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Who would buy an Ipad if you already have a MBA and Kindle for Mac as of today?
- Thread starter jns2001
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To me, the wifi-only iPad is pretty pointless as is, so I'd ahve to say it doesn't affect the decision at all. The point of the iPad to me is the increased portability(even over my MBA), and inexpensive cellular network access, something the MBA can't touch.
Now, if the mba had a built-in cellular card with similar data plans to the iPad, I'd agree with you; moreso if the thing had a touch-sensitive screen and was convertable to a table like form so it could be read from flat, rather than open like a laptop. But without cellular, it can't approach the iPad for portable surfing/reading
Now, if the mba had a built-in cellular card with similar data plans to the iPad, I'd agree with you; moreso if the thing had a touch-sensitive screen and was convertable to a table like form so it could be read from flat, rather than open like a laptop. But without cellular, it can't approach the iPad for portable surfing/reading
We've already had lots of discussions of netbooks vs iPad. Same arguments apply to the MBA, plus it's $1500, while the most expensive iPad is under $850.
I'll go you one further - I'm dumping my MBP and Kindle2 when my 64GB + 3G iPad arrives.
To your question specifically, yes I would.
To your question specifically, yes I would.
Let me get this straight. You chose a MacBook Air, which its only advantage over the cheaper and more capable MacBook is thinness, and you're asking why someone would buy an iPad? The most expensive iPad is half the price, has a much better form factor for book reading and has a touch screen which is just plain fun to use.
A friend and I each have an MBA and we both have iPhones; she also has an iMac and I've got the Mac Mini and the Mac Pro. She uses the Kindle app on her iPhone, I haven't done so. Yes, we're both buying WiFi iPads on April 3rd at our respective local Apple stores. We have different reasons for wanting an iPad -- she is looking forward to curling up in her recliner with the iPad and reading her ebooks while I'm looking forward to sitting out on my deck or somewhere else with my iPad surfing the web, catching up with email, etc. At this point I don't know yet if either or both of us at some point down the road will sell our MBAs because the iPad has definitely replaced them. Remains to be seen. In each instance the reason for buying the MBA in the first place was its small size and lightness of weight. The iPad takes that a step further....
iPad won't replace my MBA immediately, it will take some decent app development to get there. MBA is immensely more portable than a MBP, I expect the iPad to have the same incremental portability improvement over the MBA. Question becomes, if it achieves that increment, can it do the required tasks?
Whether it can or cannot, Apple needs to be putting 3g wires in all laptops.
Whether it can or cannot, Apple needs to be putting 3g wires in all laptops.
It seems to me that this announcement today has defeated the purpose of a purchase of an Ipad. What is your guys opinions on the subject?
Because it is soooo easy to lay in bed and read on your side on a MBA (or any other netbook/laptop).
For me, it's a form factor type of thing. I own a MBP - i don't read on it in bed. Right now i don't have a headboard so i'd have to be turned sideways on a twin bed leaning on the wall.... might as well sit at my desk at that point!
+1
I have a MacBook Air and I'm getting an iPad to complement it. I'll be using the iPad for reading, listening to or watching podcasts, viewing all my media that'll be stored on my MacBook Air via Air Video, browsing the web quickly and easily round the house, using the tons of apps available for it.
I did, however, sell my iPhone as I don't see the value in owning essentially a smaller iPad
BB Bold 9700 + iPad + MacBook Air sounds like the perfect combination for me.
My iPad will be taking the place of my Air. For everything I use the Air to do, I think the iPad will be a more comfortable replacement.
Also I'm pretty sure I'll stop buying eBooks for my Kindle 2 and Nook if I like reading on the iPad.
Also I'm pretty sure I'll stop buying eBooks for my Kindle 2 and Nook if I like reading on the iPad.
Aren't you going to miss multitasking and flash video? Those are the only two reasons I need to keep the Air around for.
I read books (printed books) or magazines in bed; I've never used my MBA in bed because I worry about overheating the thing if the vents get blocked. With the iPad there won't be that concern, and so I'm looking forward to a new experience -- being online in bed! What I often do with the MBA is to sit in my desk chair, prop my legs and feet up on the bed, then rest the MBA on my legs. It'll be different with the iPad and I'll have to experiment with the most comfortable positions while using it......
For me the iPad won't completely replace my MBP because I need that when going on a photography-related trip so that I can offload images from memory cards into the computer in order to reuse the cards. I don't use the MBA for this as it doesn't have the capacity (I've got the first-gen SSD, which has a very small capacity). In the past when I've gone on photo trips I've taken both the MBA and the MBP; during times the one machine is busily sucking in all the images I've been on the other machine doing email or checking forums. I anticipate that in the future, on trips it will be the iPad which accompanies the MBP......
