Upgrading iPad - iPad Air or iPad mini with retna

[HawkTX]

It's time to upgrade my iPad first generation. I've narrowed it down to the iPad Air or the iPad mini retina. Any thoughts?

 

[007]

Like my current gen ipad with the retina, but I really have nothing to compare it to!

 

[steined]

The air is nice. I'm now partial to Android devices, but my wife's air is much faster than my 3rd Gen ipad with retina. I believe that version was the proverbial "red headed step child" however as it was only out about 9 months. I hear the 4th Gen and iPad air have similar performance. I think the weight savings of the air vs 3rd/4th gen is worth it.

I have a nexus 7 and since I've been using it, I'd get an iPad mini retina next time if I get one. It's smaller and lighter and as a result I take it more places without thinking about it. That makes it a more useful device if I have it when I need it!

 

[Cory]

I just traded all our first generations in for iPad airs. Very pleased. It's all I use on the forum.

 

[Ronnie]

I had a first gen iPad with 3g functionality. Currently I use an iPad mini with 4g functionality along with navionics in the water and am happy with it. I also have a gen 2 iPad but don't use it on the water or at home since I have the mini.

Regardless of what iPad I use on the water I found two issues with them generally, first is that they are sometimes very hard to see in direct sun light and there is not much that can be done by way of adjusting the display settings, second is that they over heat with in an hour so so in direct sun light, so if you plan to use it on the water plan accordingly.

Lastly my wife has a samsung (galaxy?), 8" tablet that does not have 4 g capabilities but that, from what I've read, is GPS enabled so it should be able to run navionics anyway. Had I known this before I bought my iPad mini I may have selected the samsung instead. The latter is more flexible too in that it has interchangeable memory card and a mini USB port. I haven't tried it yet on the water and probably never will since it's my wife's tablet.

 

[HawkTX]

I appreciate everyone's input.

While it will mostly be used at home. I will travel with it some so I am leaning towards the iPad mini Retina for easy portability. I'm going to check them out today at the Apple store.

 

[steined]

I appreciate everyone's input.

While it will mostly be used at home. I will travel with it some so I am leaning towards the iPad mini Retina for easy portability. I'm going to check them out today at the Apple store.

For what its worth, the 4g functionality is a great feature if you can spare the $140 up front cost and you are going to rely on it when traveling. Yes you can tether it to a smart phone, but at least with Verizon, adding this to our plan was $10 a month, which I find to be reasonable. There aren't a lot of areas where I just disregard price in favor of convenience, but if this is going to be a productivity tool for you, then I would strongly consider it. It also works as a great wireless hotspot with somewhere around 10 - 12 hours of usage for just that. It's nice to be able to save your phone's battery if you have to use your laptop with a 4g connection somewhere. Of course I own a programming consulting company so I am constantly in need to being connected so this was a huge plus for me. Hope this helps.

Edit - In addition, Ronnie alluded to this, but you don't get GPS on the iPad unless you purchase one with the cell modem in it. It does make a great nav system using 4g and google maps or waze!

 

[cane.mba]

My wife got me a mini with Retna to replace my first gen at Christmas. I love the mini so much better, easier to carry to the office, traveling, etc. I am also thinking it'll be easier to mount due to size...

 

[HawkTX]

I wound up getting the iPad Air. I debated for over an hour in the store going back-and-forth between the iPad Air and the iPad mini retina. In the end since I decided the majority of the use would be at home so I went with the larger iPad. Both are really cool toys! Thanks for everyone's help on this topic.

 

[cane.mba]

I don't think you can wrong with either! Time for some Candy Crush?

 

[HawkTX]

I don't think you can wrong with either! Time for some Candy Crush?

LOL!!!