Don't know if Apple will discontinue it or not but with Folding smartphone getting better and better . I dont see this size of tablets will be much in demand anymore.
I have my eyes on Ipad mini too.
The "Everyday" show-off thread !
- Thread starter Blade_Runner
- Start date
I have my eyes on Ipad mini too.
Stronk
Herald
Absolutely agreed. I think the iPad Mini is the perfect "third device" as a complement to a phone and laptop. For someone who wants a device that is a better "jack of all trades", the iPad 10th gen's bigger size and support for the official keyboard accessory is definitely better, but there's nothing that comes close to the Mini for a dedicated tablet which can be easily used one handed. It also excels as an e-reader (excellent for magazines and comics!) and a media consumption device when you don't feel like lugging your laptop around, especially when you are just at home and have your laptop docked to the desk.
I have never owned, and will never own, a dedicated "home assistant" device (Alexa or other "smart" speaker), but I do find Siri's always listening feature super useful for simple tasks such as setting reminders or quickly changing the music that's playing when the iPad is not close enough for me to reach out (yes, Siri recognition works even when the iPad is playing something on the built in speakers!).
I used to own an iPad Air 2 back in the day and I used it as my PDF reader and annotator for the first 2 years of college, before it became too slow to open larger PDFs sometime in 2021 and started lagging. Even then, I had also been using it for about 4 years before that and getting about 6 years of pretty heavy use (gaming, video editing, photo editing, portable second screen via SpaceDesk and media consumption) and more than 7 years of support via updates was great to see. I can't see myself ever being an Apple ecosystem person, but they do know how to make a great tablet! Even today, the Air 2 is great to use as a second display and the screen and speakers are still a treat.
I don't fully agree that the demand for such tablets will decrease more than it already has, but I can see totally see why that may end up being the case in the future with foldables. Even then, the cost of foldables will mean that there will still be a demand for a cheaper device with a screen bigger than a phone but smaller than a "full" tablet. The iPad Mini is the only tablet left in the mainstream market which is actually usable with just one hand and doesn't feel awkward to use as just a tablet itself. Most other "tablets", including the Air and Pro series of iPads are trying too hard to be something they are not (and looking at the way Apple continues to cripple iPadOS compared to MacOS), will probably never be (a mainstream laptop replacement). All that power of M2 and M4 chips feels quite wasted imo.
I hope that Apple updates the Mini for at least one more generation with the A17 Pro or the A18 chip (don't think the Mini has enough thermal mass, or frankly even needs, an M series chip), and this is probably wishful thinking but an OLED screen with at least 90Hz refresh rate would be the cherry on top (if not the next Mini then hopefully the one after that, i.e., the Mini 8 should come with an OLED panel). I am pretty sure that Apple will bring the upcoming Minis up to speed with and for Apple Intelligence - and having 8GB RAM would be a great bonus too. The current 4GB is more than plenty enough for my needs (keeping the Pocketbook Reader app, about 2-3 tabs in Orion and a simple 2D game always open without anything being closed when I jump around), but I'm pretty sure that 4GB of RAM may not be enough for those who use the Mini as a creative tool rather than a third device; or simply like to have lot of things open in the background (which I often do with my phone - 12GB of RAM means that I can have 40 tabs in the browser and about 20 background apps always ready to launch, rather than an app being force closed in the background).
Last edited:
I meant atleast about atleast 2 generations of folding smartphones before they start replacing tablets.
Ipad Mini with Oled will be just amazing. M series chip should not be an issue also but tbh it is not needed on such small device.
Stronk
Herald
I agree that folding phones will probably replace tablets one day, but definitely not as soon as 2 gens. Primary reason being the cost - for less than the price of a OnePlus Open or a Galaxy Fold, you can get a high end iPhone or Samsung and a more than decent mid range tablet.
So unless folding phones come down drastically in price, I don't see them replacing tablets, especially for mass market, anytime soon
blackwidowsea
Contributor
Got RK 84 V2 with Gateron Yellow switches:
now save up and spend more than the cost of keyboard on keycaps and switches : D
blackwidowsea
Contributor
tr27
Explorer
Oh cool,I have the same case, looking for ideas and solutions
Where will you place the 2nd psu? Maybe in place of bottom hdd drive? Or space next to it?
Is there only one 1 exhaust? Are you planning on getting more fans or radiator? Because I suppose the hdds in front might not the the best for thermals
Since the plastic sdd holders are not there anymore and hdds hinder the airflow, do the side vents make air escape before it goes channel in?
And how's the noise?
Where will you place the 2nd psu? Maybe in place of bottom hdd drive? Or space next to it?
Is there only one 1 exhaust? Are you planning on getting more fans or radiator? Because I suppose the hdds in front might not the the best for thermals
Since the plastic sdd holders are not there anymore and hdds hinder the airflow, do the side vents make air escape before it goes channel in?
And how's the noise?
The 2nd psu can be placed next to the itx as the psu will be exhausting the air outside and no need to dangle with psu cables. You can also place it in-between the hdd trays. And little bit of cable ties is perfect.
As for my setup, i have 4 intake and 4 exhaust. And the hdds are next to the intakes, so no thermal issues.
As for the noise, nope, nada, you can’t hear anything except sometimes the hdd clicks if you keen on sound searching. Thinking of adding 2 more fans, one next to the nic/hba and one next to the itx board.
final update. working perfectly fine. size comparison with 3080ti
4080 super for 30k, who would have thought.
Attachments
kazstar101
Contributor
DigitalDude
Herald
tr27
Explorer
Thanks, this was helpful.
How about dust? My system is very dusty as more fans = more forced airflow = more dust , that's why I'm hesitant to order more fans.. I'm even thinking about getting those 3m A/c filters
I believe you have negative air pressure. Positive and neutral works best. And enthoo 2 has dust filter throughout and im still just build recently. So, can’t comment now on this. Will update.
tr27
Explorer
Me jelly but also glad we get to see it unfold and someone among us get Crème de la crème instead of being shat on by companies. Kudos.
Did the power adaptor type cable came with it? And did you get 5 years or 3 years warranty?
Last edited:
Kaching999
Forerunner
CYCLONOUS
Apprentice
tr27
Explorer
you can just set a stock alert/notify me right? i doubt it ever comes back at that price, but im also watching and checking it when i dream of a good gpu, so thats roughly every other day lol