It seems like every couple of months (It’s actually about every year and a half to two years but you get the idea) Apple is coming out with a new device that we as consumers just have to have. It began with the iPod, moved to the iPhone, and then the iPad. Now, it’s the iPad Mini. But the real question is, “Is the iPad Mini right for You?”
Apple, wanting to capitalize on the small e-reader market, recently released the iPad Mini, which is pretty much the same thing as the iPad 2……….or 3………..or whatever the other new iPad is called that came out on the same day as the iPad Mini……..but I digress. While the iPad Mini does have some things that the iPad apparently doesn’t it is in all intents and purposes a “mini iPad.” Nothing really better or cooler. Just a small iPad.
While having everything that Apple makes seems to be a new status symbol in America the fact of the matter is that MOST consumers are looking for good deals on electronics and phone because of a sluggish economy. If Apple was looking to compete with the likes of Kindle, Kindle fire, Nook, and Nook HD they missed the mark. Apple has priced the iPad Mini at $329 which is a far cry from the $199 for the Nook, $269 for the Nook HD, and well below what the Kindle Family offers consumers. The one exception to that is the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 with ultra-fast 4G LTE wireless which runs $499.
While the iPad Mini is cool it really is no different than the current generations of iPad like the 2 and the iPad with retina display. Sure there are minor variations like speed, charging ports, retina display, but most people will not even notice the differences.
If you are looking for a Christmas gift and an e-reader is on your list the iPad Mini may be out of your price range and you will be able to find e-readers that do some of the same things in different ways as the iPad Mini for a much better price. My opinion, grab a Kindle Fire or Nook HD, both are great little devices that offer the consumer a great price and similar functions as the iPad Mini.
So if you are looking for a good deal on an e-reader for Christmas or just as a gift for yourself or someone you love I don’t think the iPad Mini is what you are looking for. The price is outside the e-reader market and there is really no difference with the current generations of the larger iPads. If you want an iPad I recommend getting the larger version. Until next time.
God Bless,
Shawn Wilson
Founder/CEO



