I have been a devoted iPad user for YEARS. I love it for accessibility – it’s lighter and more portable than a laptop and it’s easy to open and use. I’ve had a few different versions over the years, but I got the newest iPad Mini a few months ago and still cannot get over how perfect it is for me. So I thought I’d do a mini-review slash explanation of how I use it!
Why the iPad Mini?
I had the original version of the Mini when it came out and really liked it. But when it came time to replace it, they had since introduced the Apple Pencil. I was a student at the time, and used my iPad to take notes during class, so it was kind of a no-brainer to get a version of the iPad that worked with the Apple Pencil. A few years later, they introduced a Pencil that charged wirelessly and magnetically, so I upgraded to that and an iPad that worked with that Pencil, because I was never actually able to charge my Pencil by myself when it had to be plugged in to charge.
But what I never loved was the size and weight of that iPad. For most people it was probably unnoticeable, but I couldn’t really lay it down flat on my lap without worrying about it slipping off, and when it was on a table or desk I couldn’t reach the top of it to actually use the Pencil to write on the full size of the screen. And lifting it was a challenge, too – it wasn’t super heavy, but it was heavy enough that I struggled to pick it up.
(I know this sounds like a lot of background information, but I know there are people like me who need this much information to make the right decision so that the iPad is actually usable for them!)
The newest iPad Mini has been the perfect combination of size, usability, and features for me. It’s a mini, so it’s small, but it’s the perfect size and weight for me to be able to lift, carry, and set on my lap or a table to use without having to struggle or worry about dropping it. And it still works with the newest version of the Apple Pencil! It’s so perfect for me and I now use it all the time.
How I Use the iPad Mini
So obviously, I use my iPad in many standard ways – texting, sending e-mails, doing online shopping. But there are two other main ways I use it that I want to highlight, because they’re the real reasons I actually bought the iPad – reading and writing notes.
Using My iPad Mini as an eReader
This is my number one use of my iPad mini! I have been using some version of an iPad to read for years now – my very first eReader was a Nook from Barnes and Noble, and then I moved to an iPad and haven’t looked back. I actually still use the Nook app on my iPad and get most of my books through Barnes and Noble. I like using my iPad versus a Kindle because I like having flexibility in where I buy my ebooks from and the different apps I can use to read with. The iPad Mini is juuuuust the right size for me to read on – it’s basically the same size as a book itself, but much thinner, and much easier to hold for me! It’s especially ideal when I’m traveling – I used to have to carefully choose which books and how many books to bring with me on trips, but now I can bring as many as I want without having to worry about how much space they take up.
From an accessibility standpoint, it’s perfect. Like I mentioned, it’s not too heavy to hold – I can easily balance it on my lap or on a table. I don’t have to worry about holding the book open while still being able to turn the pages – it’s so easy! I don’t have to have the book at exactly the right angle in my hands or on the table, and I don’t have to worry about how big or heavy the book is. It takes away any of the “work” and just makes reading fun and enjoyable, which is exactly what it should be.
Taking Notes on My iPad Mini
This is the other main way I use my iPad – I love using it to make lists and take notes. I love that the Apple Pencil magnetically connects and charges on the side of the iPad, so it’s easily accessible all the time AND I don’t have to worry about whether or not it’s charged. I typically use the GoodNotes app, or the built-in Apple Notes app. The cool thing is that it will automatically transform what I write from handwritten text into typed text, if I want! And it’s super easy to create different notes or use different “notebooks” in the GoodNotes app so that I can keep things organized but not have to keep track of different notebooks and have them within my (limited) reach. And again, because of the size of the mini, it’s easy for me to actually reach the entire screen while I’m writing.
Basically – it’s all about making things easier for me, and that’s exactly what the iPad Mini does!
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