Actually no. I don't watch online video on the Air and the only multitasking I do on it is jumping back and forth between email and web browsing.
You really think typing on a totally flat touch screen with no tactile feedback will be a "more comfortable replacement" for your MBA?
He didn't state his use-cases. If they don't include a lot of typing, then your point is moot. Web surfing, reading, watching movies and light email/forum posting would all work well on a touch keyboard.
I'm sure Amazon's announcement was timed to affect iPad sales. I doubt it will cause so much as a ripple. For me, however it means more. I have been in a "backing off" posture on Apple gear since my iPod broke and I was amazed at the poor service I got at the Apple store when I sought a repair. I got an iPod Touch specifically for Kindle software. I have been without it for several days while I wait for my iPod Touch to be returned in the mail. Amazon has provided me a way to read my ebooks again without resorting to Windows. Thanks for that. But I must admit that for me there is some attraction in the Kindle. Free connectivity for an ebook reader is worth something to me, even if the built in browser is WAP based. Remember it's free. Not $29 a month. Not $15 a month. Free. The real cost of these devices is in getting the data so if I compare a wifi only iPad to a 3G Kindle, the Kindle wins even if I have to buy a book every now and then to keep the service active. Of course if I want color, I've got a lot longer to wait as even the most optimistic rumors say color e-ink isn't going to arrive until late this year at the earliest.
I also had ereader on my iTouch. It's a LOT better than Kindle software. I went shopping for a copy of Lord of the Rings which only recently became available as an ebook. Kindle had it for about 12 bucks while ereader wanted more than double that amount. This is another area where iPad might lose its luster for me. If iBook titles cost a lot more than Kindle books, I'll keep using Kindle software on my iTouch, Mac and iPad (if I ever get one), even if Kindle software is more limited. When it comes to deciding between a Kindle and an iPad, the choice is less clear. For $259 I get a black and white device with no real credible browsing ability but virtually unlimited ebooks (400,000 amazon titles plus manybooks.net). For over $500 I get a wifi only iPad, can continue to read my Kindle titles but I get a tiny fraction of the battery life. I guess I've got some thinking to do.
For the majority of iPad's target audience, Kindle is only one of many apps. Because Kindle was the killer app that brought me to iPod Touch (and possibly iPad) in the first place, and in light of Apple's (apparent) reluctance to service my iPod Touch which has never been anywhere but my hands and my shirt pocket since I bought it, Amazon's announcement got my attention pretty quickly today.
I also had ereader on my iTouch. It's a LOT better than Kindle software. I went shopping for a copy of Lord of the Rings which only recently became available as an ebook. Kindle had it for about 12 bucks while ereader wanted more than double that amount. This is another area where iPad might lose its luster for me. If iBook titles cost a lot more than Kindle books, I'll keep using Kindle software on my iTouch, Mac and iPad (if I ever get one), even if Kindle software is more limited. When it comes to deciding between a Kindle and an iPad, the choice is less clear. For $259 I get a black and white device with no real credible browsing ability but virtually unlimited ebooks (400,000 amazon titles plus manybooks.net). For over $500 I get a wifi only iPad, can continue to read my Kindle titles but I get a tiny fraction of the battery life. I guess I've got some thinking to do.
For the majority of iPad's target audience, Kindle is only one of many apps. Because Kindle was the killer app that brought me to iPod Touch (and possibly iPad) in the first place, and in light of Apple's (apparent) reluctance to service my iPod Touch which has never been anywhere but my hands and my shirt pocket since I bought it, Amazon's announcement got my attention pretty quickly today.
Fair point, but many of us would argue that even the web surfing, email and forum posting you mention are all better with an actual keyboard.
The guy said it would be a "more comfortable replacement". That's what I'm disputing here.
It's really more comfortable to hold up a touch screen or awkwardly lay it against your legs than use a nice clamshell design?
Seriously?
I have a Kindle, MBA, MBP, iMac and use them all actively and very differently. I'll be adding an iPad to the family soon.
Subjective user preference. I find keyboards on laptops/netbooks awkward and in the way when I'm reading. And considering I only use keyboards very occasionarily when reading/surfing the web, the extra bulk gets very annoying quickly. Plus, I'm used to holding hardcover books in my lap when reading, and think that holding an iPad in my lap should be about as comfortable.