MacBook Pro or Air or Ipad?

[aliya88]

I am online student and also paralegal (legal assistant). I am spending a lot of time on the laptop filling out the forms in PDF Reader on my HP computer and doing my studies for college on MacBook Air. I am looking to buy a new computer (possibly Ipad Pro) where I can combine both work and studies. I do prefer to do my work with windows but on every day basis I use IOS. Also I travel a lot around the World and I do would like something on the lighter side... The question is what will be my best bet to invest into: Macbook Air, MacBook Pro or Ipad? I apologize if my question sounds stupid, but I am really not that knowledgeable about the electronics. If someone can guide me and guide and give me a good advice, I would appreciate it.
Thank you for your time.

 

[Six0Four]

I and many others have tried to replace a laptop with an iPad and failed. IMO it's just way too clunky as a laptop replacement. It's a great content consumption device, but as a replacement, no.

There have been some that made it work and actually prefer the iPad but I think those people are in the minority.

It's a shame too because the iPad Pro 12.9 is a beautiful tablet.

 

[cababah]

Go with the air. To make an iPad a laptop replacement you have to buy a ton of peripherals. It gets more expensive and cumbersome and still limited by iPadOS <<< macOS.

 

[DrKimble99]

Go with the air. To make an iPad a laptop replacement you have to buy a ton of peripherals. It gets more expensive and cumbersome and still limited by iPadOS <<< macOS.

Agree 100%. I am now using my third MacBook Air (just purchased the M1 model), and it is truly an excellent machine. (My oldest son will be visiting us from Germany in 3 weeks, and he wants one also. He'll be "moving" from a MacBook Pro).

 

[doolar]

I love love love iPads. Owned one since day one. But if you want a fast work flow with text input, I'd take the Mac every day of the week. For me, my iPad is mainly the worlds best content consumption device, and absolutely great to work with in a pinch or if you have a work flow that suits the iPad. But it can and will often be cumbersome, I've used my iPads for productivity many times, but I almost always feel a sense of relief once back on the Mac.

The introduction of the M1 chip in Macs took the best things from the iPad (battery life, instant sleep/wake) to the Mac. I use an Air for work and a Pro 14 for personal use. If I want a computer on the go for ordinary productivity tasks, it's the Air to go for. What a machine! The M1 Air is so light, portable and powerful. The perfect travelling computer IMO.

Still - I traded in my personal M1 Air for the 14" Pro, but that's mainly because I loved the display, and that I rarely travel with my own Mac - on private travel I bring my iPad. On business travel though, always the M1 Air.

Hope it is of some help!

 

[Arctic Moose]

In my opinion, without a shred of doubt, you should absolutely get the MacBook Air.

You can read through 128 pages exploring this topic from every angle over the course of seven years here:

iPad as a laptop replacement

I've have a MacBook Pro Retina for a year now, and quite frankly, it’s simply overkill for what I use the computer for on a daily basis. I would have been fine with a MacBook Air but elected to spend the extra cash for a nice screen. I use writing intensive programs (Final Draft, Pages, etc)...

forums.macrumors.com

Had your task been marking pdf papers with pencil it would have been less clear cut, but for forms the precision of a larger screen, mouse and keyboard can not be matched by an iPad.

Besides, adding keyboard and mouse to an iPad you basically have the same bulk and cost as for a MacBook, but with less convenience.

 

[MajorFubar]

Macbook Air
iPad pro is an exceptionally high powered machine whose sheer computing power probably steam-rollers all the Macs I own. But the desktop-class OS on a Mac just simply allows you to do more, especially if your current benchmark for performance is another desktop-class OS (Windows).

 

[TechRunner]

Another vote for the Air. As others have said, I love my iPad as a consumption device, but it just doesn't do every manner of productivity as well as a laptop. I owned a 2015 Air for 6 years, and it was my go-to device for serious work.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

If you use the keyboard a lot, Macbook Air. If you usually sign the forms by hand, an iPad with a pen.

 

[Idun098TZZ]

I completely agree with what was said above. Air forever

 

[Reggaenald]

I got a MBP for Uni (and actually for work at a local TV station, but barely used it there).
I would have been better off with an iPad (Pro) honestly. Apple Pencil and iCloud Drive are all you need at Uni. If you don’t need to to do heavy work away from you PC, the iPad should be enough. Imagine iOS but with multitasking on a bigger display and a pen to make notes, sign and create documents,…
What are some clear example of what you’d like to do with your portable device?