It depends on what you are after really. In my case, I look at the cost of the head units that are proposed and what they give me, and the current system in the car after the head end. https://www.flickr.com/photos/hyperc...08/5892345911/


The ipad Mini approach gives me a few things that traditional head units don't. Things like navigation and real time traffic which are part of the head unit cost and the need for updates (paid) if available from the head end suppliers are already there in the ipad form a variety of sources with better map displays than most head units. Music and video content navigation is simply more elegant and less restrictive, add in voice controls and aftermarket head units are now significantly challenged.

I am not saying the aftermarket head unit companies are bad, they do offer a more traditional approach to solving the challenges, however if I am going to reconfigure the dash for a double din radio I want more from them in terms of functionality. I should also mention that since the ipad has no depth restrictions I can move it higher up on the center stack which makes it far more usable. Then there is the ability to pop it out and take it with me.