should i get an m1 macbook air and ipad 8th gen or m1 11'' ipad pro

[iJeff0124]

Hey guys. I currently have a late 2016 13 inch macbook pro that I purchased in early 2017. I'll use an ipad and macbook for college next year. I'm not sure whether I should now get the m1 macbook air and get the cheaper/budget iPad next year when i start school next year or just get the m1 11 ipad pro now and upgrade my 2016 macbook pro in about a year or two. I'll use the iPad for mainly a lot of drawing, reading ebooks, scanning documents, some games, a lot of note taking and sometimes use it as a laptop. I'll use the macbook for presentations, typing essays and doing schoolwork in general. I also want to use the ipad for a long time, about 5ish years. So, should I get a m1 macbook air and get a budget ipad next year or get an m1 11 ipad pro and upgrade my macbook pro in about a year or two. Is the 2016 macbook pro still good/enough for what i do and since the budget ipad always comes with an older chip, is it still good for what i do with it until the next 5 years or will I have to upgrade my ipad again sooner since it has an older chip?

I know it's a long thread. But, I hope you guys can share your opinions, experiences and which choice would you go for if you were in my shoes.

 

[0128672]

If your MBP is working OK now, my choices would be get an iPad Air 4 now and upgrade the laptop in a year.

 

[velocityg4]

What are the requirements of your college or major? You may have to use a laptop for some due to software requirements. You'll also want to know if any of the software is incompatible with the M1. The first step is to read through your college's website especially for your major. See if it lists any software you'll need to run or laptop requirements.

Once you know that. Then you can make a choice. Given that an iPad isn't a full laptop replacement. I'd lean towards a Macbook over an iPad Pro.

Also an iPad Air is more than capable of doing all those tasks you listed for an iPad. Really the regular iPad too. No reason to spend extra on the pro. Although I'd expect the Air to more readily handle those tasks for five years. Then again you could sell a regular iPad in three years and buy whatever new model is available. All told for likely the same net cost of the iPad Air. With the benefit of a new battery and likely superior specs.

 

[iJeff0124]

What are the requirements of your college or major? You may have to use a laptop for some due to software requirements. You'll also want to know if any of the software is incompatible with the M1. The first step is to read through your college's website especially for your major. See if it lists any software you'll need to run or laptop requirements.

Once you know that. Then you can make a choice. Given that an iPad isn't a full laptop replacement. I'd lean towards a Macbook over an iPad Pro.

Also an iPad Air is more than capable of doing all those tasks you listed for an iPad. Really the regular iPad too. No reason to spend extra on the pro. Although I'd expect the Air to more readily handle those tasks for five years. Then again you could sell a regular iPad in three years and buy whatever new model is available. All told for likely the same net cost of the iPad Air. With the benefit of a new battery and likely superior specs.

I'm majoring in business and I've went through my college's website. I'll be doing data analysis and processing, presentations and typing essays. My Macbook Pro still works great and isn't slow at all actually and I'm not planning to use my iPad as a full laptop replacement., Although I think the regular iPad is great as well.

 

[velocityg4]

I'm majoring in business and I've went through my college's website. I'll be doing data analysis and processing, presentations and typing essays. My Macbook Pro still works great and isn't slow at all actually and I'm not planning to use my iPad as a full laptop replacement., Although I think the regular iPad is great as well.

Get a cheap 4K monitor (with DisplayPort), keyboard with numpad and mouse. It’ll make life much nicer when working at your desk.

A regular iPad is fine.

Use a printer with scanner for scanning. This produces better results.

Get an M2 MacBook next year or M3 the year after. As your current one is still fine. But keep money set aside in case your built in keyboard craps out.

 

[pmiles]

One thing most future college students need to realize is that college is damn expensive... highway robbery damn expensive. So anything that you can do to reduce your costs while at college is the most intelligent thing you can do. Your future self will thank you, I can guarantee you this 1000%.

If your laptop is fine now, stick with it. Even the crappiest computer can get the job done. The only ones selling you on the idea that you need a new computer for college are those selling you computers.

