Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

I have an iPad and an Air. Overkill?

rockyroad55

rockyroad55

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jul 14, 2010
4,152
59
Phila, PA
I got an iPad as a gift and I bought myself the maxed out MacBook Air 13". I love the iPad for using it at my bedside and taking it around classes and the library when I don't need to type any papers. But the air is just as light and portable.

Am I overkilling myself or did I just get the perfect setup for me? I have, what my friend say, the Trinity. iPhone. iPad. MacBook.

Anyone else here with the same situation?
 
Hellhammer

Hellhammer

Moderator emeritus
Dec 10, 2008
22,164
582
Finland
If you find use for both machines, then it's not an overkill. If one of them constantly sits in a corner, then it's an overkill and you should consider selling the less-used item. I've seen plenty of people having MBA + iPad
 
rockyroad55

rockyroad55

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jul 14, 2010
4,152
59
Phila, PA
My phone has resorted to just for texts and calls now. MacBook for downloading movies for the iPad and doing papers. The iPad is for gaming now along with doing quick research on web pages.

I was thinking about getting the 15" MBP but it feels so much better to have the air to bring around just in case. The iPad is starting to become my main device so I'm pretty happy with it.
 
AppleGoddess

AppleGoddess

macrumors 6502a
Sep 30, 2010
787
0
I sold my ipad than bought my MBA but planning on selling the MBA the minute the ipad is updated.
 
Scott6666

Scott6666

macrumors 68000
Feb 2, 2008
1,513
982
It's not overkill unless you get your 15" i7 MBPro and your 27" iMac to go with them.
 
B

bzn8

macrumors newbie
Nov 3, 2010
9
2
rockyroad55 said:
Anyone else here with the same situation?
Click to expand...

I have the exact same setup: iphone 4G, ipad wifi, and Ultimate MBA 13". This is perfect to me. I am a college student and spend a whole lot of time commuting between home and school by bus.

The iPhone provides me all the information I need on the go without worrying about not having wi-fi around me.

The iPad, which I mostly use on the couch or bed at home, but all the time in the bus and when I am studying for the test (I scan my notes and compile them in pdf: no need to turn pages or carry a stack of notes, just swipe your finger).

The MBA is really good for all the other stuff I need: working on papers, presentations, research. I have tried to use the iPad with the BT keyboard but the iWork apps really are inconvenient and really turned me off, even for the simplest tasks.

...and I can carry all of those devices in my backpack without compromising on the books I can or cannot fit in it. Compared to the time I had to carry the black macbook, this is a huge improvement. Of course now I live off ramen noodles and tv dinners. Haha.
 
rdowns

rdowns

macrumors Penryn
Jul 11, 2003
27,397
12,521
For the life of me, I can't figure out why people give a **** what a bunch of nerds and geeks on a forum think. If it meets YOUR needs, go for it.
 
D

double329

macrumors 6502
Sep 10, 2008
452
75
Not at all. But I did, sell my iPad. I just got the MBA 13 Ultimate recently. I sold iPad more like getting ready for iPad 2.
 
J

jimboutilier

macrumors 6502a
Nov 10, 2008
647
42
Denver
The iPad is not really a standalone device and requires a computer to setup, maintain, etc. Its great as a consumption device where viewing, listening, reading are involved and can be good for light production like taking notes, answering emails etc but not so strong at heavier production is involved (combining content from many sources to product new content). Thats where a laptop is much stronger.

So I consider the devices complementary. I much prefer reading and casual surfing on the iPad. I much prefer the iPad for attending meetings where I'll just be taking occasional notes or checking email etc is involved.

But where I need to do anything complex, like multitasking, producing heavier content etc, I much prefer the MBA.

It would be a much harder choice if the iPad was as I was originally hoping - a MBA with a touchscreen instead of a keyboard. But such is not the case. As it is, my iPad has much reduced my smartphone needs, and my MBA is again my primary computer.
 
rockyroad55

rockyroad55

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jul 14, 2010
4,152
59
Phila, PA
jimboutilier said:
The iPad is not really a standalone device and requires a computer to setup, maintain, etc. Its great as a consumption device where viewing, listening, reading are involved and can be good for light production like taking notes, answering emails etc but not so strong at heavier production is involved (combining content from many sources to product new content). Thats where a laptop is much stronger.

So I consider the devices complementary. I much prefer reading and casual surfing on the iPad. I much prefer the iPad for attending meetings where I'll just be taking occasional notes or checking email etc is involved.

But where I need to do anything complex, like multitasking, producing heavier content etc, I much prefer the MBA.

It would be a much harder choice if the iPad was as I was originally hoping - a MBA with a touchscreen instead of a keyboard. But such is not the case. As it is, my iPad has much reduced my smartphone needs, and my MBA is again my primary computer.
Click to expand...

Great response. Thanks. I feel I use my iPhone less and less every day now.

As for bragging, please. I just wanted the opinion of others on this forum who has the same setup as I do.
 
