Which is better? 2011 13" MBP or 2011 Mini + iPad 2

[dmk1974]

I'm trying to debate if I can depart with my 2011 MBP and get a new 2011 Mini plus an iPad 2. Money would be just about the same after selling the 2011 MBP.

I currently also have a 24" monitor that I connect my MBP to when at my desk at home and use it with a wireless USB keyboard and mouse, so the peripherals that I currently use would be used with the Mini.

I also have the MBP souped up with an SSD drive and 8GB RAM which I would plan to move over into the Mini as well (and then sell the MBP with the stock HDD and RAM that are sitting on my shelf).

A.) 2011 MBP 13" i5 2.3 GHz

B.) 2011 Mac Mini i5 2.3 GHz + iPad 2 16gb


Thanks!

 

[dmk1974]

Only a few votes and no replies? C'mon all!

 

[Blondie :)]

Only a few votes and no replies? C'mon all!

Posting things like this makes people not want to respond at all. Patience is a virtue my friend.

Besides, you didn't even tell us what you're going to be doing with the technology. If you're doing a fat amount of computing on the go, then keep the MBP. If you only listen to music and check your email on the go, then the mini and iPad 2 would be just fine. What are your needs?

 

[obsidian1200]

Posting things like this makes people not want to respond at all. Patience is a virtue my friend.

Besides, you didn't even tell us what you're going to be doing with the technology. If you're doing a fat amount of computing on the go, then keep the MBP. If you only listen to music and check your email on the go, then the mini and iPad 2 would be just fine. What are your needs?

+1 I glanced at this thread and didn't bother voting because, while I know what I'd do, I also know what I would use the device/s for... Give us a little background

 

[dmk1974]

Posting things like this makes people not want to respond at all. Patience is a virtue my friend.

Besides, you didn't even tell us what you're going to be doing with the technology. If you're doing a fat amount of computing on the go, then keep the MBP. If you only listen to music and check your email on the go, then the mini and iPad 2 would be just fine. What are your needs?

I know, I'm just impatient

I flipped from a desktop PC to MacBook Pro months ago. Definitely used to having a laptop that I can take to the couch or kitchen in the house, or set on my desk connected to the monitor and wireless keyboard/mouse. It rarely ever leaves the house.

Weather MBP or Mini, I would use it for email, web browsing, MS Office apps from time to time, and iMovie/iPhoto. I use iChat a bit as well and FaceTime and Skype.

I do have a networked Windows computer in the house that stores all of our family photos, videos, and music. If I make a movie on my MBP, I then transfer and store the finished product on that "server" computer.

My thought with converting myself to a Mini at my desk, is that I can then also have it become the "server" computer as well as my main desktop machine. Then, I can also have the iPad 2 as the portable device that can do most (but not all) tasks that my MBP could do.

I'm guessing that the MBP gives me the most flexibility instead of the Mini/iPad combo. But with the combo, I don't have to worry about dropping all my family media files or losing them if for some reason I take the MBP out of the house. Plus, the iPad is a lot easier to carry around and take with me to work or wherever if I decide to (even though it doesn't have everything on it).

 

[obsidian1200]

Weather MBP or Mini, I would use it for email, web browsing, MS Office apps from time to time, and iMovie/iPhoto. I use iChat a bit as well and FaceTime and Skype.

<snip>

I'm guessing that the MBP gives me the most flexibility instead of the Mini/iPad combo. But with the combo, I don't have to worry about dropping all my family media files or losing them if for some reason I take the MBP out of the house. Plus, the iPad is a lot easier to carry around and take with me to work or wherever if I decide to (even though it doesn't have everything on it).

Aside from working on MS Office apps, the iPad would be able to do all the things you said you do with the MBP, including some iMovie (assuming you used the cameras in the iPad to shoot the footage) work. Chatting on the iPad 2 isn't difficult either, since there are quite a few IM clients that can handle several accounts at once, and there's an iOS app for Skype too. The biggest downside to the iPad 2, depending on what sites you visit, is the lack of Flash support.

Personally, for your uses, I'd say go with the iPad 2/mini combo. I think you could do more with that than a MBP.

 

[dmk1974]

Aside from working on MS Office apps, the iPad would be able to do all the things you said you do with the MBP, including some iMovie (assuming you used the cameras in the iPad to shoot the footage) work. Chatting on the iPad 2 isn't difficult either, since there are quite a few IM clients that can handle several accounts at once, and there's an iOS app for Skype too. The biggest downside to the iPad 2, depending on what sites you visit, is the lack of Flash support.

Personally, for your uses, I'd say go with the iPad 2/mini combo. I think you could do more with that than a MBP.

Lack of Flash does kinda stink, but with my iPad 1 I used to have, I rarely ran into a site with that issue.

