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Why everyone loves the iPad mini (even though the screen sucks)

thetechblock.com

31–40 of 72 posts

Re: Why everyone loves the iPad mini (even though the screen sucks)

#31

Technology is all about tradeoffs, film at 11. But seriously, I held a Mini yesterday. As an iPad3 owner I can say I'd trade my retina and larger screen for the weight of the Mini any day. The weight of the 3 is really difficult to hold for long periods of time. Of course, I'd highly prefer a full-sized iPad that was as light as the Mini (or "proportionally light", like the iPhone5 vs 4). I'm not sure if battery tech…

>The weight of the 3 is really difficult to hold for long periods of time. I have to say I've never really understood this complaint. Do people use iPads standing up or something? I have the iPad in my lap or on my chest if reading in bed. The amount of time I spend using it while I have to hold it unsupported is minimal. The iPad 3&4 weigh about the same as a large hardcover book. Do people find the weight of hardco…

> "Do people use iPads standing up or something?"

Not much, because it's too heavy to use standing up. Or rather, in the usual stand-up use cases (e.g., on a bus, boat, or train) you usually want to one-hand the device, and its weight prevents you from doing so.

> "The amount of time I spend using it while I have to hold it unsupported is minimal."

Is that because tablets naturally don't have "unsupported" use cases, or because the current implementation fulfills said use cases poorly, and therefore you don't use them that way?

> "Do people find the weight of hardcover books difficult to hold for long periods of time?"

While standing or one-handing it? Yes.

> "Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon is about twice the weight of The Hobbit."

And how many times have you seen someone reading a book that size on the subway/bus/ferry? ;)

Re: Why everyone loves the iPad mini (even though the screen sucks)

#32
post #24

Wow. Look at every Apple user come out and say how much like they a smaller screen now, after downplaying all the 7" Android devices for being too small before the iPad Mini. And please don't tell me it makes such a big difference between a 7" and a 7.9", because in my mind the bigger display size is actually a disadvantage, as it's not a very comfortable one-handed device anymore. You can't use it like you would a s…

"Every Apple user" didn't downplay 7-inch Android devices. You already didn't like Apple and needed a justification to complain about Apple and their fans, like some tablet platform warrior.

Most Apple fans are the opposite of how they're portrayed. Rather than accept everything Apple does, they over-analyze and complain about nearly everything. If Apple slightly mismatches the color of a button, it will get mentioned in a whiny thread on the Apple support forums.

Re: Why everyone loves the iPad mini (even though the screen sucks)

#33
post #24

Wow. Look at every Apple user come out and say how much like they a smaller screen now, after downplaying all the 7" Android devices for being too small before the iPad Mini. And please don't tell me it makes such a big difference between a 7" and a 7.9", because in my mind the bigger display size is actually a disadvantage, as it's not a very comfortable one-handed device anymore. You can't use it like you would a s…

Wow, EVERY Apple user, it's nice to know you have all that data to look at.

The Nexus 7 and the iPad Mini are tablets, not phones, both are uncomfortable in one hand and not big enough to be productive on them, unless a 10" tablet is too big for you I wouldn't even look at them.

Phone wise: smaller is better. I prefer the 4S screen size to the 5. Galaxy Note and huge Android devices are laughable from my point of view.

Re: Why everyone loves the iPad mini (even though the screen sucks)

#34

Technology is all about tradeoffs, film at 11. But seriously, I held a Mini yesterday. As an iPad3 owner I can say I'd trade my retina and larger screen for the weight of the Mini any day. The weight of the 3 is really difficult to hold for long periods of time. Of course, I'd highly prefer a full-sized iPad that was as light as the Mini (or "proportionally light", like the iPhone5 vs 4). I'm not sure if battery tech…

>The weight of the 3 is really difficult to hold for long periods of time. I have to say I've never really understood this complaint. Do people use iPads standing up or something? I have the iPad in my lap or on my chest if reading in bed. The amount of time I spend using it while I have to hold it unsupported is minimal. The iPad 3&4 weigh about the same as a large hardcover book. Do people find the weight of hardco…

If it's in my lap for reading, no big deal. I haven't been able to find a longer-term comfortable way to place it on my chest to read while in bed.

If I'm playing a game I often have to hold it in my hands. Maybe I'm just a sissy-pants programmer with soft hands, but it gets annoying to hold it after a while.

