Macbook Air or the iPad 2.

[The Phazer]

Air Air Air all the way.

iOS is simply too crippled to be used for anything other than an occasional toy when you already have a capable portable computer.

Phazer

 

[glen e]

what's funny here is if you put this question on the macrunor iPad forum, you will get really different answers - we like what we buy!

The ipad is certainly not a toy - as ask anyone who does computing standing up - like a doctor, job estimator or engineer - it's just a diff application and why Apple sells both without cannibalizing the other...

 

[Undo Redo]

I got caught up in the hype and bought an iPad 2, loved it for a month (new thing syndrome) but as time went on I got more and more frustrated by the things it doesn't do, you need an app for even the most simple of things like uploading to Photobucket etc. Acceptable on a phone but on a tablet I guess I expected more.

Thanks for that. I've wanted an iPad for a while but kinda figured I might come to the same conclusion. I definitely felt that way about my iPod touch...awesome internet device for the first month, but now I never use it except for playing music.

 

[The Phazer]

what's funny here is if you put this question on the macrunor iPad forum, you will get really different answers - we like what we buy!

The ipad is certainly not a toy - as ask anyone who does computing standing up - like a doctor, job estimator or engineer - it's just a diff application and why Apple sells both without cannibalizing the other...

They unquestionably cannibalise the other. It's crazy to think otherwise.

I would suggest that any engineer would have a very hard time doing their job on an iPad.

Phazer

 

[Twe Foju]

iPad is cool, i use it alot now just because i haven't own an Air

but i know once i got Air, i dont think i will ever use the iPad anymore because Air for me is just a more complete iPad

 

[glen e]

They unquestionably cannibalise the other. It's crazy to think otherwise.

I would suggest that any engineer would have a very hard time doing their job on an iPad.

Phazer

you obviously have not seen a engineer at a job site using an ipad for job progress tracking....I have a petroleum engineer friend who tracks rigs in the Gulf of Mex with his...

really wish people here would stop thinking they know it all...the ipad is also revolutionizing hospital floor work. The ipad is portable computing and tracking, the MBA or any other laptop is still desktop stuff. I use both and agree with both, but some just can't see that, I guess.

 

[brand]

If you need a replacement for a laptop, get the MBA, but if you won't be demanding much, go with the iPad.

The MBA is a laptop so what you are really saying is if you need a replacement for a laptop get a laptop.

 

[The Phazer]

you obviously have not seen a engineer at a job site using an ipad for job progress tracking....I have a petroleum engineer friend who tracks rigs in the Gulf of Mex with his...

Job progress tracking isn't engineering, it's project management.

An engineer will require technical design software that just isn't available on iOS in virtually any field.

Phazer

 

[torbjoern]

Job progress tracking isn't engineering, it's project management.

An engineer will require technical design software that just isn't available on iOS in virtually any field.

Phazer

But wouldn't you see project management as an important part of engineering?

 

[kory108]

I sold my iPad to help pay for my MBA, and don't regret it at all. The iPad is cool and you can arguably do some productive things with it, but it pales in comparison to a full fledged OS. Unfortunately iOS still has many short comings, especially with file syncing and management.

I agree completely. I just recently sold my iPad 2 to fund the purchase of a MacBook Air. I originally sold my old MacBook Air to pay for the purchase of the iPad 2, but found the iOS to be too limiting, expecially in file management as you state.

It's not impossible, but annoyingly hard to manage files on the device. If you plan on doing any amount of productive work, I'd recommend an OS X based computer over the iPad any day.

Plus, the Apple online store is currently selling the 64 GB 2010 Air for only $850, a good price. I've always tended to buy the refrebished machines, as they have the full warrenty and I've always had excellent results with them.

Either way, good luck on your purchase!

 

[panzer06]

Both. I carry both on all my business travels. I haven't lugged the 15" MBP since I bought the MBA. I still use my iMac when not on the road and dropbox ties them altogether. I couldn't work w/o both. Ok, I could but I don't want to.

