Should I get iPad Mini or iPad 3?

If you want an iPad, the mini is kind of a waste; get the full-size.
If you want a smaller tablet, get an Android device.

I say anything not apple really. Samsung galaxy tab.

My wife has an iPad, I have a Mini.
I'm very, very pleased with the Mini and really appreciate the smaller form factor. I have a somewhat extensive Apple network and benefit from the connectivity. If you have no particular dependence on Apple you might also consider a kindle fire hd. Likewise if you have no issues carrying something larger the iPad 4 is worth the extra coin even if just for the extra real estate and Retina screen.

BTW, my mini fits perfectly in the cargo pocket of Old Navy pants.

i will buy nothing where i myself cannot exchange the battery in an easy way

It is predicted that the Kindle Fire HD will outsell the
iPad Mini 2 to 1

Then be ready to not be able to buy a device. User removable batteries are now the minority. It is actually one of the limiting factors when it comes to longer battrie life.

was in the Apple store today, me personally for the money I would get the iPad 3.

I did a dumb thing today and bought an iPad 3. I've wanted one for a while and am enjoying it.

that is not necessarily so, battery life has nothing to do with exchangeability. this is just a design-bootstrap to get more money, more frequently.
need a battery? pay for it or risk to ruin the poorly designed thing in the process of exchanging the battery DIY.
it is just a way of getting the customer used to the fact, that after 3 years, your tech is junk. buy a new one, a shinier one, a "faster" one....
you know, i am absolutely not a tech-hater. but the new technology "designs" with f.e. not user exchangeable batteries is IMHO the nastiest prank played on customers in the last 15 years. during these years, consumers got used to buy "lifestyle" instead of function.

By keeping batteries removable it limits the ability to make tech devices thinner. It is a limiting factor in designee.

i think this is not the case. removeable batteries just means one thing: battery can be changed by customer, this has nothing to do with design. thin batteries can be found in many/most of the non-apple phones, apple keeps them "integrated" for no reason. f.e. LG optimus black is a very thin phone, has user-replaceable batts. for tablets it would have meant just a bit more work on tech&design.

I was unawar that apple was the only company that does not have a removable batterie. Ill have to make sure my nook color gets the memo.

A removable battery has to have a protective wrapper all the way around it, it has to have a tray to lie in, and it has to have a connector with male and female ends. All of that takes up space, and in the world of thin devices space is at a premium. You can look at that in one of two ways. First, you can have a smaller thinner device. Or you could pack more battery into that same space; there for giving yourself longer run time. If you’re truly concerned about run times have you ever thought about a battery booster? They are a lot more useful than an extra battery for your phone, considering they are not proprietarily designed for a single device and some have the ability to power multiple devices at one time.

greetings to the nook this is not about apple bashing.

http://ipod.about.com/od/iphoneipodbattery/a/why-ipod-batteries-arent-user-replaceable.htm
http://allthingsd.com/20090624/new-mac-laptops-use-batteries-sealed-for-power/
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/justifying-non-removable-batteries/4394
http://www.fastcompany.com/1293850/whats-deal-apples-non-removable-batteries
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2337939,00.asp

non-user-replaceable batteries became an acceptable and hip thing for the masses with apples designs. i still prefer not to like that.

my droid razr maxx - non removeable battery.

To make a device thin and light, manufacturers often tuck battery packs of varying sizes into different pockets of space.

This makes for a device that is rarely easy to disassemble and repair though there are usually aftermarket parts for the intrepid tech repair person.

Apple has been fusing parts together in their iPads such that disassembly often breaks the screen. So much so that warranty claims or battery replacements get new product or recertified returns.

The HTC one is considered not user-replaceable battery, but it's only hidden behind 2 #4 torx screws. Granted, that small of a torx is not commonly available at Home Depot, but I'd call that one a user-replacable battery if you have even minimal motivation. All the non-replacable products score badly on recyclability.

I think the claim of thinnest and lightest is insignificant in the tech of current tablets. The differences are negligible. And better design for repair of consumable parts will get more focus in the future. It's smart, economical, green, more recyclable. Things that matter more than thinnest and lightest.

^ tell that to the average consumer.

I think the average consumer will figure it out when the batteries wear out in 18-24 months on their tablets. Plus drops, cracked cases, and so on.

Having used both (and I've owned all models so far including the Kindle Fire) it really depends on your use cases. I love the high resolution screen on my iPad3, as I take lots of photos, and also read on it quite a bit. Fr those reasons, I like the bigger, higher rez screen. If portability and weight is of higher importance, than the mini is your best bet.

I love the mini for its form factor and weight, when it gets a higher resolution screen, il reconsider.

I would go with the iPad or wait for the iPad mini with retina display. Unfortunately, I purchased the iPad they just discontinued. Had I had any idea they were changing, I would have waited.