Buying an iPad mini...good choice?

gino_76ph

We all cannot hide the fact that Google Android is on the rise. Profits of Apple from their i-devices have become stale/weaker-than-expected the past year or so i hear on the news. And we can all agree there will be some form of a next-gen Nexus 7 & iPad mini this year. But that's in the later half of the year i reckon. On a packed train i see 3 out of 5 people now use Android phones. And today i heard the high street retailers would rather recommend an Android phone than an iPhone. Why? Well, its not rocket science. Android phones are just better. Tablets? That's another ball game.

The "limitation" & closeness of the iOS like i said puts me off at the moment. Like the issue of transferring files to an iPad. You still have to use iTunes or some expensive 3rd-party software to do that. With Android you just connect to a PC or Mac and drag n' drop away. Sure you might get 50GB off some cloud services app to save your files but that can only work if your in a wifi area isn't it. At home yes that's fine but what if you are on a train station or some cafe that has no wifi or travelling on the Tube or Overground. You're done for! Secondly, the issue of disk space. Apple has been on a disinformation campaign for years i think. What i mean is the 16GB of disk space "advertised is not actually 16GB. Because of the OS and pre-installed apps it will go down as far as 12GB in total. So, you feel you'll be forced to get the 32GB which is (again this eternal complaint that is) expensive. Yes let's face it...it IS expensive. Even if you argue the quality etc. etc. of Apple devices £329 for a 32GB for an iPad mini is that overpriced.

My Nexus 7 have not got a lot of apps or games or photos or films on it. And the last time i've checked it has 15GB of the total hard disk space now used. That has been my average since buying it last year. That means a 16GB iPad mini will not be enough for me.

If Apple made the 32GB down to £299 then i will jump right in. If i can drag n' drop files from my Mac (thru a connected portable hard drive) to my iPad mini without the use of iTunes or 3rd-party software then i will buy an iPad mini today. The screen is fine for me. I survived using my old iPad 2 and only sold it for financial reasons.

DCFC79

gino_76ph wrote: »

So, you feel you'll be forced to get the 32GB which is (again this eternal complaint that is) expensive.

I disagree, if you have the N7 16GB you can get extra storage my buying an OTG cable, the Nexus media importer app (£1.88), a micro sd card (saw a 16GB class 10 on HUKD for about £10 or a 32GB class 10 for £20 ) and a micro sd to usb adapter (£2 max). Im sure you could get that for less than the difference in price between the Nexus 16 and 32GB.

Prices correct last time I checked.

Or instead of buying a MicroSD card and adapter you buy one of these or similar if it works out cheaper.

gino_76ph

But i don't want to get an OTG USB cable. Would be quite of a hassle if there is a cable sticking out from your tablet. I have a 32GB Nexus 7.

DCFC79

gino_76ph wrote: »

But i don't want to get an OTG USB cable. Would be quite of a hassle if there is a cable sticking out from your tablet. I have a 32GB Nexus 7.

Thats your perogative. I was just saying that people wouldnt be forced to buy the 32GB.

Hang on im confused, thought you sold the Nexus to get 1 of the ipads, sorry if ive not kept up.

penrhyn

I think the phrase rhymes with clucking bell.:D

gino_76ph

I was selling my Nexus 7 and then i changed my mind. But now i am again inclined to sell it. The "positives" of the iPad mini seems to outweigh the negatives so far.

jaydeeuk1

Please just buy an ipad - you sound just like one of their target customers.

Fifer

in_my_bumble_opinion wrote: »

If you do lots of surfing, the mini is preferable to any 7 inch tablet (in my opinion) as most pages come up the same as they would on your desktop/laptop, not stacked/chopped/rearranged.

Which 7" tablet stacks/chops/rearranges websites? And surely such issues (if they happen at all) would be a function of screen resolution rather than screen size?

wba31

gino_76ph wrote: »

If Apple made the 32GB down to £299 then i will jump right in. If i can drag n' drop files from my Mac (thru a connected portable hard drive) to my iPad mini without the use of iTunes or 3rd-party software then i will buy an iPad mini today. The screen is fine for me. I survived using my old iPad 2 and only sold it for financial reasons.

Price wont drop until the 2nd gen mini will be out, with the retina display probably.
As far as i am aware itunes is the only and simplest way of doing it. there may be 3rd party apps im unaware of, but im unsure why you wouldnt want to use itunes if already using Apple stuff (locked in!!!!! freak out!!)