Why I now have two iPads
I've used an iPad as my main computer since 2013, starting with the iPad Air and later the iPad Air 2. That involves me doing, at the very least, the following on it:
- All my school work.
- Catching up on texts and emails.
- Planning out upcoming days and weeks.
- Catching up on my news feeds and Reading List.
- Ensuring all rent and utility bills for my house are paid.
- Consolidating my bank accounts and finances spreadsheet.
The iPad Air was a great all-in-one device for me. It was portable enough to be used comfortably just about anywhere, and powerful enough for me to be able to get everything done efficiently. However, I made the decision a couple of weeks ago to switch to the iPad Pro; it's much less portable but the gains in productivity, especially when paired with the Apple Pencil, have definitely been worth it.
Yet at the same time, the iPad Air wasn't just a productivity device for me — it was also my couch computer; the device I used to scroll through Twitter and read articles in Safari on while I sat down with my feet up on front of the TV. That's where the iPad Pro falls short: as an iPad. If I can sit the Pro down on a desk or stand it up with the Smart Keyboard case, it's great. But there's no way to comfortably hold and use it when relaxing.
That's why I bought an iPad mini.
Measuring in at 7.9", just 2.4" bigger than my iPhone, it's really tiny. I can hold it and scroll through Twitter with one hand. But, unlike my iPhone, it has Split View. This lets me keep two apps running side-by-side, like my bank statement and Numbers spreadsheet. I've typed some of this article, including this paragraph, lying flat and thumb-typing in landscape mode. It's way too small for me to get any school work done on it, but it can do just about everything else on the list above perfectly well.
The iPad mini bridges the gap between my iPhone and iPad Pro perfectly. The Air might be the best iPad for some people, but I strongly believe that there's room for the Pro-Mini combination, too. A lot of people have disagreed with me on this already, and I understand why: The thought of needing two iPads sounds obnoxious. However, none of these people are iPad users, and I know three iPad Pro users that have been considering doing what I have so I know I'm not alone. All I can say is, after two weeks of using both devices, I don't regret my decision. I won't use the mini for any real 'work,' and it's probably not going to leave my room much (if at all), but it definitely has a place in my device ecosystem. So, yes: I now have two iPads.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
An aside on storage sizes
I originally went with the 16gb, wifi-only iPad mini 4 ($369 with Education Discount) and, even with just my most necessary apps, I ran out of storage space before I finished setting it up. I had to go back to the store the next day and upgrade to the 64gb for an additional $100. That pissed me off.
A lot of people go with the base model iPad mini for many reasons. It makes for a great gift at a starting price of under $400. But if I can't even get it to work as a simple couch computer, I can't imagine how anybody's supposed to use one as their only iPad.
All my Music, Photos, and Documents are stored in iCloud. I didn't even install any games — just a bunch of productivity apps. I've long advocated that the 16gb model get dropped from the lineup and, after seeing firsthand how little it can store, I'm extremely disappointed it's still around.
The iPhone/iPad lineups should start at 32gb, with 64gb and 128gb models available for those who need them. The iPad Pro should have Cellular options available at all storage sizes — not just at 128gb. I could make do with 32gb on all my devices but I've been forced to shell out more money for a 64gb iPhone, 64gb iPad mini, and a 128gb iPad Pro this fall. I'm not OK with that.
Posted by: Alice Saunders <lwr32@mac.com>
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