I've had a MacBook Air since February 2008. When the iPad came out, I briefly considered it but haven't bought it for myself. For me, the MacBook Air is portable enough, and it has "full" computing power, unlike the iPad. I also have a smartphone and a Kindle, so between my three devices, I pretty much have the iPad's capabilities covered.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Has MBA cannibalized iPad Sales and Usage?
- Thread starter Appleind
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
If you already have an iPad, you probably will buy a MBA if you need a laptop but if you buy the MBA first, you may not buy an iPad after.
I was struggling to buy the iPad or not when it was out but I knew I had to upgrade my laptop soon so I reassured myself to wait. I could not wait when I saw the MBA at Apple store and had never thought about iPad any more.
I would say the MBA 11" base model is iPad killer.
I was struggling to buy the iPad or not when it was out but I knew I had to upgrade my laptop soon so I reassured myself to wait. I could not wait when I saw the MBA at Apple store and had never thought about iPad any more.
I would say the MBA 11" base model is iPad killer.
No, the MBA won't kill the iPad: there is a tremendous mass appeal for the iPad that extends beyond Mac owners and potential Mac owners. Windows netbooks and laptops certainly haven't killed the iPad among those who are outside of Apple's ecosystem. The MBA might kill the iPad for individuals like us who want some sort of portable Mac and find that it fits our needs better than an iPad, but for the zillions of people out there who have no desire to own a Mac, an iPad is a viable ultra mobile computing device.
I love my new MBA, but the iPad is still my "go to" device when I want to do something computer-ish that doesn't require a laptop: it's just so handy. The two devices complement each other nicely.
I love my new MBA, but the iPad is still my "go to" device when I want to do something computer-ish that doesn't require a laptop: it's just so handy. The two devices complement each other nicely.
im selling my ipad because i would get 95% of my value back. because there is probably a new ipad coming out in the coming months and because as of right now, i need to pay my debt and i wasn't using the ipad like it deserves. If wasn't that scapped for cash, i wouldn't sell it.
thats all.
thats all.
This is the same dilemma i have. I own an MBP and and MBA to suit different purposes. I am happy with a 32GB 3GS as of now, but will surely like to own an iPad version 2 (if rumors are true) for video chats and lot of music related apps. Now if MBA can achieve the same portability and if it can run Apps too (referring to Lion) i will really be hard pressed to go for an iPad.
If you do quite a lot of book reading, you will find iPad is better for the following reasons:
1. The screen orientation (portrait/landscape) of the iPad makes book reading/pdf reading
2. Much longer battery life (compared to a similar size, ie. 11" MBA and not 13" MBA)
I find both of the devices have their values and usefulness and they compliment each nicely. While travelling, you can create content (eg. creating report/spreadsheet) on MBA while consume content on iPad (eg. reading documents)
MBA definitely pulled in me inMBA is an offspring of the iPad (in relation to the back to the mac event)...
An app store and single window mode does not make Lion an offspring of iOS.
I was referring more to the 11.6" MBA as an offspring of iPad. Not about Lion being the offspring of iOS
No Got both - use both
If you have to choose one you will choose the one that best suits your needs but if you can afford both - buy both - they complement each other very well. I use the air for keyboard intensive tasks the iPad for everything else. If you are not typing a lot, the iPad is very easy to use. ( typed this on the iPad) great for email web browsing games etc.
Even if you need the keyboard for writing, having an iPad as well is great because it soooo much better for browsing and stretches the battery on the air carry both and you can work for about 2days without needing to recharge
Fantastic
If you have to choose one you will choose the one that best suits your needs but if you can afford both - buy both - they complement each other very well. I use the air for keyboard intensive tasks the iPad for everything else. If you are not typing a lot, the iPad is very easy to use. ( typed this on the iPad) great for email web browsing games etc.
Even if you need the keyboard for writing, having an iPad as well is great because it soooo much better for browsing and stretches the battery on the air carry both and you can work for about 2days without needing to recharge
Fantastic
Agree!Can't we all just get along?
Right now I use my iPad and MBP15. Great combination. However, I could easily replace my MBP15 with an MBA13 today if I wanted to. But alas, I will hold onto my MBP15 for a year or two more.
For those who need a smaller laptop, I don't see why an iPad and MBA11 wouldn't be a great combo as well.
Also, with display sharing, the iPad can provide extra screen real estate in the form of an external monitor which is handy for any laptop be it an MBA or MBP model.
Yes they are.
One area that the MBA models pale compared to the iPad is battery life. Plus I like the iPad interface and apps. You can't beat having 3G connectivity where ever you go. Man that is convenient -- and built in so you don't need to carry an extra device. Sweet.
As another poster has said, Flash will not be coming to the iPad. Apple's stubborn refusal to let iPad users have Flash is hard enough to take but something else bugs me even more: Apple maintains such strict proprietary control over the iPad, only the software and utilities Apple first approves and them makes available in the App Store can be installed on the iPad. These are only two of the many reasons why the iPad was such a profound disappoint to me and why I virtually stopped using it after I got an MBA.
