may not seem like the best value when you compare to Fire HDX or Nexus7.2 but it makes sense in terms of how Apple positions its own products.

Tier 1: iPad mini 1 ($299) and iPad 2 ($399)
Tier 2: iPad mini 2 ($399) and iPad Air ($499)

Some day I think we'll see a 'Pro' tier for another $100-200. Maybe with a 12" screen, or one that supports high resolution digitizing.

Then you have the memory gradations ($100x) and 4G option ($130).

Tier 1 is what you would buy for your kids maybe but otherwise are just there to compare with the much better Tier 2 devices that everyone will prefer when they do the comparison.

Likewise 16GB is really not enough for a high resolution device so that is another $100 for some very expensive memory (Amazon, Google charge $40 for the same upgrade).

All of these things are more expensive than the equivalent on Android (but you can spend just as much on an Android tablet if you want to). The main differentiator continues to be the available of high quality tablet apps that are exclusive to iOS.

But also I think Apple was concerned that mini was eroding the market for full sized iPads, whose higher price points command higher profits. Raising the mini price helps out with that. So it is perhaps no surprise that we are all thinking iPad Air is a great value.

I myself have been waiting what seems like a long time for the retina mini, complaining about how unwieldy my iPad3 seems, but with the iPad Air only a pound (mini is about .75 pound), 16mm narrower, and only $100 more, why wouldn't one just get that? For some things (PDF, sheet music, drawing, magazines, garage band) even 10" can seem cramped.

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Tier 1 is what you would buy for your kids maybe

As mentioned earlier, I wouldn't feel good about punishing any kids, either, with a low-resolution screen in October 2013 or later.

Originally Posted by tomsem

just there to compare with the much better Tier 2 devices that everyone winds up getting.

"Everyone"? I wonder... Apple may have shot themselves in the foot with the iPad mini Retina pricing. As you may have heard, iPhone 5C is not selling as well as expected, and this may also happen to iPad mini Retina now. (If we say iPad mini Retina is to iPad Air, what iPhone 5C is to iPhone 5S.)

Originally Posted by tomsem

But also I think Apple was concerned that mini was eroding the market for full sized iPads, whose higher price points command higher profits. Raising the mini price helps out with that.

Only in theory. It's a gamble by Apple that may yet backfire on them.

Originally Posted by tomsem

Likewise 16GB is really not enough for a high resolution device

I disagree. All of my iDevices, and the new Nexus 7, too, are 16 GB, and I find that perfectly sufficient. (What I dislike is the size bloat of iOS apps in recent years, but even so, 16 GB is enough for me. Other people's mileage may vary.)

Originally Posted by tomsem

The main differentiator continues to be the available of high quality tablet apps that are exclusive to iOS.

Correct. Doesn't even need to be "exclusive" to iOS -- often, the same app has a much higher quality on iOS than on Android.

Originally Posted by tomsem

For some things (PDF, sheet music, drawing, magazines, garage band) even 10" can seem cramped.

I agree. I'd definitely consider the purchase of a 12- or 13-inch tablet. (No Microsoft.)

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Faterson

The price increase on the iPad mini is horrible. How do they expect to compete with Nexus 7 if it's $229 versus $399?

I predict Nexus 7 will steamroll over the new iPad mini in terms of market share.

Continuing to sell the original iPad 2 at $399 is pretty weird, too.

they still have the original mini as well at $299.

Dale

[DaleDe]

Did anyone notice they through in a bunch of Apple apps for free with the new hardware?

Dale

[jocampo]

I honestly can't answer this poll yet.

I would like to hold and see each before making any decision, especially now that the new iPad air is just about 1 pound.

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

they still have the original mini as well at $299

Unacceptable (especially the screen) from the point of view of hardware specs in October 2013, and absurdly overpriced, too. You can get solid, comparable Android-based tablets for $150.

Basically, Apple has decided to charge twice as much for iPad minis compared to their Android competitors. Sorry, I don't think Apple can get away with such massive overpricing. They could from 2012 to 2013, as long as there was no Retina-level competitor among the smaller Android tablets. That has now changed.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Did anyone notice they through in a bunch of Apple apps for free with the new hardware?

Dale

Saw that. No big deal; I don't use those types of apps. To impress me, they'd have to give away premium versions of their audio/music apps.

Besides, I don't think I qualify; I don't have iOS 7.

[tubemonkey]

I wouldn't mind having a retina mini; but only if Apple slashed the price to match the competition: $229 (16GB), $269 (32GB), and $309 (64GB).

[Faterson]

Speaking of "head to head" comparisons, here is one for iPad mini Retina versus new Nexus 7, proclaiming Nexus 7 to be the overall winner:

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/table...t-small-tablet

[stickybuns]

I love that my original recipe iPad Mini is so light weight and the size works well for me, but if I wanted a tablet primarily for reading, I'd probably go with the iPad Air for better magazine and PDF reading.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by Faterson

Speaking of "head to head" comparisons, here is one for iPad mini Retina versus new Nexus 7, proclaiming Nexus 7 to be the overall winner:

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/table...t-small-tablet

I've never quite gotten these "overall winner" types of reviews, and the weight some people place on the conclusion. Actual people put different weight on the different qualities of the devices. I'm looking for a device to read graphic novels and magazines, to get my mail (syncing to iCloud), and, less importantly, to play iGames of various sorts that will also sync to my iPhone. Build quality and display size are of paramount importance, and I've no interest in multiple user accounts, so the iPad mini is the clear winner for me.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by stickybuns

I love that my original recipe iPad Mini is so light weight and the size works well for me, but if I wanted a tablet primarily for reading, I'd probably go with the iPad Air for better magazine and PDF reading.

For many people, I'd expect that would work for them! The size and weight differences are really important to me, though, so it's mini all the way.

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by meeera

so the iPad mini is the clear winner for me.

I'm sure the iPad mini would be most anyone's winner if the price of the 2 devices were in any way comparable. If the price ratio is nearly 2:1, that will affect the "overall verdict" for many people.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Faterson

I'm sure the iPad mini would be most anyone's winner if the price of the 2 devices were in any way comparable. If the price ratio is nearly 2:1, that will affect the "overall verdict" for many people.

It does for me. I don't care which OS I use - Android or iOS. I chose Android because Apple overcharges their devices.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Did anyone notice they through in a bunch of Apple apps for free with the new hardware?

Dale

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Saw that. No big deal; I don't use those types of apps. To impress me, they'd have to give away premium versions of their audio/music apps.

Besides, I don't think I qualify; I don't have iOS 7.

It's a big deal for me because I already do use many of those apps, and the many of the ones I don't use aren't used in many cases because my current first generation doesn't support them. I'm glad that GarageBand is still free. That's a very powerful app. And I'm glad they added Pages to the free lineup. It's no Microsoft Office such as you'd get on the new Surface Pro, but it does allow you a bit more flexibility with creating and reading documents than you'll find on other tablets. I paid $9.99 for the version I have on my iPad 1.

And Calendar, which has always been free, is a great way to keep track of important dates. For example, I'm using it now to count down the days until I retire. (Have I mentioned that as of today, October 23, 2013, there are only 73 days remaining before it's Take This Job and Shove It time?)

Here's a link describing all the iPad Air's built-in apps: http://www.apple.com/ipad-air/built-in-apps/.