iPad mini-the perfect amateur genealogists tool?

[lenc]

hi

i would like to hear other peoples opinions of the new iPad mini.

i have just treated myself to an early pressie from santa and i am delighted with it.

its just the right size to carry around,and yet big enough to read comfortably all those e-books and pdf documents  i have been meaning to read for months

i can also easily and quickly scan through my GRO scans  etc so i always have them with me

my family tree on ancestry comes up beautifully

so what do you guys think?

is the ipad mini the ideal genealogists working tool?

[Nick29]

I think I'd rather have a Kindle Fire HD, thanks.

[smudwhisk]

I think I'll stick to my little Windows Netbook.   At least I can install what I like on that and am not subject to what Apple will allow to download/purchase from their store.   Not all of us have an online tree, nor wish to have one either so an iPad of any sort is no use.

[trystan]

I'm put off by the price of the IPad mini. I could buy a sofa for the same money. The Google Nexus 7 has a better screen resolution, it's massively cheaper and from what I've read looks really really good. Has anybody used one?

[suegill]

I think I'll stick to my little Windows Netbook.   At least I can install what I like on that and am not subject to what Apple will allow to download/purchase from their store.   Not all of us have an online tree, nor wish to have one either so an iPad of any sort is no use.

I don't have an online tree.  I use Heredis (a free app) on my ipad and find it very useful.

[km1971]

The Google Nexus 7 has a better screen resolution, it's massively cheaper and from what I've read looks really really good. Has anybody used one?

I took delivery of the Nexus 7 32Gb 3G last Thursday. My first Android device. Google have sold out of that model at present. If you google review plus the name of the make you will find lots of comparisons between Nexus, Kindle and iPad mini

I am not a fan of Apple either because of the price. The build quality of the Nexus 7 is excellent. I can hold is in one hand so would not like the iPad mini as it is about half an inch wider. Although I would recommend getting a wallet from somewhere like Amazon. It also has a microUSB port so you can I attach things. I don't know about iPads or Kindles.

I ordered a free SIM from GiffGaff and that took a week to come. They use the O2 service, so you should check out the speed in your area. Three are offering it on contract. Giff Gaff charge £5 for 500Mb - £7.50 for 2Gb - £12.50 for 3 Gb - valid for a month. Whether you need/want to pay £40 extra for 3G depends on if you have good WiFi available and where you travel to.

Bad points:

- Google charged £15 delivery
- It comes with vitually no instructions. Fine for WiFi but not for 3G
- Took ages to set up 3G. Problem with most technies on the forums I tried only have 3G on a phone so getting the first two-three steps was a pain. I found a clip on YouTube in the end, and it works fine.

Another good point is that it does not come in white.

Ken

[Nick29]

The iPad is made in the same Chinese factory (Foxconn) as the Xbox3, Sony Playstation, the Kindle and the Wii U.

[macberry]

I've got the first iPad  and it's very good to use but now have Samsung tab 2 with 10  inch screen . It's fantastic for looking on websites and forums.

[lenc]

.

thanks guys.

i agree about the price of apple products.they are very expensive.i am happy with my purchase though and its giving me a chance to read all those ebooks i downloaded.


the irish free genealogy ebook blog particularly is excellent.

tbh i had no intention of buying one until  wife asked for one for her birthday,so i ended up buying two!!

trying to keep apple inc in the black single handedly lol!