iPad 2 vs MBA 11" vs MBA 13 vs MBP 13

[BMWNEW]

Dear Macrumorers,
Please, help me to fill the gap: iPhone 4 - ... - 18" VAIO.
I have an iPhone 4 now (love it, use everyday for 7 hours) and a powerful 18" VAIO laptop as a tower.
But I miss smth between these two things...
I can do a lot of thing with my iPhone 4, but the screen is too small for all everyday tasks, and of course iOS has got a LOT of limitations...
I live in Russia, so the prices are a little bit higher then in USA, but I am going to be in London from 11th till 15th of May.
My budget is about 750 - 1200 pounds (and I am going to get a tax free though!).

So, for these money I can get:
1) iPad 2 with 3G, 64 GB (2011) ; this is a good variant, but I can come up with iOS limitations (f.e. it is not autonomous, it does not have a USB drive, my NOT wireless Epson printer won't work with it, and so on...
2) 11" MBA Ultimate (2010) (a bit more expensive, but it is not a big deal); this is the thing I REALLY WANT, but I am afraid of soon June update. Anyway I do really want this small sexy Mac.
3) 13" MBA Ultimate (2010) ; same thing, but too expensive, although it has more screen estate and it is more powerful...
4) 13 MBP with i7 (2011) ; it a good one, I like an i7 CPU, backlit keys and upgradability but I am afraid of weight, low res screen and 5400 RPM HDD...
5) Wait for Sandy Bridge MBA's; possibly in June, so I can get it as a birthday present! And now I can spend money on... F.e. iPad 2?

So I am going to use it at high school, at home (including in the bed) and while traveling (I am inveterate traveller).
My primary uses are: Microsoft Office (or iWork), web surfing (Facebook, YouTube, Macrumors and so on), watching movies, light photo editing (photos in RAW from Canon 5D MII) and light gaming.
I also want iPhone to sync with it (cause iTunes runs awful on Win7). That means that I will use it very often.


I would love 11" Air, but I am afraid of C2D being slow and cut off by Apple in the future updates... I need it for at least 2 years...
I would enjoy i5/i7 (with Intel HD3000 - I know) much more...

So what do you think, guys?
Does it worth to wait till my Birthday on 28th of June for SB MBA's?

Thank you for your responses!)
Oh, and here is a poll!

 

[SR71]

Definitely go for the 11" Ultimate. I accidentally voted on the poll without reading so subtract 1 vote (mine) from the 13" Ultimate option.

Your iPhone coupled with your 11" MBA and 18" Laptop for intensive programs would be the perfect combo.

 

[Ca$hflow]

If I were you I would calm down and wait for the new release for one primary reason. You have a fully functioning computer that will keep you going till the next release. The next release will be more than just a mere speed bump. Also you never know but I think a back lit keyboard will come too. If you are not satisfied with the new release then you can get a bargain on a referb. Also when you wait your mac will be sweeter.

 

[alecgold]

I find it hard to choose for myself, let alone to tell you what to do.

I can tell you what I did. I had a macbook pro 13" with Samsung SSD. it broke, but I got a MBA13" ultimate.
What I do with it? I use office, Parallels with XP (2 XP version open often) mail, internet, the lot. I'm often on the road, but I also write a lot of text that need to be good.
The 11" would be some less good at working (typing) compared to the MBA13, but still a very good option to get some work done. The C2D in my 13" is really capable. You don't need lots of power, that's where the viao comes in, so you could wait it out until an new update comes out, or just get out and buy one.
The iPad is in my experience just good for reading. You can read a lot on in, surf the web, do all kinds of stuff with it, but just consuming, not creating. Yes, it can be pushed, but it's not really funny.

 

[glen e]

I have an Ipad2 and a MBA 11 - they do separate things and I don't consider them interchangeable. I use the ipad for home use of internet and email - around the house - much more portable than a laptop no matter how slim it is like the MBA.

I use the MBA for presentations and more serious work on excel and word.

I really like them both. I use dropbox to seamlessly exchange between them.

 

[OSMac]

iPad 2 and 11" refurb of your choice, great combo .