Cheers,

 

[bcaslis]

I don't understand this comparison. They are different tools for different tasks. I find the MBA to be superior for many tasks, but as a reader or casual use the iPad 2 blows the MBA away. Even for watching video the iPad 2 has many benefits including an IPS display and 10 hour battery life.

 

[novagamer]

But wouldn't you see project management as an important part of engineering?

That's true, but more than that...what iOS apps exist that offer decent project management? I haven't found any and I've been through a lot of them. I can't even find anything on the Mac that works very well other than Merlin but the asinine licensing stops me from buying it.

Would really love some recommendations.

 

[Blues003]

The question here is that even if I sell the iPad I would only buy the MBA far later. 8 months later, in the best of chances, to be precise. Realistically speaking, perhaps 1 year.

On the other hand, if I did not sell the iPad, I would buy the MBA in 15 months. Once again, assuming optimum saving conditions. Realistically maybe 2 years.

Can my laptop hold on 2 years? Maybe. But I am sure that if it doesn't my parents would pay for a new one... and I could give the price difference for the MBA.

I was not depending on the iPad to replace my laptop on the go, but basically at faculty. I am a med-student. I was expecting it'd be good for checking out medical apps (pharmacology, radiology, anatomy), e-mail, browsing, taking notes on Keynote during classes(I tried typing on it today at a store, I was pretty good!), maybe creating drafts on Pages, reading PDFs, and possibly do some begining musical creation (Garage Band for the iPad).

Keep on the brainstorming!

 

[glen e]

I don't understand this comparison. They are different tools for different tasks. I find the MBA to be superior for many tasks, but as a reader or casual use the iPad 2 blows the MBA away. Even for watching video the iPad 2 has many benefits including an IPS display and 10 hour battery life.

Amen...diff applications....i'm using the ipad/ w/stylus right now laying on the couch in my hotel after presenting all day on an MBA using keynote. Neither one can do the other job well...I would not have one or the other, i need both....

 

[Ridley]

er... iPhone tethering?

He said he has an android phone so tethering is even easier (doesn't require a jailbreak)

can you do this for $15 a month with no contract, month to month? I am not being sarcastic, I am really asking and don't know...

This is just my biased opinion but paying for home internet, paying for smartphone internet, and paying for (even incidental) ipad internet is WAY too "The Man" for me!

Anyway I'll weigh in my opinion even though it probably sucks because I am waiting to buy a Sandy Bridge Air for my girlfriend (still happy with my merom MBP) and don't see the point in the iPad. I am an engineer, masters degree student, and overall huge nerd. I am very good at typing and my most used osx application is a terminal window so the Air would be my obvious choice. When I use GUIs and do more consumer kind of stuff I also greatly prefer the power and flexibility of the OSX application to the iOS variant. Its not even a question.

I guess if you didn't actually DO anything on your computer but just wanted casual games and convenience utilities the iPad would be the way to go? Again, not really sure why people buy them so my opinion sucks.

 

[Undo Redo]

I guess if you didn't actually DO anything on your computer but just wanted casual games and convenience utilities the iPad would be the way to go? Again, not really sure why people buy them so my opinion sucks.

I like this discussion, even though it has strayed from the OP's question a bit. Personally I still can't get past the lack of Flash on the iPad. I know a lot of Flash content is advertising but a LOT is NOT. When I turn off Flash with a click-to-flash add-on in Firefox I then find myself clicking-to-Flash all day long! Then there's the little issue of having to hold the iPad with both hands to use it...I don't get it either. If someone gave me an iPad for free, I'm sure I'd use it occasionally, but that's about all.

 

[bcaslis]

I like this discussion, even though it has strayed from the OP's question a bit. Personally I still can't get past the lack of Flash on the iPad. I know a lot of Flash content is advertising but a LOT is NOT. When I turn off Flash with a click-to-flash add-on in Firefox I then find myself clicking-to-Flash all day long! Then there's the little issue of having to hold the iPad with both hands to use it...I don't get it either. If someone gave me an iPad for free, I'm sure I'd use it occasionally, but that's about all.

