In the wee hours of the Australian morning, Apple hosted a launch day that was arguably as big as their iPhone 5 launch a month ago. Not that anything that was put out there was terribly groundbreaking, but the sheer volume of new stuff was breathtaking. A new MacBook release, a new iMac, new Mac Mini, and an upgrade to the latest iPad (with the lightning dock connector and a faster processor). But really, today’s event was about the iPad Mini.
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WhyPad Mini?
Steve Jobs famously suggested that smaller tablets would require users to file their fingers down. You could argue that Jobs was a) wrong b) overlooked that he made touchscreen phones that were smaller than 7 inch tablets and c) using spin to sell the larger iPad. Not that it matters- Jobs passed away, Apple is starting to relinquish market share to small tablets and big phones, and the times they do-a-change. But really, the point is that ipad set the tablet market in motion, and went with a size that’s just a little too big to replace paperback books. So a smaller form factor has a definite place, especially with screen resolutions being what they are.
On the competition – the real competition in the tablet market has come less from the usual Samsung/HTC/Sony quarters, and more from Amazon. And that’s not completely surprising. Amazon is, in its way, a similar beast to Apple. It uses a superior ecosystem (its website and content delivery system) to do what others do, only better. And not surprisingly, when Amazon started selling a tablet to smoothly deliver their stuff, they focused less on the alphabet soup of specifications, and more on the actual user experience. The Kindle Fire doesn’t sell much in Australia, but in the US it’s the real competition to the iPad – cheap, beautiful, and efficient at putting books, movies and more in the hands of tech-weary consumers.
Not to be outdone, Google employed Asus to develop a small tablet this year under their Nexus label. Nexus is the Google badge that says “we designed this to show off Android in its purest form, not to show off the hardware manufacturer’s tech prowess”. And by most accounts, the Nexus 7 tablet is excellent – even if it is harder to get a hold of.
Then there’s the Samsung Galaxy Tab, which, true to Samsung form, comes in a confusing array of dimensions and releases. A better candidate from Samsung as a mini-tablet is their upcoming 5.5 inch Samsung Galaxy Note 2, the phone/tablet “phablet” that broke through in its first incarnation to be the surprise hit of the year. With the sequel, Samsung have upped the size and power to create an even more impressive hybrid.
Back to the point- now that Apple have joined the midway phone/tablet market, which one to go for? Buying the iPad Mini on a plan will doubtlessly be an option – like other tablets that come with a slot for a SIM card, carriers will be keen to find a new way to let people pay off a tablet over time on a contract with a data plan. But until actual plans come out, let’s just compare Wi-Fi only models with like, and debate the pros and cons of each. We’re also just looking at the minimum storage specs.
iPad Mini - $369
What is it?
Basically, it’s an iPad 2 squashed into a smaller form factor. It has roughly the same internals, with a design based more on the iPhone 5 (super light, super thin, anodized aluminium). Apart from the smaller size, it’s a full-on iPad.
Basic Specs
Up to 64 GB storage, enough for tons of books, music, video and apps. Even the minimum 16GB version will be plenty for most people.
7.8” screen (measured diagonally)
Advantages
It’s all about the operating system. There’s already nearly 300,000 apps designed specifically for the iPad, and nearly 700,000 in iOS overall including iPhone apps. But it’s the quality of apps and ecosystem that matters, and iOS is still the benchmark on that.
Disadvantages
Several things missing that make it worth waiting another year. We can guess that they used last year’s iPad 2 guts rather than the newer chips to keep the price down, but we all know these chips exist, and will be inserted into the iPad Mini 2 in 2013. Seems a waste.
Also the price. It took nearly a year after the release of the iPad in 2010 for competitors to match its $500 price tag. But the iPad Mini is entering the smaller tablet market late, and at the highest price point. The price is just that bit too high for schools to incorporate it easily, even though the iOS is much better suited to education.
