iPad or iPad Mini?
Should you select the full size iPad (9.7″ screen) or the iPad Mini (7.9″ screen) for field use on a construction site? Well, that truly depends. You can likely make do with either but one or the other will likely fit your particular uses better. The only real difference for most users is the size — unless you are running some of the 3D BIM software where you’ll want the faster processor of the full size iPad. The smaller iPad Mini is much more portable, fitting in the pocket of cargo pants or a coat or safety vest pocket. Depending on the case you have it in, it may fit in your blue jeans back pocket. The trade off is, of course, screen real estate. The Mini runs the same apps as the iPad but the apps are scaled to fit the smaller screen. Thus, text entry fields and buttons are smaller and can be difficult to use with gloves (special gloves for iPad use covered later) or for those of us with chubby fingers.
Typing can also be a determinant. How much and what type of typing will you do? Many people get pretty efficient typing on the full size iPad keyboard in landscape mode. If you’re mainly using the iPad in portrait mode, some people with small hands have difficulty thumb typing on the full size iPad and really prefer the Mini for thumb typing. I’m over 6 ft tall and have no problem thumb typing on the iPad. Both work fine with an external bluetooth keyboard, which I highly recommend if you will be doing lots of typing or paragraph data entry. Stop by an Apple Store or Best Buy and try both. Spend a few moments and type out a fairly long text document (use the Notes app). Keep in mind you can employ a Blue-tooth keyboard for serious typing.
Some people that do lots of plan viewing and marking up really prefer the larger screen of the full size iPad. Yes you can easily pan and zoom around a drawing on the Mini but I like seeing larger portions of drawings to be able to easily see detail which still having perspective. Large, complex drawings also render slower on the iPad Mini. However, I have viewed and reviewed some very large, complex plans on the Mini and it was certainly usable with only a slight page refresh delay.
Here’s the deal, you really need to try both to see which fits your needs. If you’re an organization, choose several of each for your pilot testing and then choose from there. If you’re a lone operator, buy one of each from either Apple or Best Buy and return the one you don’t like within their 30-day return period.
Me, I have both and use both depending on what I’m doing. If I were deploying iPads to the field, I would have both for field staff to try and allow them to pick what works best for them. Some will choose small and portable over usability. Others will sacrifice the size convenience for the larger size and usability..
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