Griffin Technology Survivor for iPad Mini

The Griffin Technology Survivor for iPad Mini is a rugged case that will protect your iPad mini if you accidentally drop it. Has that ever happened when you've been walking through the hospital?

The case has been shown to withstand drop tests from 6' onto a solid surface. The case weighs 7.75 ounces and also has a detachable multi-position stand. The case will protect your iPad mini from dust and sand by covering all the ports. The case is not waterproof, but it includes a screen protector that will enclose your iPad in a water-resistant case that can withstand some rain.

A nice iPad mini case for medical students

We all know that medical students don't have much money. After all, many are living on student loans and most don't have a job.

The INVELLOP BLACK Leatherette Case Cover for iPad mini (Built-in magnet for sleep/wake feature) is one case that's relatively inexpensive and it does a nice job protecting the iPad. Plus, it has a nice professional look to it and it comes in different colors. The case isn't too bulky which is important if you plan to put your iPad in your white coat pocket.

Here's what I really like about this particular case: When you fold the cover back, the magnets hold it up against the case. This prevents the cover from flopping around while you're walking around the hospital.

iPad mini has replaced my iPad 3

I used to take my iPad 3 everywhere. Now, the iPad mini is my sidekick. Although it doesn't have a Retina display (and you will notice the difference if you've been spoiled on an iPad 3 or 4), the mini is extremely portable and has exceptional battery life. It's thinner and lighter than you'd expect.

I'm still waiting to see if some of the newer Windows 8 tablets will replace my iPad. If someone makes an ultra-thin 7.9" model that offers all-day battery life, then I'll replace my iPad mini with that device.

For now, I carry my iPad mini along with my Windows 7 Ultrabook. The iPad mini isn't sufficient when I need to do some serious work.

So, what am I doing with my iPad 3? My kids get to have all the fun! (Actually, you may see it on eBay soon). I admit that the iPad 3 feels very heavy and bulky after you get used to handling the iPad mini.

As expected, the iPad mini is sold out at many Apple stores

Last night, a spent a little bit of time at an Apple store to play with the iPad mini. As expected, the iPad mini was sold out (but they may have restocked by today).

I was really impressed with the size/weight and the overall feel of the iPad mini. As most reviewers have written, the iPad mini is a great little tablet even though it lacks a retina display. The exceptional battery life and performance makes this the tablet that may replace my standard iPad. I can see myself using the iPad mini more than my standard iPad.

Can't wait to try the iPad mini

I'm a fan of slightly smaller tablets because I like the portability factor and I like to hold them in one hand. Smaller tablets like the HTC EVO View 4G and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 are great little devices, but they're rather slow and I prefer iOS apps over Android apps. Even though you may find the same apps developed for iOS and Android, the user experience can be fairly different between those two operating systems.

So, the iPad mini is one of those devices that I've been predicting for several years and I'm looking forward to trying one out.

Like the original iPad, the iPad mini will improve with each successive generation model, so that's why I tend to keep my devices in fairly pristine condition so that I can sell them and use those funds towards newer models.

I agree with many bloggers that the iPad mini is priced too high, but pricing is based on what the market will bear and I'm sure that Apple won't have any problems selling many iPad minis this fall. Of course, it's also interesting to see that the release of the iPad mini (along with the pricing announcement) has propelled sales of the Amazon Kindle Fire HD.

iPad mini - perfect for medical students and residents

Let's face it - medical students and residents don't have a lot of money. Medical students are frequently living off of loans while residents are making less than minimum wage (if you calculate their wages based on an hourly rate). So, the announcement today about the iPad mini should make students and residents very happy now! You can get an iPad mini for $329 and the device will even fit right in your white coat pocket! So, no need for any fancy holsters or straps to carry this gadget around the hospital. Plus, with 10 hrs of battery life, you won't be looking for an outlet during lunch to charge your device.

It's interesting to read how some analysts feel that Apple is now playing defense in the tablet market. They've released a product to compete against Android tablets like the Google Nexus 7, the Amazon Kindle Fire HD, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and other 7" tablets that are in the $300 price range.

If the iPad mini had a retina display option, then I'd get in line to pre-order one on Oct 26. I may still pre-order one anyway, but for now I'll continue to use my iPad since I don't need to squeeze it into any white coat pockets.