Why do you take an iPad to the gym?!
phone not enough?! 
Also, a 11" MacBook Air is more than portable IMHO. The usability is definitely outweighs a little bit inconvenience.
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If you have a MacBook, is there any need to get an iPad?
- Thread starter jtsang777
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Why do you take an iPad to the gym?!
phone not enough?! Also, a 11" MacBook Air is more than portable IMHO. The usability is definitely outweighs a little bit inconvenience.
May I suggest a Kindle for your novel reading requirements. I used to think iPad was the answer for that but then I took the plunge. Buying a kindle paper white was the best decision I made for my novel fix.
I have both iPad and MBP. I use iPad a lot than my MBP but I need MBP for heavy work like FCPX and Photoshop. When I'm on my bed, I enjoyed watching Netflix and other movies. It depends on what you want to do.
I go back and forth. I think I buy and sell an iPad every 2 years. Right now I have a 12 inch MacBook and a 7 Plus. I feel like this is a really good combination as it covers mostly everything I need. Unless Apple makes serious inroads on the software side for iPad, I don't know if I will need one. There is something futuristic to me about going iPad and iPhone only for my computing needs, just don't know if I can get there yet. There for a few things that I still need a computer for and therefor, it's just not worth it for me. I don't want 3 screen devices in my life. Only2 (I do have an Apple Watch, not sure if that counts).
I'm in your camp.
Since the 12" MacBook and the iPad Air are so lightweight, it ends the argument. You can have the best of both worlds without the weight penalty. You can carry just the tablet when you watch media or read email. You can carry just the RMB when you need to type or run a presentation. You can carry both when you need to and the two of them combined still weigh less than a MacBook Pro. And you get nearly 20 hours of battery life and tons of storage.
To me, this is the best-in-class experience. 12" MacBook + iPad Air. It's what Microsoft and their 2-In-1's are attempting to do but better. Two uncompromised devices is the answer.
BJ
I'm an attorney, and I use the combination of both devices for work every day. I have a 12" MacBook and a 9.7" iPad Pro. I use the MacBook for drafting briefs and other documents, research, and other computer tasks. The iPad has replaced my legal pad and paper files, so I can take handwritten notes on it while researching on my MacBook, or while in court, or in a deposition. I can have case documents on the iPad and refer to them while drafting something on the MacBook or have them with me on the go. In that way, the iPad is my 21st century replacement for paper. But I can also research, email, and do other administrative tasks on the iPad, which, obviously, I couldn't do with a legal pad.
So I have some flexibility in that there is some overlap of abilities in the two devices, but they are also very well suited to compliment each other since they have unique strengths at the margins and allow multi-screen workflow.
So I have some flexibility in that there is some overlap of abilities in the two devices, but they are also very well suited to compliment each other since they have unique strengths at the margins and allow multi-screen workflow.
I'm a photographer, I used to take my MacBook Pro to shoots, but now i just use an iPad, smaller, dedicated apps etc. Easier to pass around when working with groups of people.
I have to say I don't miss my tablet (wasn't an iPad but I don't think it makes a huge amount of difference) at all. I never found a use case for it that my iPhone or MBP couldn't fulfil.
Exactly. The weight of the 12" MacBook + iPad is about the same as a Surface Pro. So, you can bring both when you need both without a weight penalty, and have a better tablet and a better computer. Or, you can bring only one when both are not needed.
To me, the iPad is mainly about reading. That is something that is not comfortable on a computer. Before the iPad I had huge piles of printouts. Now I don't even have a printer anymore.
i rarely use my iPad or my desktop anymore . 99% of the time i use my 2015 Dell Chromebook 11 and my iPhone 6.
Since I have started studying, my MacBook Pro is getting a lot of use again. Prior to that, my Air 2 was my primary content consumption device. Now I find I've got legitimate uses for both, and the iPhone.
iPhone SE: My portable computer, communication device, and music player when I'm out of the house.
iPad Air 2: Still used for entertainment, and acts as a perfect personal computer for travelling. In addition, I now carry it with me to work, to check some university realated stuff throughout my work day. Great for managing personal emails, and calendars if there, otherwise the SE does the job. Occasionally used for studying instead of/in addition to the MacBook Pro, for watching lectures, reviewing PowerPoint presentations, reading PDFs, taking basic notes, and basic word processing.
MacBook Pro: The workhorse for studying. Watching lectures, researching academic databases, reading PDFs, authoring essays. Personal spreadsheet stuff, and I can use it to remote into work from home if needed.
It all works really well for me.
iPhone SE: My portable computer, communication device, and music player when I'm out of the house.
iPad Air 2: Still used for entertainment, and acts as a perfect personal computer for travelling. In addition, I now carry it with me to work, to check some university realated stuff throughout my work day. Great for managing personal emails, and calendars if there, otherwise the SE does the job. Occasionally used for studying instead of/in addition to the MacBook Pro, for watching lectures, reviewing PowerPoint presentations, reading PDFs, taking basic notes, and basic word processing.
MacBook Pro: The workhorse for studying. Watching lectures, researching academic databases, reading PDFs, authoring essays. Personal spreadsheet stuff, and I can use it to remote into work from home if needed.
It all works really well for me.
Yep, i'm all about them complimenting each other. If apple can add more complimentary features, the better. I think people get confused when you start talking laptop replacement.
Agreed. For unknown reasons, people think that you need to choose either an iPad or a MacBook and you can't/shouldn't own both. Unless money is a major obstacle, it's the wrong way to think about it.
You don't own a single pair of shoes. You have dress shoes for a wedding, casual loafers for the day, sneakers when you run, sandals for the beach. An iPad is exceptional for media consumption and reading. A notebook is exceptional for workplace efficiency, data management, media creation, and word processing. There is nothing wrong with owning both devices, no different than you don't wear dress shoes on the beach.