The iPad sounds more like an entertainment device than a real necessity. College students need breaks, I get that. It might be the one luxury item you might want to take, but don't go full blown top of the line here. Entertainment is a side gig not the main event. Better to have a reason not to play games than a reason to do so. Also don't forget that laptops, tablets and phones are high theft items on campuses. Don't ever leave anything unattended.

I think your mindset should be more like this... what computer do I want to get after I am done with school? School is just a snapshot in time and definitely not representative of what your life will be like after you are done. So basically assume nothing you buy for school will really be around much longer than it takes to get the diploma. Not that it's lifespan is over, just that your use case has dramatically altered.

 

[iJeff0124]

Get a cheap 4K monitor (with DisplayPort), keyboard with numpad and mouse. It’ll make life much nicer when working at your desk.

A regular iPad is fine.

Use a printer with scanner for scanning. This produces better results.

Get an M2 MacBook next year or M3 the year after. As your current one is still fine. But keep money set aside in case your built in keyboard craps

Got it, thanks for helping me out!

 

[macbookm1airlover]

Personally, given your setup/situation, I would keep the 2016 MBP you have and get the "new" iPad Air. The A14 chip will certainly last you 4-5 years. Others can correct me if I am wrong, but if the keyboard on your Pro happens to go out, at least you would get a free battery replacement out of the deal too.

 

[savingsomemoney]

Hey guys. I currently have a late 2016 13 inch macbook pro that I purchased in early 2017. I'll use an ipad and macbook for college next year. I'm not sure whether I should now get the m1 macbook air and get the cheaper/budget iPad next year when i start school next year or just get the m1 11 ipad pro now and upgrade my 2016 macbook pro in about a year or two. I'll use the iPad for mainly a lot of drawing, reading ebooks, scanning documents, some games, a lot of note taking and sometimes use it as a laptop. I'll use the macbook for presentations, typing essays and doing schoolwork in general. I also want to use the ipad for a long time, about 5ish years. So, should I get a m1 macbook air and get a budget ipad next year or get an m1 11 ipad pro and upgrade my macbook pro in about a year or two. Is the 2016 macbook pro still good/enough for what i do and since the budget ipad always comes with an older chip, is it still good for what i do with it until the next 5 years or will I have to upgrade my ipad again sooner since it has an older chip?

I know it's a long thread. But, I hope you guys can share your opinions, experiences and which choice would you go for if you were in my shoes.

Jeff, all great answers above.

First, your current tech stack will work/do the job. Understand that as powerful a machine an iPad is, it's still not a laptop. In the class and want to pull a year-over-year comparison in Excel/Sheets with financial reports from the past five years? It's really easy to do it on a computer than on a tablet.

Second, the M1 iPad pro is a device more to show what Apple can do rather than a daily driver for a normal consumer (being Stephen Hackett or MacSparky or a Siracusa is different).

Third, more than likely, you'll end up working for a company that supplies Lenovo or a Windows PC. Excel is such a powerful tool for businesses, unless you're in a sales role/advertising, you'll end up using a PC.


So what would I do if I were in your place?
1. Continue with your Mac. It should last you until graduation. I would go as far to say, your library will have a newish Mac if you need in case of emergency. Save the $$$.

2. iPad: Do you absolutely need one? If it's a genuine need for those drawing or handwritten notes, just get the basic iPad but ensure you don't go with the base storage. iPad Air is better, but I wouldn't spend an extra $300 or so for the uses you defined. That money can go towards the Apple Pencil.
Will the iPad last five years? I disagree here with the other commentators. Apple's great hardware is limited by software. I love my iPhone X but it has become slow and I had to go the iPhone SE 2020 route to get that speed.
And financially, you'll be better off upgrading three years later. Time value of money.

Let us know your thoughts and what you end up doing.

 

[iJeff0124]

Jeff, all great answers above.

First, your current tech stack will work/do the job. Understand that as powerful a machine an iPad is, it's still not a laptop. In the class and want to pull a year-over-year comparison in Excel/Sheets with financial reports from the past five years? It's really easy to do it on a computer than on a tablet.

