Advice sought about Ipad Mini 2 with "retina display"

[Sydney Grew]

I reside in a small countrified place, but last Monday it was necessary to go to a city to have the oil changed in the Bentley, and while there I ventured into what is called a "shop." Therein my attention was attracted to an item bearing the appellation "Ipad Mini 2 with Retina Display." Its 2,048 x 1,536 pixels were undeniably impressive! It could be useful I thought for reading William Burroughs in bed and that sort of thing. But before taking the plunge I would like to know more about the following three points, which I cannot find on the Internet:

1) Wireless. I already have a "Kindle" reader, which works quite well for reading books; but it has never been able to make any kind of wireless connection. Such a service does not exist in the vicinity of my home. When recently I purchased Britten's Letters from Amazon I was obliged to email them specially to arrange for the Kindle thing to be "registered" before I was permitted to download my purchase. So would the Ipad fare any better in that respect? And would it actually be able to do much at all without a wireless connection? Could I for example have it go through my ADSL modem instead?

2) Screen brightness. Can the brightness of the screen be adjusted (lowered or increased) by the user to a level that suits him? (I don't mean an automatic adaptation to the light-level of its surrounding environment.)

3) Speakers. I have no interest in ear-phones, so what do people think of the built-in speakers? I presume they - being so small - are simply unusable for serious music (correct me if I am wrong), but what about voices - while watching a stretch of cinema for instance?

Thanks in advance to readers who can contribute anything in response to these perplexities.

[MrGongGong]

What on earth are you on about?
Don't you have a butler for these things?

You really can't get the staff these days

[Nick Armstrong]

Having entered the "shop", didn't you think to "try it" ?

[mangerton]

I reside in a small countrified place, but last Monday it was necessary to go to a city to have the oil changed in the Bentley, and while there I ventured into what is called a "shop." Therein my attention was attracted to an item bearing the appellation "Ipad Mini 2 with Retina Display." Its 2,048 x 1,536 pixels were undeniably impressive! It could be useful I thought for reading William Burroughs in bed and that sort of thing. But before taking the plunge I would like to know more about the following three points, which I cannot find on the Internet:

1) Wireless. I already have a "Kindle" reader, which works quite well for reading books; but it has never been able to make any kind of wireless connection. Such a service does not exist in the vicinity of my home. When recently I purchased Britten's Letters from Amazon I was obliged to email them specially to arrange for the Kindle thing to be "registered" before I was permitted to download my purchase. So would the Ipad fare any better in that respect? And would it actually be able to do much at all without a wireless connection? Could I for example have it go through my ADSL modem instead?

2) Screen brightness. Can the brightness of the screen be adjusted (lowered or increased) by the user to a level that suits him? (I don't mean an automatic adaptation to the light-level of its surrounding environment.)

3) Speakers. I have no interest in ear-phones, so what do people think of the built-in speakers? I presume they - being so small - are simply unusable for serious music (correct me if I am wrong), but what about voices - while watching a stretch of cinema for instance?

Thanks in advance to readers who can contribute anything in response to these perplexities.

1. You can get a freee Kindle App for the ipad which allows you to download and read books on it. An internet connection is required, either through a router, or via a phone connection.

2. Yes

3. I wouldn't like to listen to music (or indeed anything very much) through the built-in speakers. These days, there are some excellent ear-phones available. Why not give them a try?

[eighthobstruction]

Excuse me I just want to loudly say ...."SHOP"....

[Sydney Grew]

Many thanks to member mangerton for his very helpful response!

And about the ear-phones, thanks but no thanks - I prefer to keep my ears unsullied. Anyway, if I do acquire one of these gadgets, it will be principally for its visual capabilities. - And also possibly as a test-bed for program development.

[Dave2002]

What on earth are you on about?
Don't you have a butler for these things?

You really can't get the staff these days

The butler was too busy ironing the newspaper, and worrying about potential lack of employment if his master gave up the papers and started reading them on any of these new fangled electronic devices.

Most of the Kindles are very much better for reading out of doors than any of the tablets, iPads, Google Nexus, etc. It is almost impossible to read out of doors on tablets (the word "useless" springs to mind) but otherwise they can be very good.

[Stunsworth]

Buying an iPad without having Wifi is like buying a car without an engine. It may look very pretty, but you're not going to get very far.

[Nick Armstrong]

Buying an iPad without having Wifi is like buying a car without an engine. It may look very pretty, but you're not going to get very far.

[Dave2002]

Works of art? http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICROWAVED-6.../150939902101?

[teamsaint]

The butler was too busy ironing the newspaper, and worrying about potential lack of employment if his master gave up the papers and started reading them on any of these new fangled electronic devices.

Most of the Kindles are very much better for reading out of doors than any of the tablets, iPads, Google Nexus, etc. It is almost impossible to read out of doors on tablets (the word "useless" springs to mind) but otherwise they can be very good.

I'm on tablets, but I can read outdoors, so I think you are wrong.

[hedgehog]

The HD retina displays are pretty good for outside though less so in strong sunlight. It costs extra but you can get an wireless router to plug into your modem and then you can enjoy the WiFi on your i-pad in house and garden (range depends on walls/windows of house). Aplles airport extreme gives a good range, Belkin is mostly cheaper and pretty goed. The shop where you buy your ipad will help you on this.

One can also buy WiFi prepaid devices that work on a 3G or 4G network (mobile broadband). This will enable you to use your ipad whilst travelling in the Bentley (I assume you have a chauffeur).
It's not nearly as cheap as a home subscription but is handy.

[Dave2002]

I'm on tablets, but I can read outdoors, so I think you are wrong.

I guess you don't live anywhere very sunny, then!

The original Kindle could even be read in bright sunlight in India, and the wireless version would download books even in the middle of nowhere.

[teamsaint]

I guess you don't live anywhere very sunny, then!

The original Kindle could even be read in bright sunlight in India, and the wireless version would download books even in the middle of nowhere.

huh, the Wiltshire Riviera? Not sunny?

[Lento]

I'm not sure how many people are going for the Mini, now that the Air is so light.