Sometimes you need a real keyboard and a mouse to do your job, sometimes you need a thin handheld with a large screen to watch a movie on a plane. That is the one-sentence answer to the question.
BJ
I look at it in this way, what use do you have for the devices you own/want to buy? for example some people may say I'm excessive for having an iMac (2012) MacBook Pro (2011) and an iPad Pro, but i have a different use case for each device i own my iMac is my desktop computer (and a great one at that) my MacBook Pro i took everywhere around university for 4 years and my iPad Pro is a great little device that i use for drawing, watching content and just lately I've found that i've started to do some of the tasks on it that i would of only ever done on my iMac or MacBook Pro at one point, things like word-processing, multitasking and so on (there is an argument to be made for the iPad Pro replacing a laptop https://televisionmagnets.wordpress.com/2017/03/10/ipad-pro-as-a-laptop-replacement/) it really boils down to what you want to do!
I think I am about to take the plunge and be without a MBP for the first time in ... I think ... about 12 years.
My late 2011 MBP is dying. It has been so heavily used for photographic work, web development, managing my business and making music on that I actually bought my first iMac a year or so ago and that is where I do most of that work now. The MBP lives on my lap in the evening though and I will miss it. I have an iPad Mini 4 that I take away when I travel, and read books and watch films on in bed. I find it too small though for my ageing eyes to do much else on it though.
In the past I would automatically have bought a replacement MBP but this time I have my eye on a 12.9 iPad Pro 2 when it appears (plus keyboard) as a laptop replacement. I hope it will work out
My late 2011 MBP is dying. It has been so heavily used for photographic work, web development, managing my business and making music on that I actually bought my first iMac a year or so ago and that is where I do most of that work now. The MBP lives on my lap in the evening though and I will miss it. I have an iPad Mini 4 that I take away when I travel, and read books and watch films on in bed. I find it too small though for my ageing eyes to do much else on it though.
In the past I would automatically have bought a replacement MBP but this time I have my eye on a 12.9 iPad Pro 2 when it appears (plus keyboard) as a laptop replacement. I hope it will work out
I have:
a 13" MBA for main use - stays at home
a 11" MBA for travel - for use on plane, in hotel etc
an iPad Mini for general use: maps, email, travel, books, games, videos and all the useful apps that integrate with day to day life. It's a great run-around device, I take it with me wherever I go.
a 13" MBA for main use - stays at home
a 11" MBA for travel - for use on plane, in hotel etc
an iPad Mini for general use: maps, email, travel, books, games, videos and all the useful apps that integrate with day to day life. It's a great run-around device, I take it with me wherever I go.
I find I rarely use my PaperWhite now as I prefer my Air 2 for reading and it is also multipurpose. In addition to the Air 2, I take my Dell XPS 13 travelling as I want the large, fast storage and RAW photo & video editing capabilities. It is light, has a small footprint, and a hi-res (3200x1800) display so it works well for my purposes. The units complement each other, not replace.
I guess it depends on what you're looking for. When I'm reading a novel or something engaging like that I don't like to get disturbed by notifications and kindle being much smaller and lighter it's much easier to hold and carry plus the e-ink technology means it's easy on the eyes when I'm reading in bed at night or even travelling. Not to forget the battery life which lasts me at least a month.
Need? Not at all. At least for me.
That said, I find the iPad a much more pleasant platform for watching video in bed. Don't need to buy a new one every year for that. But my iPad 3 has gotten enough use that after 5 years of service (and no longer being eligible for OS updates, or capable of surfing modern websites) I'm willing to spend to replace it (once the new models are announced).
But if I were short on cash, getting by with a MacBook Pro and no tablet would be easy enough. On the other hand, there's no way I would try to use an iPad as a substitute for a laptop. Nuh-uh, no way, no sir.
That said, I find the iPad a much more pleasant platform for watching video in bed. Don't need to buy a new one every year for that. But my iPad 3 has gotten enough use that after 5 years of service (and no longer being eligible for OS updates, or capable of surfing modern websites) I'm willing to spend to replace it (once the new models are announced).
But if I were short on cash, getting by with a MacBook Pro and no tablet would be easy enough. On the other hand, there's no way I would try to use an iPad as a substitute for a laptop. Nuh-uh, no way, no sir.
I considered getting a kindle instead of an iPad mini, but I ended up choosing the iPad because for me its advantages outweighed those of the kindle. To stop notifications, I can quickly turn on Do Not Disturb in the Control Center; and I find with Night Shift on, the screen is very easy on the eyes at night. But the kindle does have much better battery life, and I do wish the iPad mini was slightly smaller and lighter. The kindle is also much better for reading outdoors in sunlight. But the versatility of the iPad outweighs those things for me. And maybe most importantly for me, all my ebooks are in ibooks...
I turn notifications off. I really just meant in terms of overall versatility that the iPad works better for me and the size is a non-issue for me.
Yeah the "turning notifications off" to me actually kills the purpose of having an iPad for me. This is why I got the kindle. No temptation can drag me out of the reading zone, plus it's really more comfortable to handle. Perfect to just carry without worrying much and that long battery life plus the e-ink display does it for me.
To swing this around back to the OP's question, this shows it really depends not only on your needs but your personal preferences on how you like to use your devices. A device may be unnecessary from a purely functional perspective but may be "necessary" for you because of how you like to do things.
I have a new IPad and was going to get rid of the old Retina Display when my hubby discovered Amazon Prime videos, specifically Top Gear, or whatever they call the new on line version. AppRently you cannot play those on the MacBook Air so he now has my old IPad for the solo purpose of watching the show.