Half price iPad Minis November 25, 2013, 09:49:35 pm Yahoo Message Number: 143805Just in time for the holidays, our favorite mobile internet provider, Millenicom, is offering iPad Mini 8" tablets at an unprecedented discount. To be specific, the standard 16 GB Mini with Wi-Fi, T-Mobile cellular capability and GPS, which normally sells for $429, is available from Millenicom for $199. (The new Retina Mini is also available at a hefty discount.) Both tablets come with three months of no-extra-cost unlimited internet connectivity... and no contract is required.After the three "free" months, you can continue the T-Mobile service on a paid month-to-month basis (although given their skimpy coverage outside metro areas, as an RVer you probably wouldn't want to)... or drop it and just use the tablet as a Wi-Fi device. The key fact here is that unlike the less expensive Wi-Fi-only iPads, these tablets have built-in GPS, so they are eminently suitable for all RVing purposes. I use one as my large-screen dashboard GPS--see this article for details.I track iPad prices closely, and I've never seen a discount anywhere near this large (54%)--not even on refurbs. 10%-15% is about the best you'll find elsewhere. I'm guessing that Millenicom is making this loss-leader offer in an effort to retain customers who were cut off when Sprint abruptly cancelled their partnership with Millenicom last month. Whatever the reason, this huge discount is enough to get the attention of anyone who was toying with the idea of buying a tablet.For the record, let me list the drawbacks.1. T-Mobile. As mentioned, their coverage in the boonies is poor. But most of us have Wi-Fi of one kind or another, whether via cell phone hotspot or MiFi-type device. With these tablets you get three months of free T-Mobile service, for whatever it's worth, and after that you can dump Millenicom and just use Wi-Fi. So to me, the T-Mobile connection is no big deal.2. Shipping and startup charges bring the total cost to $263, by my reckoning. Still a helluva lot better than $429!3. 16 GB. Most people will do fine with this amount of storage, but if you're a hog like me who stuffs hundreds of apps and tens of gigs of music and movies onto a tablet, you may prefer a larger amount--and Millenicom doesn't offer larger storage.That's about it. For most people, I think this is a very good buy.How does it compare to a $229 Nexus 7? Well...the Mini has lower screen resolution, but a roughly 20% larger screen. It has cellular internet capability, while the Nexus doesn't. It has a much larger selection of tablet-optimized apps (as opposed to cell phone apps blown up to fill a bigger screen): there were more than 475,000 iPad apps at last count.Both tablets have GPS capability, and both come with free navigation and mapping apps. (Yes, Google Maps and all the other Google tools are available for free on the iPad.) Apple includes all the standard stuff--email, browser, etc.--and also bundles very good word processing, spreadsheet and presentation apps that are file-compatible with MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.'Nuff said. If you had any thought of buying an iPad, this less-than-half-price offer is by far the best deal around. Quantities are limited, so don't take too long thinking about it. :-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #1 – November 26, 2013, 07:39:51 am Yahoo Message Number: 143809One other thing you did not point out Andy, is the iPads are all unlocked and the hardware is identical. It is easy to pop a Verizon nano-sim in to any new iPad and change it to Verizon (or AT&T or Sprint). There is chatter about doing this in the Apple support forums. I see no reason it would not work with Millenicom provided T-Mobile devices.It comes with a non-LTE version of the network though. LTE is available, but costs extra. IMO, 16 GB is a pretty severe limitation.Dave '06 MB, Indianapolis (happily playing w/my 128 GB Retina mini which arrived yesterday)
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #2 – November 26, 2013, 07:56:05 am Yahoo Message Number: 143810Thanks for the good find Andy. Since I have just recently cancelled my Verizon data plan, I have taken advantage of the Millicom offer. I'll report later how it is working out.Barry
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #3 – November 26, 2013, 07:57:52 am Yahoo Message Number: 143811Dave, For the uninformed (like me), where & how does one get a Verizon nano-sim if I should later try to migrate to Verizon?Thanks.BarryFrom: Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 8:39 AM To:lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com Subject: [LD] RE: Half price iPad MinisOne other thing you did not point out Andy, is the iPads are all unlocked and the hardware is identical. It is easy to pop a Verizon nano-sim in to any new iPad and change it to Verizon (or AT&T or Sprint). There is chatter about doing this in the Apple support forums. I see no reason it would not work with Millenicom provided T-Mobile devices.