Re: Why everyone loves the iPad mini (even though the screen sucks)

#35
post #28
post #23

I don't have a mini (yet...), but I can't imagine any situation where I can carry the mini but not the full-sized iPad. Neither will fit in my pocket comfortably (like a phone), and either fits fine in any bag I own. Since I reach for my MBA13 as frequently (more like 4x as often) as iPad when both are sitting in front of me, I don't think I'd be that likely to go for the mini vs. iPad at home or where I had both dev…

I'm liking the mini precisely because I have it with me. It fits in my coat pockets. When spring comes around I'll probably have to start wearing clown pants.

This is one of the biggest advantage the Nexus 7 has over the mini. It fits, if a bit snugly, into the back pockets of my jeans.

Re: Why everyone loves the iPad mini (even though the screen sucks)

#36
post #24

Wow. Look at every Apple user come out and say how much like they a smaller screen now, after downplaying all the 7" Android devices for being too small before the iPad Mini. And please don't tell me it makes such a big difference between a 7" and a 7.9", because in my mind the bigger display size is actually a disadvantage, as it's not a very comfortable one-handed device anymore. You can't use it like you would a s…

I use Apple products pretty much throughout my life, I didn't think the smaller screen was a big deal, and I was wrong. I've never been terribly loud about 7" devices being crappy, and I've always known Apple wasn't perfect -- they do plenty of things that annoy me and make me think about getting out of the Apple habit. But hey, I was definitely wrong about the smaller screen.

FWIW, I think that extra inch of screen size does make a difference. On the other hand, I'd still like the Mini a lot if the physical size was exactly the same as the Nexus 7, and I like my Nexus 7 fine too. The biggest reason why I'd choose the Mini over the Nexus, other than ecosystem, is weight -- the Mini is lighter by 30 grams or so. Screen size isn't a huge deal, just a minor advantage.

Re: Why everyone loves the iPad mini (even though the screen sucks)

#37
post #33
post #24

Wow. Look at every Apple user come out and say how much like they a smaller screen now, after downplaying all the 7" Android devices for being too small before the iPad Mini. And please don't tell me it makes such a big difference between a 7" and a 7.9", because in my mind the bigger display size is actually a disadvantage, as it's not a very comfortable one-handed device anymore. You can't use it like you would a s…

Wow, EVERY Apple user, it's nice to know you have all that data to look at. The Nexus 7 and the iPad Mini are tablets, not phones, both are uncomfortable in one hand and not big enough to be productive on them, unless a 10" tablet is too big for you I wouldn't even look at them. Phone wise: smaller is better. I prefer the 4S screen size to the 5. Galaxy Note and huge Android devices are laughable from my point of vie…

Wow, EVERY Apple user, it's nice to know you have all that data to look at. [...] both are uncomfortable in one hand and not big enough to be productive on them [...] smaller is better [...] huge Android devices are laughable from my point of view

If you're going to criticise someone for making blanket statements, I wouldn't then immediately follow it up with a series of blanket statements.

Re: Why everyone loves the iPad mini (even though the screen sucks)

#39
post #24

Wow. Look at every Apple user come out and say how much like they a smaller screen now, after downplaying all the 7" Android devices for being too small before the iPad Mini. And please don't tell me it makes such a big difference between a 7" and a 7.9", because in my mind the bigger display size is actually a disadvantage, as it's not a very comfortable one-handed device anymore. You can't use it like you would a s…

What to expect?

They always try to justify the decisions of the great leader.

Re: Why everyone loves the iPad mini (even though the screen sucks)

#40
post #24

Wow. Look at every Apple user come out and say how much like they a smaller screen now, after downplaying all the 7" Android devices for being too small before the iPad Mini. And please don't tell me it makes such a big difference between a 7" and a 7.9", because in my mind the bigger display size is actually a disadvantage, as it's not a very comfortable one-handed device anymore. You can't use it like you would a s…

You obviously never held seen an iPsd mini or held it in comparison to an 7" tablet. There is a noticeable difference in screen size.

>because in my mind the bigger display size is actually a disadvantage

That's your opinion. The other opinion held is that, by the majority of consumers, the iPad 10" is more desirable than the iPad mini.

You're giving some kind of ridiculous argument which misses the point. Average people don't like PCs and 7" screens are still too small otherwise the Nexus 7, or other 7" tablets would be more popular.

That's not to say there aren't use cases for a smaller screen but the public at large doesn't care about how fast they can type.

Companies today will adapt more quickly to making their employees happy than being efficient.

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