I never bought the iPad - and am far less likely to do so now. The lack of its ability to access full Web content - incl. Flash, Java and Silverlight, limits what is possible with the iPad. The iPad is best when there's an app for it (and not just an iPhone app but one that was designed for the iPad).
I suspect the MBA especially the 11.6" is going to cannibalize on some iPad sales, but not kill it by any means. Just like the iPhone cannibalizes on iPod sales.
bired, so redid my little pic... I'm a fooking artistic genius, clearly.
Real Masterpiece I should say
I agree that the 11 inch MBA certainly won't kill the iPad. I spent the weekend at my daughter and son in law's house. My daughter has had her iPad for several months and loves it. When I told her that I would have bought a $999 11 inch MBA instead of an iPad if they had been introduced at the same time, she vehemently disagreed. She thinks that the far cheaper iPad makes much better sense for her to use as an ereader and casual Web browser than the far more expensive $999 MBA. My daughter is a program developer for an insurance company and is extremely computer literate so I was surprised that she preferred the iPad for her purposes. Maybe I just don't get it.
I agree that the 11 inch MBA certainly won't kill the iPad. I spent the weekend at my daughter and son in law's house. My daughter has had her iPad for several months and loves it. When I told her that I would have bought a $999 11 inch MBA instead of an iPad if they had been introduced at the same time, she vehemently disagreed. She thinks that the far cheaper iPad makes much better sense for her to use as an ereader and casual Web browser than the far more expensive $999 MBA. My daughter is a program developer for an insurance company and is extremely computer literate so I was surprised that she preferred the iPad for her purposes. Maybe I just don't get it.
I really like that your open about this and share it with us!
When I told her that I would have bought a $999 11 inch MBA instead of an iPad if they had been introduced at the same time, she vehemently disagreed. She thinks that the far cheaper iPad makes much better sense for her to use as an ereader and casual Web browser than the far more expensive $999 MBA. My daughter is a program developer for an insurance company and is extremely computer literate so I was surprised that she preferred the iPad for her purposes. Maybe I just don't get it.
I agree with your daughter.
The iPads superlative battery life alone gives it special status versus the 11" MBA netbook. You'll go through two full charges on that model before you'll tucker out the iPad.
The eReader apps (iBooks for epubs, Kindle app for Kindle books, Nook app, etc.) make it a pretty good eReader. I find the Nook and Kindle to be far better if ALL you want is an eReader, but the iPad is multi-format compatible, something the dedicated eReaders are not.
The ability to view movie files in anything other than MP4 gives the MBA's an edge...but even then, the 11" netbook version tends to choke on very large MKV 1080p videos unless you use something like Plex. But still....no conversion needed for most file types. You have to convert almost EVERYTHING to some custom format for the iPad.
And although there are those who claim great skill and comfort with the on-screen iPad keyboard, I hate the thing for anything other than quick replies. For real typing and real content creation, the MBA line wins.
I'm also pretty addicted to the iTunes App library of fairly cheap games and 'applets' for the iPad. I can't hardly touch any games for OSX without dropping $25-$40. I can buy 20+ games for the iPad for that price. They may not be as deep/immersive but they are no less fun and actually better fit my lifestyle as I'm seldom sitting in front of a computer playing a game for hours at a time...but I can squeeze in 10 minutes here/there on a game for the iPad easily.
They both have their strengths/weaknesses, and they don't really overlap as much as some people may think.
The eReader apps (iBooks for epubs, Kindle app for Kindle books, Nook app, etc.) make it a pretty good eReader. I find the Nook and Kindle to be far better if ALL you want is an eReader, but the iPad is multi-format compatible, something the dedicated eReaders are not.
The ability to view movie files in anything other than MP4 gives the MBA's an edge...but even then, the 11" netbook version tends to choke on very large MKV 1080p videos unless you use something like Plex. But still....no conversion needed for most file types. You have to convert almost EVERYTHING to some custom format for the iPad.
And although there are those who claim great skill and comfort with the on-screen iPad keyboard, I hate the thing for anything other than quick replies. For real typing and real content creation, the MBA line wins.
I'm also pretty addicted to the iTunes App library of fairly cheap games and 'applets' for the iPad. I can't hardly touch any games for OSX without dropping $25-$40. I can buy 20+ games for the iPad for that price. They may not be as deep/immersive but they are no less fun and actually better fit my lifestyle as I'm seldom sitting in front of a computer playing a game for hours at a time...but I can squeeze in 10 minutes here/there on a game for the iPad easily.
They both have their strengths/weaknesses, and they don't really overlap as much as some people may think.
You clearly do not own an iPad. I've watched a lot of AVI movies on this thing with VLC and Xine for iPad.
Still I'll have to hand it to you, 720p has to be converted to MP4/M4V otherwise the devise will say it'll have problems with playing and asks if you are sure you wanna run it.
Maybe I just don't get it.
What can I say? I'm a sharing kind of guy.
I have hardly made a secret of my low opinion of the iPad, particularly compared to the MBA. For example, see Post #39 in this thread and several other equally uncomplimentary posts I have posted to other threads. Although it is decent for certain purposes, I find myself far more bothered by the unnecessary limitations Apple has imposed on iPad owners than I am impressed by its design. Those who say that the iPad is just a big iPod Touch have a point.