Only thing is the new Airs are due soon,
so its hard to buy one now.

I'd hate to see a back lit keyboard in the new model.

 

[BMWNEW]

Your iPhone coupled with your 11" MBA and 18" Laptop for intensive programs would be the perfect combo.
Definitely agree with you.
But I am worried about rumored June update...

If I were you I would calm down and wait for the new release for one primary reason. You have a fully functioning computer that will keep you going till the next release.

Totally right) But you know that it is always great to have a new "toy". But this is not just a toy. I do really NEED it at school and while travelling!


iPad 2 and 11" refurb of your choice, great combo .

Good idea, but I can not get refurb in MOSCOW (only used one).


What do you think about that: get an iPad 2 in London and wait till the end of June for a MBA update. Nevertheless I have got a Birthday, so I can get New SB 11' MBA as a present!
Is iPad 2 really useful? Or maybe it is better to save money?

 

[letoast]

I'm impressed that despite the many complaints in this subforum about the prospects of a subpar GPU in the upcoming MBA refresh, it's still winning in the polls. It has my vote too, and that is specifically what my money is waiting for. For those of us with only moderate performance needs but a much stronger priority toward a highly portable and fully capable OS, I really don't think that the (surely soon to come) Sandy Bridge MBA could be beat.

 

[BMWNEW]

Thank you everybody for your responses, guys!

I'm impressed that despite the many complaints in this subforum about the prospects of a subpar GPU in the upcoming MBA refresh, it's still winning in the polls. It has my vote too, and that is specifically what my money is waiting for. For those of us with only moderate performance needs but a much stronger priority toward a highly portable and fully capable OS, I really don't think that the (surely soon to come) Sandy Bridge MBA could be beat.

My money are waiting for SB MBA too. I bet it is going to be a BOMB, this is why I don't want to buy MBA now.

I know that it is awful to wait forever, but I have a powerful VAIO now, so picking up high-end iPad 2 in London is a good idea, isn't it?

 

[neteng101]

Honestly I think if one is willing to wait, then get the Ivy Bridge (not SB) MBA. All indications are that IB will bring good things, such as USB 3.0, less heat, better graphics, etc.

The SB graphics will definitely be sub-par to the 320m, since it will be a LV CPU with lower clocks on the SB GPU. And we know all the SB MBPs run way hot too.

 

[BMWNEW]

Honestly I think if one is willing to wait, then get the Ivy Bridge (not SB) MBA. All indications are that IB will bring good things, such as USB 3.0, less heat, better graphics, etc.

The SB graphics will definitely be sub-par to the 320m, since it will be a LV CPU with lower clocks on the SB GPU. And we know all the SB MBPs run way hot too.

Oh, Ivy Brigde processors have not been released yet!
It would not show up in MBA before mid-2012. I hate waiting forever. I want a Mac as soon as possible (definitely in summer, before school)!

This is why maybe it is better to look at the 13" MBP?
SB i7 processor and back lit keys are wonderful! Upgradability and price are nice too...
But weight and HDD...

 

[cirus]

If you are going to type a lot don't buy the ipad. (try it out first obviously)

I've tried it and I suck at typing on the ipad. There is no tactile feedback and I keep pressing the wrong keys. Plus my fingers are too big to hit only one key easily.
Generally ipad does content consumption while the mbp or mba will be better for content creation.

But go with what suits you best.

 

[glen e]

Generally ipad does content consumption while the mbp or mba will be better for content creation.

wow - never heard it put better - or shorter -

you can get around the typing on an ipad with a BT keyboard but you are still touching the screen to navigate, etc - no mouse avail yet....I have both and they diff things....

 

[BMWNEW]

I have both and they diff things....

I understand well that the differ things, but first I want to get a Mac. Only then (If I would have an opportunity) I would think about an iPad 2. It is a luxury.

Oh, typing on it is not really wonderful (MB (A/P) is much better); but anyway I can type short texts on my iPhone, so iPad is OK for this too. Not great, but OK...

I know that I need a Mac; but I can not really understand: which one and when?