To iPad Mini...or Not!

Let's talk iPad Mini...

The iPad has gone from a “why do I need” this device, to a “I can’t live without it” device in an incredibly short period of time.  Now with the release of the iPad mini, your choice has been made all the more complex.  With this blog posting, I hope to make your decision on which iPad mini to purchase, just a little bit easier and more enjoyable.  It is truly an amazing device!

The mini does not skimp on features

The mini is considerably more compact than it cousins, iPad 2 and the New iPad, coming in at just above 7 inches. It weighs in at a svelte .68 pounds for the wi-fi only version, and 0.69 pounds for the wi-fi + LTE. The screen resolution on the mini has left me scratching my head.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am very happy with the iPad 2‘s screen resolution of 1024 x 768,  however, given that Apple has had a retina display available on the iPhone since last year, (it’s graphics come in at 1136 x 640) and the New iPad since earlier this year, (the New iPad graphics come in at 2048 x 1536!)  it is  disappointing that the mini’s display only matches that of the iPad 2, coming in at half that of the New iPad, in my opinion, an strange step backwards. 

Because Apple choose the lesser display, they also went with a lessor processor.  Like the iPad 2, it comes with Apple’s dual-core A5 processor.  The iPad mini also comes in two flavors,  wi-fi or wi-fi + LTE (4G’s, successor, stands for  Long Term Evolution, which is the fastest connectivity currently offered by the major carriers). If you choose to go with the wi-fi + LTE, as with the iPhone and new iPad, you have your choice of carriers, AT&T, Verizon and Sprint (new to the iPad). As they did with the iPhone 5, Apple has chosen to cover the back of the iPad mini in black slate or silver. Like it’s iPad cousin, the New iPad, Apple put a FaceTime HD camera on the front, and 5 megapixel camera on the back that records HD Video. Finally, the iPad mini would not be complete without my dear friend, Siri.  Apple has stuck to their guns and made the mini available in the same three storage capacities as the iPhone and the previous iPads, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. The iPad mini is compact, it’s extremely light, has nice resolution, a nice camera, and excellent battery life, and can be yours, starting at only  $329 (16GB wi-fi only version). 

So which one should you purchase?  Continue on and I try to break it down to help you make your decision a little easier.

How do you plan on using your mini?

So, I’ve provided you with the specs, now YOU need to ask yourself,  how would you plan on using your iPad mini? Do you create, read, play, watch, all of the above?  The thing to think about is which one you do the most, or plan to do the most. Try this for size,  give a percentage to each category, for example, 50% of the time I find myself reading on my iPad, 25% of the time I catch up on the latest TV episodes of Son’s of Anarchy, 5% of the time I’m playing  games, and the other 20% of the time I’m actually creating something (document, presentation, movie etc).  Understanding the power of the iPad, is crucial in deciding whether the iPad mini is the right choice for you.

Now, take the features of the mini, and how you plan on using it, and see if it makes sense for you.  In the previous paragraph, the majority of my fictitious usage went toward reading (50%). With that in mind, I again looked  at what the mini has to offer. It’s compact, light, fits comfortably into my hand.  I can easily hold it as if it were a book, it fits my briefcase, and if I owned one, it would fit very nicely into my purse.   Finally, match the other features with how you plan on using your new mini.   You may surprise yourself  and find that mini has more to offer than you originally thought.  

There it is folks!

Apple has spoken!  They have made it crystal clear (in their minds at least!) that there is an iPad for everyone. Are you an the iPad mini, iPad 2, or New iPad with Retina display? Apple would like nothing more than to see at least one iPad in the hands of everyone. Coming in at $329, there is a lot love about the iPad mini.   It’s a smaller, lighter version, of the incredibly  popular full size iPad.   I hope this helps make your decision easier, if not, feel free to contact me via email at geoff@themacmentor, if you still need some help making your decision.  Have fun!

TracFone Review - LG 530G

A Newer Phone with Great Features

LG 530g from Tracfone

The LG 530G from TracFone is similar to the LG 500G but with a few upgrades and the biggest bonus, Triple Minutes for Life.

This phone has a good feel with a full QWERTY keypad and large screen it offers great functionality whether you want to call, text or surf the web.

LG 530G Features

The LG 530G is fully equipped with all the typical cell phone features one would expect and with good battery life and Triple Minutes, it is a very appealing prepaid phone.

