Do not feel like you are alone. I returned a factory ordered W540, over $3k due to problems right out of the box. Plus the keyboard had keys actually sticking. Tried one of the new Lenovo X1 Carbons and it was worst. Thinkpads are no what they used to be. Just got my 13" Air yesterday running Win7 Pro and WOW! Now if I could just find the backspace button!
I have been running two 27" Macs at the home and office and they all work great with the iPads. I am not going back.
My first Mac was an 11" Air late 2012. I swore I would never buy a windows PC ever. Unfortunately someone broke into my house and stole everything including my Macbook.
I got the lenovo a few months later as a replacement, but it didn't last long. Lat thing I remember was spending 2 days fixing it and installing all the updates back. Happened to me twice. The 8.1 update can only be installed through the store and when it fails it starts again. Its almost 4GB. Plus the countless gigabytes of 8.0 and 8.1 updates. Plus the "start" app updates, plus installing all your programs back.
I really miss my Mac, but for what I do, the iPad will be a better fit.
----------
iPad Air 2 might come out on late October/early November. Are you ok with that? Just want to make sure you are aware of it. I mean you sold your Lenovo too early.
I know. It'll come here probably late October. I'll just wait. My B-Day is late October anyway.
I'll use the crap Acer desktop at work.
----------
I've got a Win 8.1 tablet. It's a fine piece of work, bit it ain't an iPad. I agree with your actions 100% but waiting for the iPad Air 2 seems a bit needless. The current Air is a masterpiece and the iPad Air 2 won't be that much of an upgrade. I'd pick up the current ordering if I were you.
I would much rather get the new one since it is only a couple of months away. I'll regret it if I get the Air now. I don't plan on updating the OS unless absolutely necessary, so it'll come with iOS 8. The A8 will probably be much better optimized for iOS. The touch ID will be a great thing to have. And I know it will be even thinner. It'll be worth waiting just another 8 weeks.
I think the Air 2 will be a significant update.
Based on what I do, a laptop is overkill and an unnecessary hassle. The only laptop I would even consider getting is another Macbook. That's it. But I think an iPad will suit me perfectly.
With Photoshop Touch and iDraw I can pretty much do any design I usually do. iWork and iMovie, a good file manager, and a couple of other apps and it can be a perfect laptop replacement for me, and a lot more fun anyway.
----------
Air1 as a masterpiece? Of crashing, low memory problems..? Sold mine because it was something else than a masterpiece. I definitely would wait to see specs for Air2. Air1 with 1gb ram was a mistake and totally waste of money. If you do just a light browsing it is fine, but as soon as keeping several tabs open or using some apps need more memory you have a problem. Apps refreshing, reloading etc..
To be honest I think a lot of that is iOS. I didn't particularly like iOS 7. I think that iOS 8 will be MUCH improved under the hood, not only will it run better on iPad Air 1, but I think the hardware on the Air 2 will be matched better with the new iOS. IOS 7 was a huge update to iOS and I think they're still working out the kinks.
The TAB S has 3 GB, but when you turn it on, touchwiz takes up 1.5GB of memory. It's insane.
I'm interested to see the changes this year. It seems apple is moving with changes much faster now since Jobs' passing.
So let's see. They may have surprises in store.