You can now order the iPad Mini w/Retina Display via Apple.com

If I get one, it'll be a refurb last year's model. Don't need or care about the Retina display. But I am wobbling about the GPS version. If I'm going to get ADS-B box, it'll have GPS in it so won't need the iPad mini GPS model. But I don't know when I'll get the other box....

decisions, decisions, decisions.
 
murphey said:
If I get one, it'll be a refurb last year's model. Don't need or care about the Retina display. But I am wobbling about the GPS version. If I'm going to get ADS-B box, it'll have GPS in it so won't need the iPad mini GPS model. But I don't know when I'll get the other box....

decisions, decisions, decisions.
Click to expand...

Buy the other box first, then the iPad. Problem solved!

David
 
murphey said:
If I get one, it'll be a refurb last year's model. Don't need or care about the Retina display. But I am wobbling about the GPS version. If I'm going to get ADS-B box, it'll have GPS in it so won't need the iPad mini GPS model. But I don't know when I'll get the other box....

decisions, decisions, decisions.
Click to expand...


Just to confuse you more, the mini with retina has a much faster CPU in it. This will come into play with more demanding apps... foreflight coming to mind immediately. Beyond that, you can figure in 2 more years worth of iOS updates will probably leave the old mini slow and clunky.

I'm with you as far as the display- the old one is good enough for me but the other features make it a tough call. I've found with apple devices, buying the old model to save some money doesn't save much in the long term. It just gets obsoleted out of usefulness a year sooner.
 
cowman said:
Just to confuse you more, the mini with retina has a much faster CPU in it. This will come into play with more demanding apps... foreflight coming to mind immediately. Beyond that, you can figure in 2 more years worth of iOS updates will probably leave the old mini slow and clunky.

I'm with you as far as the display- the old one is good enough for me but the other features make it a tough call. I've found with apple devices, buying the old model to save some money doesn't save much in the long term. It just gets obsoleted out of usefulness a year sooner.
Click to expand...


I agree. I figure the old mini is an iPad2 which is nearly outdated even though still being produced.

David
 
Trigger pulled here, thanks for the post.

Even though I'm a dedicated FF user, this one is going to my copilot. Her iPad2 is cracked and her iPhone is fat. So she gets a 64G mod with cellular. It's like her air and water.

Me, I'm going to stick with my 32G Wifi iPad2. It's mounted in the plane just right, the blue tooth GPS works fine, a slim little iPhone for FF backup, and I have ADSB displayed on the EFIS. Life is good, stable and reliable.

Now if I can just find an app for FIKI....
 
cowman said:
Just to confuse you more, the mini with retina has a much faster CPU in it. This will come into play with more demanding apps... foreflight coming to mind immediately. Beyond that, you can figure in 2 more years worth of iOS updates will probably leave the old mini slow and clunky.

I'm with you as far as the display- the old one is good enough for me but the other features make it a tough call. I've found with apple devices, buying the old model to save some money doesn't save much in the long term. It just gets obsoleted out of usefulness a year sooner.
Click to expand...
No problem with my iPad full size, couple years old. Just wanted the smaller one for the airplane.
 
murphey said:
If I get one, it'll be a refurb last year's model. Don't need or care about the Retina display. But I am wobbling about the GPS version. If I'm going to get ADS-B box, it'll have GPS in it so won't need the iPad mini GPS model. But I don't know when I'll get the other box....

decisions, decisions, decisions.
Click to expand...

I did WiFi-only originally. Love the integrated GPS. There are times you want to use that capability when you don't need the Stratus. I also like being able to get weather data or file a flight plan without needing a hot spot.
 
flhrci said:
So, did you pull the trigger?

David
Click to expand...

Yes.

To answer Murphey's quandry, I opted for the LTE version since I am likely to use it out of range of wi-fi sources as much as within range. And I want the GPS chip.

The club is looking into the Stratus II box, but I wanted the GPS for non-aviation use too.
 
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Remember too that if you splurge for the 4G/GPS-enabled version, you will be able to get 200MB of data for free from T-Mobile every month, without any contract or hassles. It's not going to get you a video or anything, but it'd be perfect for filing flight plans and checking basic weather information/TFRs before takeoff.

I know they ask you to select a carrier when you buy the iPad, but it's my understanding that there's just one cellular iPad version now, and the hardware is compatible with any carrier should you want to change at some point. Perhaps somebody can confirm that for me.
 
murphey said:
If I get one, it'll be a refurb last year's model. Don't need or care about the Retina display. But I am wobbling about the GPS version. If I'm going to get ADS-B box, it'll have GPS in it so won't need the iPad mini GPS model. But I don't know when I'll get the other box....

decisions, decisions, decisions.
Click to expand...

Generally the Apple refurb store is an excellent way to save and get a virtually brand new product. But, I'll agree with the previous posters -- the old Mini is an iPad2 on the inside, and the new one is an iPad 5. The initial benchmarks indicate the processor is five times as fast. The iPad2/Mini runs fine now, but it may not be supported all that long and may struggle to run the latest version of FF (and other software) fairly soon. The new Mini is a pretty big leap in computing power.

Just something to keep in mind.
 
Question for those with a data plan unit, how big of a data plan do you need? I plan on using this primarily for flight related activities (weather, flight plans and occasional web browsing). What would you recommend? Any carriers seem better than another?
 