That's not a fair comparison. A lot of websites look for the agent code of the web browser and if it's an iPad serve up H264 instead of flash. One example is the New York Times. Works perfectly on the iPad but with the MBA and click to flash you will assume it's all flash.

I've never ever encountered a website on the iPad or iPad 2 and needed flash. But I don't play flash games either on websites.

For the right applications, the iPad is way better than the MBA. But for others the MBA (or any laptop) is way better. But you can't judge it correctly if you have never used it. Judging websites by how they work on the laptop is a mistake.

 

[Undo Redo]

That's not a fair comparison. A lot of websites look for the agent code of the web browser and if it's an iPad serve up H264 instead of flash. One example is the New York Times. Works perfectly on the iPad but with the MBA and click to flash you will assume it's all flash.

I've never ever encountered a website on the iPad or iPad 2 and needed flash. But I don't play flash games either on websites.

Interesting, thanks. I did not know that.

I've been looking at new cars on car maker sites lately and it seems like all of their sites are entirely Flash based. So I assumed, incorrectly I guess, that I wouldn't be able to view them with an iPad.

 

[Chazn]

The new Macbook Air.
.
iPads are just toys.

 

[duggram]

This is a ridiculous comparison. I'm a programmer that travels each week for work. On my MBA I have to run Win7 with SQL Server and Visual Studio. Sometimes I run Netbeans instead of VS. At the same time I run my Kindle reader and iTunes on the Mac side. On weekends I use my CAD program on Win7 with iTunes going at the same time. Never a problem.

Then there's all the advantages of having a UNIX system to work with. The list can go on.

As far as portability goes I use my MBA constantly on the plane because I'm in the air at least 8 hours a week. I read from my Kindle app while listening to iTunes or watch a movie from a DVD.

Can the iPad do any of this?

As far as connectivity goes I use my phone as an access point. It's not that tough to figure this stuff out.

What I can't figure out is why the iPad is considered more portable than a 13" MBA. Is the 1 pound difference that tough to lift? If yes, you need to do something about your physical incompetence.

The only reason I can see for having an iPad is if you want to be "in" and have people look at you. That's not me and I've got too much work to do and pleasure to have to own an iPad.

Please excuse my rant. Sometimes it's hard to tolerate ridiculousness. Now go buy your toy but be sure to get an MBA too so you can get some work done.

 

[tallyho]

The only reason I can see for having an iPad is if you want to be "in" and have people look at you. That's not me and I've got too much work to do and pleasure to have to own an iPad.

Please excuse my rant. Sometimes it's hard to tolerate ridiculousness. Now go buy your toy but be sure to get an MBA too so you can get some work done.

Ha this thread is hilarious. It is a little odd that people are so dismissive of a product because they have no personal need for it. As has been pointed out above, being "a programmer" and "running SQL Server and Visual Studio" is not the only sort of work out there... I can imagine some tasks that are clearly more efficiently done on an iPad.

 

[Jeff5886]

I say MBP and Ipad 2. Thats what I did.

 

[duggram]

As has been pointed out above, being "a programmer" and "running SQL Server and Visual Studio" is not the only sort of work out there...

I only mention them because they are my reality, not the only work out there.

I can imagine some tasks that are clearly more efficiently done on an iPad.

Sounds good. What is it that the iPad can do that the MBA can't?

There is one reason I might want an iPad; to use it as a second screen for my MBA. But that gets ridiculous too because as soon as I get to work I already have multiple screens.

If you want an iPad that's great. But please don't tell me how much more useful it is than an MBA.

 

[jamesryanbell]

I sold iPad 1 on eBay for $600 and then put that money toward a refurb 11" MBA Ultimate, and it's been the best decision - IN SPADES - for me. Haven't missed iPad even once. Seriously.