Love the quick startup, portability, clear screens on both. Have an iMac and iphone, just retired and don't use the computer as much anymore but can't decide which to buy.
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MacBook Air or iPad
- Thread starter 1chocolate1
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Do you need a physical keyboard? Would help if you told us what are you going to do with it. iPad is okayish but since iOS is fairly limited, it wouldn't be my choice.
I have an iPad and think it's fine for what it does. That said, there is a lot more it doesn't do. Typing is slow and can be excruciating; you can forget about watching Flash enabled Web pages because the iPad can't deal with Flash; data transfer has to be handled through iTunes; the only apps available are those Apple deigns to make available on the iTunes site. In stark contrast, the MBA is a real computer, with a real keyboard. Better yet, the 11 inch MBA weighs only .9 of a pound more than the iPad. If I had had this choice when I bought my iPad, I would have bought an 11 inch MBA instead.
If you're planning to use the computer as a work machine, then the Macbook Air is the way to go. However, if it's more for surfing the Internet and emailing, then the iPad would be a good choice. Since you already have an iMac, you could just do your "serious" work on there.
Go into an Apple store and test both of them out some time.
Go into an Apple store and test both of them out some time.
I transfer plenty of data to my iPad using DropBox. This includes documents, spreadsheets, photos, ebooks and others.
Good point, I had forgotten about wireless transfers. My Goodreader app can do that, too, but I have found wireless transfers to be slow and, often, subject to crashing before they complete. That's why I use iTunes with my iPad, even with Goodreader. Although it makes me a slave to iTunes, I have found that iTunes transfers are far faster and more reliable that wireless transfers.
I have owned an iPad since launch day back in April and really enjoy using it. I have been yearning for a keyboard though. In addition, holding the iPad or having to put it inside a case that props it up is a real pain in the rear end and with the latter solution, adds needless builk.
I think the 11.6 MBA will be perfect for my requirements. Your mileage may vary.
I think the 11.6 MBA will be perfect for my requirements. Your mileage may vary.
Obviously there is a good sized price disparity between the Macbook Air and the iPad. $500 to be exact if you're looking at the base models.
I bought a 32gb iPad Wifi model when they came out, and I've been very happy with it. It does everything I need it to do.
However, if I had the choice at that time between the iPad and this new Macbook Air, I probably would have been the $999 Air. It has a similar form factor to the iPad, but you get the bonus of a keyboard, higher res screen, and more capabilities if you need them.
But for $500 the iPad is a great little unit for playing some fun touch games, surfing most websites, and watching movies/tv shows.
I bought a 32gb iPad Wifi model when they came out, and I've been very happy with it. It does everything I need it to do.
However, if I had the choice at that time between the iPad and this new Macbook Air, I probably would have been the $999 Air. It has a similar form factor to the iPad, but you get the bonus of a keyboard, higher res screen, and more capabilities if you need them.
But for $500 the iPad is a great little unit for playing some fun touch games, surfing most websites, and watching movies/tv shows.
I suppose if I didn't have a wife that has been pestering me for her own iPad since purchasing mine in April I would sell this one and buy the MBA. However I have been waiting to see if Apple would improve the hinge issues, the heat issues and the trackpad. Not to mention an option for 4gigs of ram.
Personally this is a home run as far as an upgrade. While the MBP line see's a CPU boost, GPU boost the MBA scored a new hinge, better heat management (based on early reviews anyhow), glass trackpad, SD card slot, 1 additional USB and the updated Nvida GPU. All the while dropping the price even on the 13" by 100 bucks. Not to shabby imo.
I won't make a decision on which size until I see them and mess with both in the Apple store this weekend but the baseline MBA maybe a keeper for what I need a portable/iPad replacing unltraportable computing device for. While I have downloaded a few games, I honestly don't play them much at all. The wife clearly has more use in that respect. I use the iPad for email, web, and use the Netflix and Hulu apps a ton. The news apps and ESPN are very nice but obviously the MBA can handle any of those tasks just fine.
Bottom line I'd agree if given the choice of the 11" MBA vs the iPad back in April I would have gone MBA, but glad I've had the chance to use the iPad as it is a very cool media consumption device, but I'lll take a bit more well rounded laptop for my overall computing needs.
Personally this is a home run as far as an upgrade. While the MBP line see's a CPU boost, GPU boost the MBA scored a new hinge, better heat management (based on early reviews anyhow), glass trackpad, SD card slot, 1 additional USB and the updated Nvida GPU. All the while dropping the price even on the 13" by 100 bucks. Not to shabby imo.
I won't make a decision on which size until I see them and mess with both in the Apple store this weekend but the baseline MBA maybe a keeper for what I need a portable/iPad replacing unltraportable computing device for. While I have downloaded a few games, I honestly don't play them much at all. The wife clearly has more use in that respect. I use the iPad for email, web, and use the Netflix and Hulu apps a ton. The news apps and ESPN are very nice but obviously the MBA can handle any of those tasks just fine.
Bottom line I'd agree if given the choice of the 11" MBA vs the iPad back in April I would have gone MBA, but glad I've had the chance to use the iPad as it is a very cool media consumption device, but I'lll take a bit more well rounded laptop for my overall computing needs.
This thread has reminded me of how schizophrenic I am about the iPad. I love the things it does well but, as noted in an earlier post, its weaknesses make me crazy. For those who use their iPads for casual Web browsing and reading ebooks, the iPad is simply wonderful and as you noted, cheaper than the MBA. Thus, I am about to conclude that I often don't give it enough credit.
I had an iPad until a few days ago,have sold it along with my previous laptop in exchange for a MBA (being delivered Monday)
It simply boils down to,the iPad would be brilliant for £299 for for £429 it just doesn't do enough.pages on it just isn't usable for anything propper.lack of flash becomes frustrating when properly browsing the web.sold mine for £380.
It simply boils down to,the iPad would be brilliant for £299 for for £429 it just doesn't do enough.pages on it just isn't usable for anything propper.lack of flash becomes frustrating when properly browsing the web.sold mine for £380.