Just for a different perspective.
I wanted all my devices to be on IOS8 do I can use the specific features that Yosemite will bring to the party.
I have an iPad Mini (original) and have been holding off upgrading after reading the horror stories, despite a friend saying I shouldn't worry. My paranoia was so great that the iPhone 6 that I collected from the Three store last Friday still sits in its shrinkwrapped box and was seriously toying with the fact that, if I couldn't have all the benefits of the Yosimite / IOS8 pairing, there was no point in upgrading so I was going to return it and stick with my trusty iPhone 5.
However, over the last couple of days I read two articles. One (from a Mac supporting site, admittedly) saying that the Mini could be ugraded with no problem (and recommended that you do so). Then, a video, showing an iPhone 4s (the minimum spec that can run the new OS) running IOS7 and IOS8 side by side. The speed difference is minimal (blink of an eye stuff generally) so I decided to take the plunge.
I knew that there would be an initial performance hit as the way that IOS8 indexes Spotlight is different to that previously (and more akin to an iMac / Macbbok, and those users will be aware of slowdown when first installing a new OS while Spolight re-indexes itself and takes forever - many hours - draining processor power)
I installed IOS8 late last night (via iTunes connected to my iMac) and then left the Mini overnight for it to "do its thing".
So, this morning, I am an owner of an iPad mini (original) running IOS8
And do you know what, from initial use this morning (a quick look at Twitter, look at the BBC app, looking up a couple of things on Safari, using the calendar and my To Do list and playing music and a podcast, messaged a few friends, looked up some emails)
I can't tell the difference. I THINK that Safari runs a little slower (but not really noticeable) a half second a page slower maybe, if memory serves me correct, but equally it could be psycological i EXPECT it to be slower, therefore I percieve it to be slower - coupled with the change in the page loading bar - it's longer - so maybe that is colouring my judgement.
How it performs on the more memory intensive apps I don't know. I'm in meetings today so it is one of the rare occasions I don't have my guitar with me to try Garageband and I suspect that I won't get a chance to play with iMovie either.
However. first impressions definitiely moved from " nowhere near as bad as I dreaded it was going to be" to "I'm glad I did it and certainly don't regret doing the upgrade" and I will be unpacking the iPhone 6 tonight.
Of course I can only counsel that this is MY experience only. For the record. I use Apple products because I have the infra structure and it suits MY computing needs. I am not a fanboy and happily criticise when neccessary and would jump ship if something better (FOR MY NEEDS) came along.
And if my iPad had been borked by upgrading to IOS 8 I would've been first in the queue asking what Apple were going to do about it.
Just my take. I can't (sadly) offer any explanation why some other iPad Mini users upgrade experience show it to seem to run slowly or buggy. There is a rumour that it is better to upgrade via iTunes, rather than over the air, but why that should be I can't say.
Those websites for any interested parties holding off upgrading. They may or may not change your mind, but at least it is more information to the pot.
http://www.redmondpie.com/iphone-4s-...parison-video/
http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/iosap...ios-8-3495266/