Also, look at the price in context. Apple is the world’s wealthiest company. They print money. They could have broken even on the iPad Mini and dominated the entire tablet market. By pricing themselves well above the competition, they’ve left a foothold.
Where to buy
It’ll be everywhere in about two weeks, including on carriers as part of a bundle with a 3G data SIM.
Amazon Kindle Fire/Kindle Fire HD - $279/$329
What is it?
The Amazon Kindle Fire is a full colour tablet which concentrates on eBook reading. It uses a very locked down version of the Android operating system, and only allows installation of apps through a tailored, Amazon App Store. That said, the selection of apps is very broad, and Amazon does a good job of keeping out a lot of the dross that can clutter things up. In effect, Amazon offers an Android tablet with the feel of Apple’s iOS, where everything is locked down a bit, but far more pleasant.
The HD version comes with 16GB, front and back cameras for video chatting, and a faster processor- making it better all-round for video. There’s a 32GB option, and a 64GB model that’s more a full sized tablet.
Basic Specs
8GB storage (non expandable). Enough for tons of books and music, not too much video, several apps. 16GB for the HD version.
7” screen (measured diagonally from corner to corner). 7.5” for the HD version.
Advantages
It’s cheap, cheerful and runs extremely well. The screen is about as good as the iPad 2, which is to say very good. The overall feel is uncluttered and ‘nice’.
Disadvantages
Hard to buy! Amazon doesn’t ship it to Australia, so you often have to go through drop-shippers: companies that buy them in bulk overseas and sell them with a small mark-up in Australia.
Where to buy
Readershop.com.au is the best online seller we’ve seen. Otherwise, hard to find in a national chain electronics shop. Might require eBay in some cases.
Google Nexus 7 - $298
What is it?
Samsung’s success in smartphones has failed to properly translate in the tablet space, and the less said of Motorola and Sony attempts to make a Google tablet, the better. So Google got HTC to make them a proper Android tablet, rather than a piece of kit that just happens to run Android. So this is a full featured, bells and whistles tablet at a small form factor.
Basic Specs
16GB storage, 32Gb coming soon
7” screen (diagonal)
Advantages
Cheap, cheap, cheap. And it doesn’t spare much in terms of grunt. More of a large Android phone (with, uh, no phone) than a mini anything. Which might be the best approach to the mini tablet game – possibly to the whole tablet game.
Disadvantages
It’s not as fancy as the iPad in terms of design, but it is more durable and easy to hold without a case. So really, more of an advantage. The only real disadvantage is the Android operating system. Even in a pure state, it suffers from a certain unfriendliness in comparison to Apple’s iOS, and even compared to a thoughtful customized Android operating system like what Amazon employs.
But really, if you’re neutral on operating system, then it’s the best of all worlds. But who is neutral on the operating system?
Where to buy?
JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 - $679
What is it?
The successor to the Galaxy Note goes even further in trying to weld tablet and phone together, with a screen juuuuust slightly smaller than a paperback. But it’s a phone. So that price you see has to eb taken in context – it’s a very-top-of-the-line Android smartphone that’s big enough to render the purchase of a separate tablet moot.
Basic Specs
32Gb storage (expandable with SD card)
5.5” screen (diagonal)
It’s a phone
Advantages
Well, that’s obvious. It’s the best way to get the best of both worlds.
Disadvantages
Well, that’s obvious. It’s juuust a little too big as a smartphone, and juuust a little too small for a tablet. Or it isn’t. This is one of those things that can’t be judged objectively.
Where to buy
Currently only selling through drop-shippers, but all the usual suspects – Optus, Telstra, Vodafone, Virgin, even Dodo – will have it in a few weeks on contract.
Conclusion
The iPad Mini, like the iPhone 5, is simply not the very best in the market, even though it still holds the main trump card: Apple’s ecosystem. That said, it’s still good. Very good. Excellent. But the problem is, so is everything else.
For value, the Nexus 7 is your friend.
For the non-tech person, it’s a real toss up between the iPad Mini and the Kindle Fire.
For the fan of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, it’s the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 :D