Which iPad to get?

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technicaljoe

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Topic # 138663 12-Jan-2014 21:32
I'm planning to get an iPad for some casual usage. WiFi only will be sufficient for me. I'm a Microsoft guy, primarily use Windows Phone, Surface, and PC :) Don't know anything about iOS and Apple devices... Hope to get some advices from the community rather than retail sales people. Many thanks! Joseph

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Reply # 965731 12-Jan-2014 21:35
A new Mini Retina

technicaljoe

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Reply # 965735 12-Jan-2014 21:44
Thanks Nathan! Just looked at their comparison chart on the website again... Is the main difference between iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina the size difference?

gehenna

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Reply # 965753 12-Jan-2014 22:01
Screen size is the big difference. It's very noticeable between Mini and Air. Personally I prefer the size of the Air, it's far more usable for me - but then I have big hands :)

technicaljoe

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Reply # 965759 12-Jan-2014 22:20
In that case, I suspect I'd be going for an iPad Air then. Big hand here too :)

joker97

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Reply # 965780 12-Jan-2014 22:49
air, at least 32gb.

macuser

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Reply # 965784 12-Jan-2014 22:57
I had an iPad 3, way too heavy and became super slow in iOS7. The Air is much faster and much much lighter. The iPad Mini could be a great option if you're after a small tablet. I do say thought that iOS is still far better at consumption of content (eg browsing web/watching movies) than it is at helping you do real work - so just remember that when purchasing.

Buzz Bumble

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Reply # 965892 13-Jan-2014 09:37
It depends on what you're planning or may do in the future with it, but as always go for the biggest storage size you can afford (it can't be added to later) ... although there are options to store stuff on local computers and internet / cloud servers.

tdgeek

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Reply # 965898 13-Jan-2014 09:41
Interested to know why OP wants an iPad when he's not used Apple/iOS and has a Surface.

nathan

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Reply # 965923 13-Jan-2014 09:58
Apps

jonathan18

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Reply # 965975 13-Jan-2014 10:50
My advice is certainly don't stint on capacity. We bought a 64GB Air 4G model - within a matter of only three weeks it's already pretty full, and a significant majority of it is taken up by applications (to the extent I can store far fewer other files - music, video, photos - than I hoped to be able to). I now wish I'd stumped up with a bit more cash and bought the 128GB model. I suggest nothing less than 64GB, given the only option to "expand" is very expensive - ie replace the iPad with a new larger-capacity model! Air versus Mini - no contest that the Air is a more useful and usable size. The Mini's probably great if you're obsessive about having it take up minimal space, but given the relative lightness and size reduction of the Air versus earlier models...

Elpie

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Reply # 966010 13-Jan-2014 11:20
Definitely get the largest size (both screen & storage). The Air, is IMO, more usable than the mini. I don't have large hands but I like to see more. I've just moved from an iPad 2 32GB to an Air 64GB. I'd never consider 16GB as it takes very little time after you get used to using an iPad before you will find you are using it way more than expected and, despite assumptions that I'd never use it enough to need more than 32GB, going up a step with storage became essential.

littleheaven

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Reply # 966156 13-Jan-2014 14:00
If you get the Air or Mini Retina rather than one of the cheaper previous models, it comes with the Pages, Numbers and Keynote for free (the Mac alternative of Word, Excel and PowerPoint) which is great if you want to do some actual work on it. I've recently gone from a 3 to an Air and find the difference in weight to be significant. I concur with everyone else, get the largest capacity you can afford. Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable. Currently using: Modified 2008 Mac Pro, HP M6-1017TX Laptop, iPad Pro, iPhone 6S, iPhone 5, AppleTV4, Minix Neo Z-64.

nathan

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Reply # 966176 13-Jan-2014 14:26
jonathan18: My advice is certainly don't stint on capacity. We bought a 64GB Air 4G model - within a matter of only three weeks it's already pretty full, and a significant majority of it is taken up by applications (to the extent I can store far fewer other files - music, video, photos - than I hoped to be able to). I now wish I'd stumped up with a bit more cash and bought the 128GB model. I suggest nothing less than 64GB, given the only option to "expand" is very expensive - ie replace the iPad with a new larger-capacity model! Air versus Mini - no contest that the Air is a more useful and usable size. The Mini's probably great if you're obsessive about having it take up minimal space, but given the relative lightness and size reduction of the Air versus earlier models... curious to know what apps you're installing that takes up all the space? games? I have a 64GB and wish I had saved some money and got something smaller as I can't fill it up

myopinion

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Reply # 966235 13-Jan-2014 15:02
I don't have an issue with space as I rely heavily on cloud storage. I would recommend the Air as the extra screen real estate makes a big difference.

jonathan18

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Reply # 966240 13-Jan-2014 15:03
Yeah, quite a bit of that consists of games /educational apps, many of them used only by my kids! But even the basic apps like Pages take up a good amount of space. Another big user of space is offline Spotify music. I guess it also depends on what you want to use it for; eg personally, I like the idea of having immediate access to recent photos/videos; however space is at such a premium I have to limit these to the past year only. I have set my parents'iPad up to store all their photos as they like traveling with only this device; as they aren't so app-hungry they have plenty of space on their 64GB model.

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