Second, the M1 iPad pro is a device more to show what Apple can do rather than a daily driver for a normal consumer (being Stephen Hackett or MacSparky or a Siracusa is different).

Third, more than likely, you'll end up working for a company that supplies Lenovo or a Windows PC. Excel is such a powerful tool for businesses, unless you're in a sales role/advertising, you'll end up using a PC.


So what would I do if I were in your place?
1. Continue with your Mac. It should last you until graduation. I would go as far to say, your library will have a newish Mac if you need in case of emergency. Save the $$$.

2. iPad: Do you absolutely need one? If it's a genuine need for those drawing or handwritten notes, just get the basic iPad but ensure you don't go with the base storage. iPad Air is better, but I wouldn't spend an extra $300 or so for the uses you defined. That money can go towards the Apple Pencil.
Will the iPad last five years? I disagree here with the other commentators. Apple's great hardware is limited by software. I love my iPhone X but it has become slow and I had to go the iPhone SE 2020 route to get that speed.
And financially, you'll be better off upgrading three years later. Time value of money.

Let us know your thoughts and what you end up doing.

Your answer is really helpful. Thanks, I really appreciate it.

On top of that, I'm planning to get a keyboard as well. Do you think the apple smart keyboard is worth it? That doesn't even include the mouse/trackpad yet. I'm looking at $100 for a keyboard and mouse/trackpad combo. Do you know any good ones at around that much? If there aren't. I wouldn't mind going just a little bit above $100.

 

[savingsomemoney]

Your answer is really helpful. Thanks, I really appreciate it.

On top of that, I'm planning to get a keyboard as well. Do you think the apple smart keyboard is worth it? That doesn't even include the mouse/trackpad yet. I'm looking at $100 for a keyboard and mouse/trackpad combo. Do you know any good ones at around that much? If there aren't. I wouldn't mind going just a little bit above $100.

FYI, I'm assuming you're getting the vase iPad and not the fancier ones like the Air and the Pro. Answers might still remain the same.

With accessories, there are always options but nothing as good as what Apple makes. You could get a stylus or a pencil, but it won't be an apple pencil. same with the keyboard. So definitely look at Logitech, Satechi, Elevation labs. But I would end up buying Apple Accessories for the finish, integration and function. Spending that much money on an iPad 8, your call.

I'd also like to mention - I have suffered from RSI and have tried many external ergonomic keyboards. When I was using the Kinesis FreeStyle 2 , it gave me the option of easy device switching. So I had a Mac, an iPhone and an iPad connected with the keyboard and it was easy to just use it with different devices, minimizing the learning curve and the pain. Downside? It's not portable.


So are you getting an iPad Pro? Then go buy the smart keyboard. The Air is a better value, go buy the smart keyboard. iPad 8? Think if it's worth spending more on accessories than the device. I personally wouldn't.

 

[iJeff0124]

FYI, I'm assuming you're getting the vase iPad and not the fancier ones like the Air and the Pro. Answers might still remain the same.

With accessories, there are always options but nothing as good as what Apple makes. You could get a stylus or a pencil, but it won't be an apple pencil. same with the keyboard. So definitely look at Logitech, Satechi, Elevation labs. But I would end up buying Apple Accessories for the finish, integration and function. Spending that much money on an iPad 8, your call.

I'd also like to mention - I have suffered from RSI and have tried many external ergonomic keyboards. When I was using the Kinesis FreeStyle 2 , it gave me the option of easy device switching. So I had a Mac, an iPhone and an iPad connected with the keyboard and it was easy to just use it with different devices, minimizing the learning curve and the pain. Downside? It's not portable.


So are you getting an iPad Pro? Then go buy the smart keyboard. The Air is a better value, go buy the smart keyboard. iPad 8? Think if it's worth spending more on accessories than the device. I personally wouldn't.

I've decided to get the iPad 8 and get some of the cheaper keyboard and mouse/trackpad you mentioned. For styluses, I still prefer the Apple Pencil over other brands. I really appreciate your help!