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #4 – November 26, 2013, 08:10:40 am Yahoo Message Number: 143812They are free from your neighborhood Verizon Wireless store. ...at least the company stores. Not sure about the franchised stores, but I would expect them there also.Dave '06 MB, Indianapolis
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #5 – November 26, 2013, 08:32:52 am Yahoo Message Number: 143813Added info I learned on sign-up: Activation and shipping add $65 - total: $264.98 Current Millenicom users get a 500MB T-mobile data account for $10 per month
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #6 – November 26, 2013, 09:20:01 am Yahoo Message Number: 143816"the iPads are all unlocked and the hardware is identical. It is easy to pop a Verizon nano-sim in to any new iPad and change it to Verizon (or AT&T or Sprint)."This is true of the more expensive Retina iPad Mini and the new iPad Air, but I'm not sure it's true of the the low-end Mini. My recollection is that that model comes in two hardware versions--one for GSM networks (e.g., AT&T, T-Mobile) and the other for LTE/CDMA (Verizon).I'm not 100% certain of that, but my advice is that those buying Millenicom's $199 iPad Mini not assume they can switch to Verizon once the three-month T-Mobile free period is over. Make your buying decision based on using it as a Wi-Fi-plus-GPS device. Considered that way, it's still an excellent value.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #7 – November 26, 2013, 09:39:47 am Yahoo Message Number: 143819For those buying the iPad Mini, there are plenty of choices in cases, since the device's shape hasn't changed since last year. I tried several on my previous Mini, and my favorite is this case from Moko. It's only ten or twelve bucks, and comes in quite a few colors.One caution about ordering this case from Amazon: it's easy to accidentally switch to a full-sized (iPad 2/3/4) case when choosing a color. Before you click on the "Buy Now" button, look at the description at the top of the page to make sure you're buying the Mini case. The first time I did this, I accidentally ordered a full-sized case, and had to cancel and re-order the Mini-sized version.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #8 – November 27, 2013, 09:39:44 pm Yahoo Message Number: 143842Another thing to consider is that, at the end of the free promo period, you are automatically enrolled in a T-Mobile non-LTE plan for $60 per month. For me that's a deal breaker.
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #9 – November 28, 2013, 05:13:37 am Yahoo Message Number: 143843"Another thing to consider is that, at the end of the free promo period, you are automatically enrolled in a T-Mobile non-LTE plan for $60 per month. For me that's a deal breaker. "...unless you already have a MIFI from Millenicom and then at the end of the free promo period, you are automatically enrolled in a T-Mobile non-LTE plan for $10 per month. For me that's a cheap back-up.
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #10 – November 28, 2013, 12:09:38 pm Yahoo Message Number: 143849As I understand it, I can cancel at the end of 3 months. I bought the one with the retina display. I plan to switch the sim card and use my already ongoing MIFI 20G account using Verizon from Millenicom.Andrea2007 RB
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #11 – November 28, 2013, 05:06:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 143851If the SIM will fit. The iPad uses a so called Nano Sim. If the Mifi uses the same size, great. But i would bet it uses one of the two larger sizes. But you can always use it with the Mifi in Wifi mode.-Dave
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #12 – November 28, 2013, 06:10:44 pm Yahoo Message Number: 143853"If the SIM will fit. The iPad uses a so called Nano Sim."Regular SIMs can be cut down to Nano SIM size, and there are special tools available to do this for less than $5.However, I'll caution once again that it's not yet known with certainty that the $199 iPad Mini offered by Millenicom can be switched from T-Mobile to Verizon, although most likely the more expensive Retina model can be.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #13 – November 28, 2013, 06:11:14 pm Yahoo Message Number: 143854"at the end of the free promo period, you are automatically enrolled in a T-Mobile non-LTE plan for $60 per month."Call 'em up and cancel. No big deal, as long as you remember the date. The nice thing about Millenicom is that there's never a contract, so you can cancel anytime without penalties of any kind.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #14 – November 30, 2013, 10:08:07 am Yahoo Message Number: 143869Hi, Andy--I'm a newbie in so many ways...a first-timer/solo female looking forward to a great week (12-8) picking up a new-to-me '05 rear twin in So Cal & heading back to MO--better than running away to join the circus.As a marginally technoliterate Mac person/cellphone virgin, the discussion about the iPad Mini has intrigued me because I know I really need to move into 21st century communication as I embark on my LD adventures. Yesterday, a friend, concerned about my venturing incommunicado into the world, gave me her old Straight Talk Nokia 6790, which I'm learning is a GSM unit & apparently a very nice phone (way fancier than a simple little flip phone). The Nokia uses the $45 Straight Talk plan, but I'm wondering if this can be converted to have T-Mobile compatibility with the iPad Mini so I can use the $10 post-introductory plan I've seen discussed here? My friend doesn't know, & I've tried Googling about converting Straight Talk to T-Mobile, so I'm hoping this discussion thread can share wisdom & provide guidance. The iPad Mini seems like a good deal--but only if I become technoliterate enough to use all the interconnected technology. I've read stretching the brain by learning new skills is helpful in warding off Alzheimer's...this may be a good inoculation. :-)Thanking all, & looking forward to putting faces with names when I attend GTGs.Lynne
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #15 – November 30, 2013, 10:08:46 am Yahoo Message Number: 143870Hi Andy, I've never used an iPad mini of any sort. How does the Retina display compare with the standard display for visibility in sunlight (that's not an issue in the motorhome, but it is in my glider).Eric wrote, On 11/25/2013 7:49 PM:
