32GB iPad or 13" MBA?

[SR71]

Yeah yeah yeah... another one of those threads.

Well, I have my PC at my house that is used for any CPU/GPU intensive programs and I was going to be buying a MBA because I need a laptop, but now that I've seen the iPad 2, I don't know what would be the better purchase. Don't get me wrong, I'm really really really wanting to buy an MBA, but the price is so much, and I still need to pay for driving lessons (I'm only 15 lol) to get my permit which is $600, and then a couple months later I'll need to take my driving test to get my license which is another $400-600, and then I need to buy a car... so yeah, you can see where I'm coming from when I ask which you guys which I should go for. Also be aware that I do not currently have a job, either.

Now, on the other side, if I get a 13" MBA with 4GB RAM and the 128GB SSD, my parent's will pay for about $400 of the total price.

If I were to get an MBA, all I would use it for is e-mail, web browsing, playing some games from the app store, and typing a few documents every once in a while, but I would almost always type them on my PC, as I currently do.

So yeah, what do you guys think I should go for?

Edit: I still am most likely going to be getting an MBA, but I'd still like to hear your opinions.

 

[namtaB]

I have both. They're 2 different machines. I'm typing this on my iPad and the inboard keyboard is a pain in the ass. The iPad has some great apps but I use it to web surf, review reports, and that's about it. Very limited in it's application.

 

[toondw]

Loved the ipad for a while then realised its just a toy (selling it after 5 months).......a great one mind. No competition i think the air wins it!

 

[SR71]

I too had an iPad, but sold it to save up for an MBA, for which I would be keeping for 4 years or so. The price is steep, but I'd use it for everything that it's worth.

To be honest, I'm probably just really anxious to get my MBA, and am just being impatient and thinking of other options that I could blow money on... gotta wait till the 18th till I can order my MBA.

 

[toondw]

I too had an iPad, but sold it to save up for an MBA, for which I would be keeping for 4 years or so. The price is steep, but I'd use it for everything that it's worth.

To be honest, I'm probably just really anxious to get my MBA, and am just being impatient and thinking of other options to

Even when the ipad 2 is out the air is still the better machine. I just ordered the maxed out air and it should be with me in 2 days! My macbook pro and ipad are going on ebay!

 

[SR71]

Even when the ipad 2 is out the air is still the better machine. I just ordered the maxed out air and it should be with me in 2 days! My macbook pro and ipad are going on ebay!

1 week and 4 days till I'll have mine. Getting mine overnighted so I can play with it as soon as possible... but anyways, back on topic haha.

So yeah, if you forumgoers were in my position, what would you spring for? An iPad 2, or a 13" MBA?

 

[ejisfun]

Personally, I would save your money and go for the ipad. It does things like web browsing and email perfectly. It most definitely does games perfectly. And if you need to type, just buy the keyboard for it.

 

[MartyF81]

iPad and MBA are 2 different things. I have both. If you are even considering an MBA... then the iPad is not going to meet your needs.

Getting a KeyBoard for your iPad is not going to make it a Laptop. An iPad is a media consumption device that can "Dabble" in the laptop world... but it can't play big league ball... it is playing in the minors.

Don't get me wrong, I have both, and love both. They just do not match the same use.

 

[iNotion]

would like to own both.

MBA, more of work-based.
iPad, more of surfing, reading (leisure time)
and iPad battery definitely lasts longer than MBA.

Hopefully,
i can get e 1st version iPad at a reasonable price on the resale market.

 

[Actual Size]

Get the MBA

I think you'll be better off and more pleased with the MBA.

I just received my refurb 13" MBA Ultimate today and all I can say is, WOW! I own an iPad as well and if I had to choose only one, I'd keep my MBA. Luckily I don't have to.

The MBA is well worth the wait.

My $.02

 

[SR71]

Thanks for all of the replies, everyone!

I've owned an iPad in the past, but sold it after it stopped getting much use and to save up for a MBA.

I think I'm gonna just be patient and get the MBA, as I will most likely be able to get a job this summer as I will be turning 16 (had a job offer, but I had to be 16, so they said that once I turn 16 that I will be hired since my family is friend's with the owner of the store that I'd be working at).

 

[koobcamuk]

As someone that uses a machine for work, at work (in an office), all I need at home is something to access the internet in a nicer way than on a 3.4" screen.

iPad fits that bill, and also allows me to do other things. The things I can't do with the iPad, for leisure time, are vastly outnumbered by the things I can do.

The MBA is a consideration for me because I don't actually own my own computer at the moment.

 

[thelookingglass]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; zh-cn) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

For me, the MBA is infinitely more useful. I'm coming to terms with the fact that my desire to also have an ipad is simply an emotional response to shiny, new Apple gadgets. If I'm honest with myself, the ipad is not useful enough to justify having when I also own an iMac, MBA and an iPhone. I have ipad 1 and will hold off on upgrading until the OS is advanced enough that I can comfortably replace my laptop without worrying about lacking functionality.

 

[Lurchdubious]

MBA is a better choice in your situation IMHO.

I recently sold my iPad and our old blackbook so that by early next week I'll have the 13" MBA and iPad 2. Ask me if I'm excited…

 

[SR71]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; zh-cn) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

For me, the MBA is infinitely more useful. I'm coming to terms with the fact that my desire to also have an ipad is simply an emotional response to shiny, new Apple gadgets. If I'm honest with myself, the ipad is not useful enough to justify having when I also own an iMac, MBA and an iPhone. I have ipad 1 and will hold off on upgrading until the OS is advanced enough that I can comfortably replace my laptop without worrying about lacking functionality.

Now that I think about it, that's why I pretty much asked if I should get an iPad 2... because it's a shiny new Apple gadget. Lol.

MBA is a better choice in your situation IMHO.

I recently sold my iPad and our old blackbook so that by early next week I'll have the 13" MBA and iPad 2. Ask me if I'm excited…

Are you excited?

 

[ranjitb]

Let me give you an example currently I have both the iPad and MBA 13.

This is about a couple of months ago, when I got the iPad it was the new gadget at that time I did not have a MBA but an old netbook, I had to go out for a relatives wedding to a different city I was to stay there for about 4 days so instead of taking my old netbook I took my iPad with me, what a mistake.

It was great for reading books, watching movies or browsing the web but for doing actual work on the same it was just plain horrible, and then I had to borrow my cousins laptop for a few hours to get some urgent work done.

Now I use my iPad only in the evening for casual reading and browsing the web and for that it's the ultimate device, for getting work done I go with my MBA.

If you need to get any serious work done MBA is the way to go.

 

[Lurchdubious]

Are you excited?

Why yes, yes I am .