• Triple Minutes for Life
• Full QWERTY Keyboard
• Mobile Web Surfing
• 1,000 entry Phone Book
• 1.3 MP Camera/Video Recorder
• SMS and MMS Picture Messaging
• MP3 Player (Cables and Micro SD cards not included)
• Hands-Free Speaker
• Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
• Voicemail, Call Waiting, and Caller ID
• Voice/Sound Recorder
• Alarm Clock
• Battery talk time up to 3.8 hours
• Standby time up to 6.3 days
• Includes Battery, Charger, Activation Card, Services Guide and User Manual

Likes and Dislikes for the LG 530G

Let's begin by looking at Tracfone Reviewer's LIKES about this phone:

Some of the best features for this phone are the QWERTY Keyboard, MP3 player, Triple Minutes for Life, and overall sleek appearance.

The full QWERTY keyboard (which means it has a button for every letter in the alphabet, like a computer keyboard) is easy to get used to and makes texting much faster. No more hitting the numbers multiple times to get a text message written, every letter has its own button and makes texting simple for anyone.

The MP3 player is a convenient feature that allows you to download songs via TracFone (for a price) or add your own songs to the phone. The songs can be played through the headphones attached to the standard headphone jack, or through the speakers which are decent.

If you plan to use the MP3 player, be sure to buy a Micro SD card (up to 32GB) and a USB cable for the phone, as these are not included. (MicroSD cards are usually around $10 or less for a 4GB card, which is more than enough space for most people)

The included Triple Minutes for Life makes this phone an incredible deal. For every minute you add, you get 2 minutes free. So if you add a 60 minute prepaid card, you get 180 total minutes! This is the best deal TracFone has, and if you also use a Promo Code when adding your phone card, you will get even more free minutes!

Finally, the overall design of the phone is sleek and stylish - perfect for those looking for a phone they can enjoy everything about. It looks good and is easy to get accustomed to.

Time for a few DISLIKES about the LG 530G:

First of all, the phone does come with Mobile Web, but it is not all that great, and costs a lot to use. Few people use the Mobile Web feature, and it is not really necessary anyway. But if you are someone who likes to check email or Facebook from your phone, this might not be the phone for you.

Another dislike is that the phone does not come with an Micro SD card or USB cables. While not including these items does help keep the price down, it would be nice for the phone to come with them since it adds a lot to the overall functionality of the phone.

Overall this phone is a fantastic phone for those who like texting often and but still want to have a no contract prepaid phone. The Triple Minutes for Life is a huge bonus that makes this phone extremely reasonable to use.

Also, check out more Tracfone Reviews or read about How to Make your Prepaid Minutes Last Longer

Great Buying Option for the LG 530G:

This phone typically retails for $49.99 from most stores and on the Tracfone website. But it can be found on Amazon for closer to $30-35, a $15 to $20 savings!

View Amazon'z price for the LG 530G Prepaid Phone With Triple Minutes (Tracfone)

How to Test More than One TracFone Promo Code

How to Try More Than One TracFone Promo Code When Adding a New Card

Have you ever wanted to use a promo code, but you weren't sure if it would work? Or have you actually used one, but it was expired so you didn't get any bonus minutes?

Avoid missing out on these bonus minutes by using this simple method for adding a new phone card to your TracFone Prepaid Phone.

Enter Your Promo Code at TracFone.com and Test up to 3 Different Promo Codes!

Adding Airtime at TracFone.com

Here is how to try several different promo codes:

1. Go to Tracfone.com 
2. Click 'Add Airtime', then click 'Add Card Online' from the drop down menu.
3. This will bring up a menu where you can add the phone card pin, your phone number, and a promo code. 

If your first code doesn't work, a message will pop up and say that it is expired, etc. You are then able to try a different promo code.

You can try up to three promo codes. On the third try, whatever pin/promo code combination you have used will be processed. If that promo code is expired, then you won't get any bonus minutes. So always make sure the third promo code you enter is working.

You can end the transaction before entering the third promo code, allowing you to restart the process and not miss out on getting some bonus minutes!

Using this method allows you to try one or two codes that might be expired without missing a chance to get bonus minutes.

Be sure to check out our list of TracFone Promo Codes to find a few to try next time you add minutes to your phone!

You might also be interested in some of our other recent posts about Tracfone:
Tracfone GSM vs CDMA Phones - What's the difference and why its important for you to know.
The Best Tracfone Cell Phones - A list of the top 3 cell phones from Tracfone.
Tracfone BYOP - All the information on the new 'Bring Your Phone to Tracfone' program including requirements and a compatible phone list.
Summer Sales and Great Deals - Read our pick of 5 top deals on Tracfone cell phones.

Thanks for visiting, leave a comment with any questions or thoughts.