It’s official: Apple introduced the iPad mini on Tuesday, with a starting price of $ 329 for the 16 GB Wi-Fi model. That’s a $ 170 savings over a full-sized iPad with the same storage and connectivity options, so Apple is sure to attract some buyers that can’t quite afford the $ 499 iPad. Why not, when the iPad mini can run all of the same iPad apps, just on a 7.9-inch smaller screen with 1024 x 768 resolution?
But what about those who already purchased one — or more — of the 100 million iPads that Apple has already sold? I’m part of that crowd even though I actually prefer a smaller slate; that’s why I have a Google Nexus 7, for example. Now I’m on the fence and I’m wondering if others are too.
Both the iPad and iPad mini run the same apps, have FaceTime cameras and support iCloud, of course. So is there a need to have both – say the larger one for use at home and the smaller one to take out and about?
For me, it all comes to the use cases and scenarios where I use my slates. My iPad rarely leaves home as I typically take a smaller tablet or a larger phone with me when walking out the door. Maybe I’m not a good example though, so here’s a poll on the iPad mini. Are you buying one, and if so, do you also have an iPad that you’ll keep or sell?
