iPad Mini 16Gb 1st Gen. for $199 @ BB is it worth it?

[Grateful11]

At first I thought is was a nice deal but I looked at the Benchmarks of the reg. iPad Mini vs. the iPad Mini
w/Retina Display and I have to say there's seems to be a world of difference. My current iPad 1st Gen 64Gb
with 3G is really getting a bit long in the tooth and can't go to iOS7 so I thought this might be a nice little
iPad to have. Is it really that slow?

iPad Mini
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ip...specs.html

iPad Mini w/Retina Display
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ip...specs.html

White
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-ipad-mini-with-wi-fi-16gb-white-silver/6208541.p?id=1218720730193&skuId=6208541
Black
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-ipad-m...9080300496&skuId=2874502&st=categoryid$pcmcat209000050007&cp=1&lp=1

[sekker]

I use my wife's iPad mini.

It is fine for older software.

But it's beginning to be tedious when you try to use newer software.

[Carm]

It works fine. Wife uses hers daily for games, books and internet.
Since you hold on to your tech for a while, get the retina iPad mini. 199 is standard price on sale. Wait till Black Friday or tech Monday for the best deals on retina iPad mini .

[Grateful11]

Carm wrote:
It works fine. Wife uses hers daily for games, books and internet.
Since you hold on to your tech for a while, get the retina iPad mini. 199 is standard price on sale. Wait till Black Friday or tech Monday for the best deals on retina iPad mini .

Sounds like a good plan :-)

[pRICE cUBE]

There might be new iPads in October so close out iPad mini 2 retina will be less.

[Mini 9]

yes. It's worth it.

[thermarest]

Grateful11 wrote:
is it worth it?

nah.

you'll end up in the same can't-update-the-os position two years sooner

[MacDoxy]

ipad mini = ipad2 processing and age

miniR = ipad air processing and age (minus an imperceivable amount less because the difference is so small)

is $200 a good deal? probably as long as you know that it is possible that you won't get anywhere near the longevity of a faster (newer) processor.


also if you are a typical user and you are surfing online, emailing, netflixing, etc iPad 2 (mini1) is still ok. [esp if you are not doing something processor heavy like running a music studio or medical app results etc] it's just anyone's guess how many more iOS updates it will stand. it has been determined that ios8 will be available for ipad2 (mini1).

i would generally advise against buying older tablets, my theory being that you sell what you have when the new one comes out and then each iPad will only cost you your loss- like $100.. if you are really into it.
for you however, who have been able to get this far on an ipad1, i imagine you might like the upgrade to the ipad2 processor (mini1) and get more out of it than an average user who doesn't ask a forum what to do if things get tricky.

My one major piece of advice to you is just to NEVER buy an iPad 3. it doesn't really outperform ipad2 (mini1) and it is lacking compared to ipad4.

[silvarios]

MacDoxy wrote:
My one major piece of advice to you is just to NEVER buy an iPad 3. it doesn't really outperform ipad2 (mini1) and it is lacking compared to ipad4.

Argh. Of course the iPad 3 was the model I bought a couple years ago. I concur with your assessment. Brilliant screen, same relatively pokey performance compared to 4, Air, or mini retina. I should have saved money and bought the iPad 2.