D

dmelgar

macrumors 68000
Apr 29, 2005
1,588
168
Ok, I have....
A 13" MBP
Ordered a 13" MBA
I had a 11" MBA for a couple of weeks
Have an iPad
Have an Android phone (awesome, different topic)

I find that I use the phone less and less, unless i need connectivity on the go.
The iPad completely overlaps with the 11" MBA. When i had it I didn't see any need for the iPad. The iPad isn't much smaller but can't do much compared to the MBA. The only good point about the iPad is the battery life.

Now that I've returned the 11" I find myself using the iPad and missing the 11" MBA and rarely consider moving the relatively bulky MBP.

My plan is to sell the 13" MBP and keep either the 11 or 13 as my primary and only computer. I'll keep the iPad and Android phone because I do iOS and Android app development.
 
H

hcho3

macrumors 68030
May 13, 2010
2,783
0
iPad and MBA are different products for different use. Also, iPad is more of threat to 11.6 MBA. 13.3 inch MBA is more of threat to 13.3 MBP.
I have iPad wi-fi + MBA 13.3 inch right now. I love it.
 
M

mm1250

macrumors 6502
Sep 3, 2007
327
43
I find the iPad to be more of a gaming use machine now. I have an iPad, MBA i just bought and a 15'' i5 MBP. I can say the iPad and MBA aren't competing with each other but the MBP and MBA are, so I am thinking of selling the MBP. Oooh, I also have a i7 Desktop Windows PC. Talk about overkill :(
 
S

southnc

macrumors member
Mar 12, 2010
56
1
hcho3 said:
iPad and MBA are different products for different use. Also, iPad is more of threat to 11.6 MBA. 13.3 inch MBA is more of threat to 13.3 MBP.
I have iPad wi-fi + MBA 13.3 inch right now. I love it.
Click to expand...

Actually, the 11" MBA is considered a threat to the iPad, since it's introduction. I do agree that there is redundancy between the iPad and MBA for simple tasks, such as email, non-flash surfing, etc. However, until multi-tasking for iPad arrives, even the 11" MBA is vastly more capable than the iPad.

So, I do agree that the iPad + 13" MBA is a good combination; the 13" MBA is powerful enough to be your main computer for sure.
 
ntrigue

ntrigue

macrumors 68040
Jul 30, 2007
3,805
4
I do not think it's overkill. The iPad at a minimum is a gaming device and Kindle. It also holds the advantage of 3G connectivity where the Air requires WiFi.

Now, in my circumstance. Having an i5 MacBook Pro and iPad, the addition of the Air would be overkill.
 
Y

yegon

Cancelled
Oct 20, 2007
3,429
2,028
If you have use for it, it ain't overkill.

Myself, I have actually sold my iPad since getting the 11" because I simply won't use it, and I'd rather sell now while it still has excellent resale value - I expect the resale price will really bomb in January/February as whispers of the iPad 2 really hit. It was a wrench as I really liked it but it occurred to me that all I'd use it for was reading comics & manga - I never played games on it, and I'd personally prefer my Sony Reader for ebooks. Seemed silly to keep a £500 device (32gb 3G) for a single purpose.

I do miss reading comics on it though, wow - going to back to reading them on a lappy pales in comparison. With this in mind, I may consider getting the cheapest, lowest capacity iPad 2 when they finally appear.
 
chrono1081

chrono1081

macrumors G3
Jan 26, 2008
8,725
5,202
Isla Nublar
rockyroad55 said:
I got an iPad as a gift and I bought myself the maxed out MacBook Air 13". I love the iPad for using it at my bedside and taking it around classes and the library when I don't need to type any papers. But the air is just as light and portable.

Am I overkilling myself or did I just get the perfect setup for me? I have, what my friend say, the Trinity. iPhone. iPad. MacBook.

Anyone else here with the same situation?
Click to expand...

I have:

iPad
iPhone 4
iPhone 3Gs (development purposes)
Macbook Air
Macbook Pro (see sig)
Mac Pro (see sig)

and a linux based eeePC

I don't consider it overkill at all, each has a very specific purpose.

iPad: My lounging around, laying in bed, or pooping partner device. I also use it for travel when I do not need a full laptop.

iPhone 4: My phone, and a development device.

iPhone 3Gs: Development device, and sometimes a spur of the moment internet device.

Macbook Air: For lounging or travel when I need a full computer with full capabilities.

Macbook Pro: This one is my portable game development machine. It travels around with a 24 inch monitor and is used by a friend of mine who I am developing a game with.

Mac Pro: My workhorsey.

EeePC: My portable computer repair computer.
 
A

Apollo73

macrumors newbie
Nov 4, 2010
9
0
rdowns said:
For the life of me, I can't figure out why people give a **** what a bunch of nerds and geeks on a forum think. If it meets YOUR needs, go for it.
Click to expand...

...And yet you've been hanging out here since July of 2003????
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom