What's better? An Ipad Mini with Retina Display or a Sony High Zoom Point and Shoot Camera?

Two intirely different "animals". But don't care for Sony as far a backing up their products is concerned-first hand expeirience. (By the way spent 10 yrs in retail so I am not out of line on this point!). Buy them both just the one you will use the most probably the iPad. then save for a camera.

It isn't an easy question to answer... The iPad mini is an entertainment device that can access the internet, store apps, music and images...it's an impressive and very handy piece of technology...and it has a basic camera built in too. The Sony bridge camera is an alright choice if you are interested in photography and intend to invest some time snapping your family and friends to make an online or physical album of what's going on or what's interesting about your life...If I knew you better I might actually advise you to hold off and invest in an entry level DSLR...it depends on how much you fancy playing with photography...it might just be something you experiment with and then fade...sometimes your interest will grow into something bigger and that's when it's worthwhile paying a bit more for the DSLR, the DSLR is more of an investment when compared to bridge cameras... To answer your question simply...if you enjoy photography then you will be better off with the camera...if you don't really know how much you would like photography then the iPad mini will entertain you more...and the iPad's camera will give you something to play with in the meantime.