The only times that I probably need office apps in a portable format will be for fantasy football draft day....I'll just use my work computer that day

On the iPad, what is a decent chat program for Google? Just through Safari? Or something like Meebo? For my AIM account I just use the AIM app. Thanks.

 

[Pierrel]

I dont know whats better, but Im about to choose the Mini + iPad combo. I think this will bring me the best of two worlds, and having a mini in a few years capable of beeing a media centre

 

[FrankHahn]

OP's computing is obviously pretty light. Thus, a Mini + iPad may be appropriate.

 

[DarwinOSX]

I like my iPad 2 and all but if this was my choice I would do the Mac Mini and an 11' MacBook Air.

 

[dmk1974]

I like my iPad 2 and all but if this was my choice I would do the Mac Mini and an 11' MacBook Air.

I considered that, but it puts the total cost a little higher than I am targeting. Also, the 11" Air battery lasts 1/2 as long as the iPad 2.

 

[hehe299792458]

I considered that, but it puts the total cost a little higher than I am targeting. Also, the 11" Air battery lasts 1/2 as long as the iPad 2.

still depends on what you use it for. 10 hrs of battery with no keyboard vs 5 hr of batter with keyboard, full app support, etc

 

[dmk1974]

Wow, this is quite a landslide! As much as I really love my 2011 13" MBP, it sounds like the Mini/iPad2 combo is the way to go.

However, I threw a wrench in my plan tonight. Best Buy had a RZ special night with some promos and extra RZ points on purchases and so on. Triple points if you spend over a grand and charge it to a non BB card (or quadruple points on their card).

Anyway, I grabbed a Mini (brand new, but somehow they sell it for $569.99) and couldn't help myself from passing up on their last open-box 2010 13" MacBook Air. It's mint and has the full 1-yr warranty starting today and was $975 plus a $100 BB GC on top of that. With tax, that MBA came to $1050, but I figure in the end (after GC and triple RZ points) the MBA cost me about $891. I know it's last years model, but seemed like a really good buy to me. I like the screen res on it and it may go to my wife to replace her 2010 13" MBP. We'll see.

 

[obsidian1200]

Wow, this is quite a landslide! As much as I really love my 2011 13" MBP, it sounds like the Mini/iPad2 combo is the way to go.

However, I threw a wrench in my plan tonight. Best Buy had a RZ special night with some promos and extra RZ points on purchases and so on. Triple points if you spend over a grand and charge it to a non BB card (or quadruple points on their card).

Anyway, I grabbed a Mini (brand new, but somehow they sell it for $569.99) and couldn't help myself from passing up on their last open-box 2010 13" MacBook Air. It's mint and has the full 1-yr warranty starting today and was $975 plus a $100 BB GC on top of that. With tax, that MBA came to $1050, but I figure in the end (after GC and triple RZ points) the MBA cost me about $891. I know it's last years model, but seemed like a really good buy to me. I like the screen res on it and it may go to my wife to replace her 2010 13" MBP. We'll see.

That sounds like a really good deal Even better than the Education pricing (at least for the mini) on Apple's website. Maybe you could put that $100 BB GC toward a RAM upgrade for the mini sounds like a sweet deal. Congrats.

 

[dmk1974]

That sounds like a really good deal Even better than the Education pricing (at least for the mini) on Apple's website. Maybe you could put that $100 BB GC toward a RAM upgrade for the mini sounds like a sweet deal. Congrats.

Thanks. Yeah, the MBA is one of those things I just didn't plan to buy when I went there tonight, but just seemed to good to pass on. I was dead set on the Mini/iPad2 combo, but not gonna just stew and confuse myself for a few days I think. Also, I already have 8gb of RAM that I can pull from the MBP and put in the Mini if I keep that. Or sell the MBP with the 8gb for more money and use its 4GB for the Mini.

 

[dmk1974]

Man, I'm still debating. I almost wish I didn't get this 13" 2010 MBA because it's pretty nice and I'm liking it. Specs are behind the MBP and Mini of course, but that built in SSD makes it rock along with that 1440 x 900 screen.

 

[dmk1974]

One more question...I've seen the thread where a SSD was installed into the 2011 Mini replacing the stock 500 GB hard drive. Has anyone yet been able to add an SSD internally in addition to the stock 500 GB drive? Thanks.

 

[Mavimao]

One more question...I've seen the thread where a SSD was installed into the 2011 Mini replacing the stock 500 GB hard drive. Has anyone yet been able to add an SSD internally in addition to the stock 500 GB drive? Thanks.

Not yet. The only thing stopping people is the 2nd cable needed to hook it up. But I'm sure we'll see them for sale here in a couple of months.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

The best thing about no flash is going to a news site and not having to worry about OTT ads

BTW after getting my iPad2 I really see no need in getting another laptop for the only reason the iPad2 is lighter than lugging around a 15" MBP.

My new Mac Mini is on it's way and can't wait for the iPad2 + Mini power