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #16 – November 30, 2013, 11:28:50 am Yahoo Message Number: 143871Lynne, I'm not an expert on Straight Talk phones, but my understanding is that they cannot be used to provide internet service for other devices such as computers or tablets. But in the case of the iPad Mini models we've been talking about, that isn't necessarily fatal, because these iPads can access the internet directly, without help from other devices.However, these particular Millenicom iPads can only do this by using T-Mobile's network, and T-Mobile has very few towers outside of urban areas. That means it's not a good choice for RVers.Where does this leave you? Well, your friend is right: for safety and security, you absolutely must carry a good cell phone. Unfortunately, the Nokia 6790 is an old model that uses a no-longer-supported operating system (Symbian), has a tiny 320 x 240 pixel display, and can't do much in the way of mapping or navigating. (See this review for details.) It also can't run any of the useful programs ("apps") that are available for iPhones, iPads and Android phones and tablets. In short, from an RVer's point of view, it's not much good for anything except making voice calls.And it uses AT&T's network, which although better than T-Mobile's, has less-than-great coverage out in the boonies where an RVer is likely to go. If you want the best chance of making a call or getting online no matter where you are, you want Verizon. That's what the vast majority of RVers use.So here's what I suggest. Consider the 6790 to be an interim solution at best. The sooner you replace it, the better. I recommend getting an iPhone 4S from Verizon. With a two-year contract, it should be free, depending upon what kind of promotion they happen to be running. In this pre-holiday season, promotions are plentiful, so this may be the best time to do it. The iPhone will do everything the old Nokia phone can't do (or can do only clumsily): act as a GPS navigator, find nearby campgrounds, send and receive emails, read these messages, show you maps and much more. And it has a large, bright high-resolution screen that's far easier to read than your Nokia phone's.As for the iPad Mini... while tablets are very nice to have, if you already have a good laptop such as a MacBook, you don't absolutely need an iPad. But if your budget can handle two hundred bucks, it may be worth your while to jump on the Millenicom offer. Just be sure to cancel their T-Mobile coverage once the three-month free period is over. From then on, your iPad can connect to the internet via the iPhone, which can act as a wireless (Wi-Fi) hotspot.For what it's worth, the iPad works just like the iPhone, and runs all the same programs, so at least you won't have to buy any more software or learn a whole new system. :-)There's good basic information for RVers using cell phones in this Eureka article, and information about getting online in this one. You may also find that the folks in the Yahoo internetbycellphone group can answer detailed questions much better than we can.I hope this is helpful. Welcome to the 21st century! :-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #17 – November 30, 2013, 11:30:39 am Yahoo Message Number: 143872"How does the Retina displaycompare with the standard display for visibility in sunlight"The short answer is "no better." It's an LCD, albeit a very-high-resolution one, so it will tend to wash out in bright sunlight like any display.What, your glider has no awning? Get Camping World to install one! ;-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #18 – November 30, 2013, 12:40:22 pm Yahoo Message Number: 143874Hi, Andy--Thanks so much! Great insight, & I appreciate the links for additional research. I have so much to learn, & appreciate how willing folks are to share knowledge & experience in this community.Lynne
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #19 – December 05, 2013, 01:52:12 am Yahoo Message Number: 143943The perfect winter accessory for your iPad. http://www.thejoyfactory.com/product/HUU102Larry
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #20 – December 09, 2013, 03:53:19 pm Yahoo Message Number: 143998Here are a few notes related to the Millenicom less-than-half-price iPad Mini deal, which I know a number of you took advantage of.First, the Retina Minis no longer appear on their website, so I guess those are sold out. The $199.99 (plus shipping and setup) standard Minis are still available, though.Second, be aware that when the three-month free data plan ends, you will be automatically subscribed to a $60-a-month T-Mobile international data plan, which as an RVer you probably don't want due to T-Mobile's very poor coverage outside of cities. No big deal, though--when the time comes, just get in touch with Millenicom and cancel. There's no contract and no termination penalty.The more expensive Retina iPad Minis can be used with any carrier by simply switching SIM cards, so if you bought one of those, you could move to Verizon when your three free months are up. But the $199.99 standard Minis cannot--if you want to use one of those with a cellular connection, you're stuck with T-Mobile. However, all of the iPads work with Wi-Fi, so you can just cut the cellular connection and go Wi-Fi when your three free months are up.There's a lot more information about these iPads and this deal at the Technomadia website. Bottom line: it's still an unmatched bargain, so if you want one, grab it now before they run out.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #21 – December 09, 2013, 05:19:52 pm Yahoo Message Number: 144000Waiting with bated breath for mine($199 basic) to arrive. Will report here if there are any probs with. Mark
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #22 – December 09, 2013, 05:46:49 pm Yahoo Message Number: 144001I checked today and they already ran out.Mitch
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #23 – December 09, 2013, 05:51:11 pm Yahoo Message Number: 144002Looks like I'm getting the last one. See it on Ebay for $999 in a week ! Mark
Re: Half price iPad Minis Reply #24 – December 09, 2013, 11:35:37 pm Yahoo Message Number: 144010I was told this evening by a Millenicom agent they are getting more of them, but didn't know when or which ones, just "more of them". Check the website, he said.Eric GreenwellMark Saleby wrote, On 12/9/2013 3:52 PM:
Topic: Half price iPad Minis (Read 2 times)
previous topic - next topic
Topic: Half price iPad Minis (Read 2 times)
previous topic - next topic