JeffR Loc: Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Considering getting a 2021 Apple iPad Mini (Wi-Fi, 256GB) from Amazon for $549.99. I've always been a Windows guy, so I'm a little leary of getting into the Apple universe, but thinking of dipping a toe in. My biggest concern is the limited internal storage, and my understanding that you cannot connect an external hard drive. I’d like to be able to use this to view, store, and possibly do some minor editing of pics when I'm traveling without my laptop or internet access (so cloud storage is not a solution), so this limit may be a deal-killer. Any comments and advice are welcome.

DanCulleton

I’m writing this on an iPad Pro, M1 chip, 16 GB Ram, 2 TB storage, and yes I can plug in any of my external drives when I need to, it’s my go-to device for most tasks. I use a MacBook for heavy listing. Can easily move files between devices with Airdrop. The iPad slips right into my camera bag.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

I have two Apple iPad Minis, one with Wi-Fi, 256Gb hd's, bluetooth, and cellular access, the other the same but without cellular coverage. Though I've never used either for photo editing or other than short-term image storage, given the array of editing apps that are available --and the highly convenient portability of a Mini's compact size and minimal weight--, I see no reason why it couldn't be a very useful tool. As well, while my primary usages (backcountry navigation, mapping, GPS, quickie waypoint photos, etc.) for the Minis (and the 'old' iPhone 6S+ I likewise have and use) have never required it, there are indeed ways of connecting external storage you might want to research.

Though I cannot conceive of doing the sort of image editing I typically do on my primary desktop at home, in a pinch, if there were there some special need to do so, it would be easy enough to make basic --or even some more complex-- adjustments on the road or wherever you might be.

JeffR Loc: Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

On the road image editing would probably consist of culling rejects and cropping. Not much more than that. I'm glad to hear there may be some way to connect an external hard drive. I'll check into it.

JeffR Loc: Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

An iPad Pro like you describe would be over three times the cost of the mini I'm looking at, and I could get a very nice ultra-portable windows machine for that price, enabling me to re-use all of my existing software, so I don't see that as a viable option for me. But thanks for your reply.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Get it. Use it. Have Fun with it. I bet you will love it!!

Enjoy it in good health!!!

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

I would not recommend an ipad mini for anything beyond searching social media, emails, reading books and listening to music. Have a mini, which was a gift. Don't use it cause the screen is too small. For general purpose stuff, I use an 11" ipad pro - Kindle, social media, playing chess, some music stuff ... When I am doing serious work it's an 12.9" ipad pro with keyboard built into the case. It has a USBC port that connects to most anything including my music instrument interfaces. Apple's GarageBand is actually a useful app. I do some photography post processing with it, but not much. I just can't get the hang of the file system. I can't find things I download and it wants to put my images where it wants to, not where I want it to. A thing I really like about it is that I can tether a camera during an on location shoot to see what my images looks like on a bigger screen. I like it better than my 15" Macbook pro. I do the vast majority of photography work on a Win 10 desktop PC with Adobe RGB calibrated monitor. Adobe's suite of apps just seems to work better, Topaz stuff plugs into LrC and Photoshop easily, I know where my stuff is at, managing external storage is easy, printing on my photo printer is easy.

Laramie Loc: Tempe

Microsoft's Surface models support Micro SD cards. Surface Go is ~10" screen. I have 128GB cards in all my Go's. Great consumption devices.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

I travel with the I Pad, 512 gb. I use the Apple adapter to plug my D810 & 850 into the I Pad and download the Raw images. There is also an adapter to download from an SD card.

Jrhoffman75 Loc: Conway, New Hampshire

Apple sells a Lightning - USB Camera Connector which has a female USB-A connector and a female Lightning port for power. It can be used to connect an external drive.

superdadplano Loc: Dallas, TX

Go for it. I have one and it is perfect for travel, viewing, light editing and sharing on social media

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

I used to use full size iPads, until they came out with the mini. I have had four. I prefer the mini, for what I do. I really like the size, it’s small enough to fit in most smaller camera bags. I use it for email, web browsing, music, video, watching movies, tv and social media. What I do not do is edit photos etc. that is for my computer. I strongly prefer the mini.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

As a 38 year Apple user, I struggle to understand the iPad's existence. I had one at one point in 2011-12. I wrote some database software for it. That made sense. But as a practical content creation tool outside of traditional work uses? That made no sense. It seems to be best for content consumption.

If you want something small and light and content-creator CAPABLE, get an M1 MacBook Air. I have a hard time putting it down... Apple Refurbished is a good place to find a decent price on one. DO NOT buy the base model. Get at least 512GB storage and preferably 16GB memory. Use tiny USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 or 4 external drives with it.

Lagoonguy Loc: New Smyrna Beach, FL

You might want to look at a YouTube - Peter Johns Studio Live Today - How to connect USB devices to your iPhone or iPad. I personally am lost with all of this but my wife, who much more computer savvy, says this should work. I just ordered today the mini 6 from The Apple Store. This will be my fourth mini. We use them for our travel photos but via the cloud but she says it will take care of how you want to use it. Good luck!

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

All the minis and midis and half-breeds can do about anything the big boys can do - except they are small. That is my only gripe with them I don't even like working with laptops, even with 17" screens and almost full size keyboards. (I do take one with me when travelling) It's just a personal thing, so if you are happy trying to read a small screen and using tiny keys, go for it. And the Apple OS isn't any harder to learn than Microsoft. If you want a challenge, go to Unix or Linux.