Just ordered one. Should have it buy December. Now I just need to get current again.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Marauder said:
Question for those with a data plan unit, how big of a data plan do you need? I plan on using this primarily for flight related activities (weather, flight plans and occasional web browsing). What would you recommend? Any carriers seem better than another?
Click to expand...

I bought the tmobile version because instead of charging overage they just throttle your speed when you go over. I do not plan on using the data much. I use foreflight on my iPhone when I need it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
LDJones said:
I did WiFi-only originally. Love the integrated GPS. There are times you want to use that capability when you don't need the Stratus. I also like being able to get weather data or file a flight plan without needing a hot spot.
Click to expand...
I'm still doing Wifi-only but I added an iPhone. That provides Foreflight backup and the ability to get weather or file a plan when wifi isn't available. I've since added the wifi hotspot service to the phone so I tend to turn that on and use the iPad in wifi mode.

It's nice to have options. Clearly the ideal would be to have cellular support on the iPad and and an iPhone, both with FF. It's just $$$$.
 
Woo_hoo!_poster.jpg


Just ordered, direct from Apple:

10845230184_3a2cc1fda3.jpg


And an Otterbox and extra lightning cable from Amazon.

Kinda just gave up on Target - will use the gift card towards something over the holidays.
 
Now it's a race to see who gets theirs first :lol:
 
how many gigs do I NEED for airplane related stuff? How much are you guys using generally?
 
16gb worked for me with WingXPro7 and VFR charts and a whole lot more.

Still, programs don't get any smaller, so 32gb would probably be a wise choice, since more cannot be added later.

I got to that point and figured $100 for 64gb was cheap insurance that I can use it many years into the future.
 
As an aside, really large memory capacity is nice to have, but...

...with Dropbox and iTunes Match and Pandora and iTunes Radio and Flickr and the like, its not really necessary to store huge collections of music and/or photos on the device any more.

Maybe in specific use cases the 128gb would help, if working with large video files, let's say. Beyond that, I still think the 32gb would give enough breathing room for most uses.
 
Yeah, I use pandora for music, so 2 or 3 gigs of music for when there's no connection is more than enough for me.

I'll prob go with the 32 gig then.

I don't like to buy more memory than needed because I figure I'll want to upgrade devices by the time I need the extra space anyway...

Thanks!
 
I'm waiting until BestBuy has the cellular ones in stock so I can get rewards points on the purchase. I'm selling my iPad 2 to Gazell to help fund the cost of a new mini.

My wife bought the new mini yesterday, wifi only, and damn is it fast and purrrrddyyyy to look at. I loaded ForeFlight and didn't download any charts. WOW FAST! You want weather, boom done. You want pireps, done. You want US LOW charts, done. Soooo much faster than the iPad 2.
 
let me see if I can ask this question correctly.
Background
I am PPL with apx 150 hours. I use an IPAD 2. foreflight and couple of other like cloud ahoy and weather radar.

I mainly use it for flying.

I currently in IR training, about 10 hours in, therefore, I will be purchasing the full Foreflight in January when my subscription is due.

My question is,
is there that much difference in the Retina screen than the older screen using foreflight,
If yes, please give detail

Thank you.
Lynn
 
The iPad 2 is higher res than the non-retina iPad mini. I doubt you'd see much difference.
 
Got text from Apple, mine will be delivered today!

Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk
 
DaytonaLynn said:
let me see if I can ask this question correctly.
Background
I am PPL with apx 150 hours. I use an IPAD 2. foreflight and couple of other like cloud ahoy and weather radar.

I mainly use it for flying.

I currently in IR training, about 10 hours in, therefore, I will be purchasing the full Foreflight in January when my subscription is due.

My question is,
is there that much difference in the Retina screen than the older screen using foreflight,
If yes, please give detail

Thank you.
Lynn
Click to expand...

Lynn -- the main difference I think you will notice on an iPad 3 and especially the Air is the speed of loading things as compared to an iPad 1 or 2. I fly routinely with a friend with a 3 and I have a 2. ForeFlight loads much quicker on his and the graphics are a bit better on his but not enough for me to sell my 2.
 
Lynn... I did my flight to Sugar Land with a "standard" Mini borrowed from a friend. Once my Retina version arrives, I'll be in a position to compare the two and then answer your question regarding quality of the display while using it in flight...

My primary reason for getting the Mini is the form factor provides more mounting location choices than the full size does (C182P).
 
Bill Watson said:
It's nice to have options. Clearly the ideal would be to have cellular support on the iPad and and an iPhone, both with FF. It's just $$$$.
Click to expand...

On Verizon's Family Share Plan it's only $10 a month to add the tablet. That's what pushed me over the edge to add the LTE data and I love it.
 
Got it

Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk
 
Ordered Tuesday 7am

Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk
 
Dang, cover only

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Badger said:
Dang, cover only
Click to expand...

Nelson-Haha.jpg


Beat you then, albeit with my Otterbox.

Cloudy day but I went out to the airport to at least start and warm up the plane and futz around the hangar for awhile.

Did mount a RAM ball with Super-Lok tape to the back of the Otterbox cover, and tried it in the plane:

10893462355_22b510cc74_c.jpg


(made some zoom-zoom noises as well)

I think the more compact size will play well in my kinda tight cockpit.

The Otterbox screen is quite reflective, as you can see. May end up poking it out and putting on one of the Moshi anti-glare shields I referenced in another thread.
 
I ordered mine yesterday... waiting sucks!
 
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