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Nice write-up on the retina iPad mini by Gruber - Printable Version

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Nice write-up on the retina iPad mini by Gruber - pinkoos - 11-15-2013

http://daringfireball.net/2013/11/the_retina_ipad_mini

"So the iPad Air is an excellent year-over-year update over the iPad 4 — double the performance, and a serious reduction in size and weight. But the retina iPad Mini is an almost unbelievable year-over-year update — four times the performance, a retina display (which therefore means four times the pixels), and yet no appreciable difference in size or weight. This is the iPad Mini I expected to see next year, in 2014. But here it is today, in my hand."


Re: Nice write-up on the retina iPad mini by Gruber - silvarios - 11-15-2013

I'm not surprised by the spec jump. Only Gruber could spin a possible negative, at best a neutral, into a positive. Last year's model was a cynical money grab by Apple. With all the growth in tablets seemingly coming from less than 10" devices, Apple released about the most minor "me too" iPad mini possible. A $330 shrunken down iPad 2. The new iPad mini makes the jump to what arguably should have been last year's specs, but even if the jump in specs is worth applauding, who's surprised by a $70 more expensive tablet (now $100 more expensive with the price reduction on the mini) being a better device? A newer, more expensive tablet should be better than the older, less expensive model. Duh… Smile

Wasn't this the same "analyst" who just posted how the new Air and mini are too close in specifications to not just get the Air? I disagreed then as the iPad mini retina offers the same specs as the Air but smaller, lighter, and less expensive makes the choice pretty clear cut to me anyway.


Re: Nice write-up on the retina iPad mini by Gruber - Lux Interior - 11-15-2013

What does Captain Binghamton think?


Re: Nice write-up on the retina iPad mini by Gruber - (vikm) - 11-15-2013

silvarios wrote:

Wasn't this the same "analyst" who just posted how the new Air and mini are too close in specifications to not just get the Air? I disagreed then as the iPad mini retina offers the same specs as the Air but smaller, lighter, and less expensive makes the choice pretty clear cut to me anyway.

Funny, because I wouldn't hesitate to buy the Air over the mini due primarily to the size differences.


Re: Nice write-up on the retina iPad mini by Gruber - ka jowct - 11-15-2013

I love my "CMG" (Cynical Money Grab) Mini, which will have its first birthday in a few weeks. No regrets at all about what I got.


Re: Nice write-up on the retina iPad mini by Gruber - sekker - 11-15-2013

ka jowct wrote:
I love my "CMG" (Cynical Money Grab) Mini, which will have its first birthday in a few weeks. No regrets at all about what I got.

My wife loves her mini, too. She has no regrets, either.


Re: Nice write-up on the retina iPad mini by Gruber - RAMd®d - 11-15-2013

Big Question #2: iPad Mini or iPad Air? It really just comes down to size. I think the Air is better-suited for those who use their iPad as their primary portable computer (or primary computer, period). And if you use your iPad for things where bigger is better — watching video, reading comic books or PDFs or print-derived magazine apps (where you’re better off with a screen that is closer in size to that of the printed page), or for on-screen touch typing — well, you probably want the bigger display of the iPad Air.

Me, I use my iPad primarily for reading — Twitter, email, web pages, and books. The Mini, for me personally, is the better-sized device. I like that it’s easier to hold in one hand, and that it’s small enough to fit in a jacket pocket. (A new test for any new jacket I’ll buy: Does an iPad Mini fit in the pocket?)


Maybe he changed his mind after getting a hands-on and actually using the mini extensively for three days.

I don't know that Gruber sees or calls himself an analyst. He's a tech writer as far as I know. Maybe a journalist, I'm not sure.

Your post reads more like you're doing some spinning of your own than your calmer, more reasoned fare.


Re: Nice write-up on the retina iPad mini by Gruber - datbeme - 11-15-2013

Depends on what your priorities are. The retina mini is really great—and what it should have been—but after playing around with them today at the Apple Store, I've pretty much decided on the Air. It's not the tough decision I thought it would be.

Last year, when I checked out the low res mini, I was surprised at how much the smaller, lighter form factor appealed to me, and I really thought I'd want the retina when it came out. But that was compared to the clunkier iPad 4. Not complaining, but the retina mini felt thicker, heavier and warmer than the standard mini next to it (I know the thickness and weight are so close that it shouldn't even be perceptible). And with the Air being the same thickness, the weight spread over a larger area almost made it feel thinner...and not a whole lot heavier at all.

Again, to each his own. If you are in the market for something more portable, then you cannot go wrong with the retina mini. It's vastly improved. But the deciding factor for me is that I do really want the bigger screen. It's more useful to me. Same reason I don't choose a 32" over a 50" and sit closer.


Re: Nice write-up on the retina iPad mini by Gruber - Lew Zealand - 11-16-2013

silvarios wrote:
I'm not surprised by the spec jump. Only Gruber could spin a possible negative, at best a neutral, into a positive. Last year's model was a cynical money grab by Apple. With all the growth in tablets seemingly coming from less than 10" devices, Apple released about the most minor "me too" iPad mini possible. A $330 shrunken down iPad 2. The new iPad mini makes the jump to what arguably should have been last year's specs, but even if the jump in specs is worth applauding, who's surprised by a $70 more expensive tablet (now $100 more expensive with the price reduction on the mini) being a better device? A newer, more expensive tablet should be better than the older, less expensive model. Duh… Smile

So last year's Mini specs should have been Retina display and the A7 chip? That's really stretching an already hyperbolic ("cynical money grab") post.


Re: Nice write-up on the retina iPad mini by Gruber - richorlin - 11-16-2013

The iPad Mini Retina is fantastic, but just too small for my tired old eyes. I went with the iPad Air and am very pleased with it. Much easier to read books on than the previous heavier models. I had last year's mini but got rid of it when the iPad Air was released. The mini is perfect for reading books but found it painful (for me) to look at web pages on it.

Also, Gruber said "I’ve also seen reports of white-balance issue, or yellow-ish tinting, with the new Mini." He couldn't see any difference between the two. I beg to differ. I was at Best Buy yesterday and compared the Mini and iPad Air screens. Looking a the front page of the New York Times, I could see that the iPad Mini had a very slight grayish background compared to the blazing white page that the iPad Air displayed. Now, this could have been due to that particular iPad Mini. I will compare the two models at an Apple store over the weekend.