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13" MBA... or iMac+iPad?

I would split up your purchases...I would get an iMac now since they have quad core CPU's in them finally...

The 3rd gen iPad is the next unit I'd buy (as I type this reply from my 1st gen iPad) and finally, when they update to Ivy bridge, I'd get an 11" MBA,

I just got the 21.5" iMac, will "gift" this iPad when the new ones come out and plan on waiting for the Ivy Bridge MBA's myself = much better to have different generations of hardware that don't all "want" to be replaced at the same time!

*** Guess I have to mod my sig :D
 
Post-Script: folks have mentioned that it is harder to type on an iPad than a MBA. That is very true, although you can purchase a keyboard very inexpensively. However, an iPad is really good at consuming on-line material, movies, etc., but what the one thing that nobody mentioned are the apps. The Apps give wide ranging utility and functionality that is not found on a laptop. The iPad is a cool device and it offers true mobility.
 
i0Nic said:
13" Macbook Air plus display, and also an iPad.

That's my setup and it's the ideal setup IMO.
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indeed..although the animations on the air may not be the quickest on a TB display.

no matter which way you choose, do wait for the ipad3. I suppose if you wait a bit more, the refurbed/outlet 13s will drop to below 1000 for the base and low 1000s for the ultimate if you need more room.
 
Dornblaser said:
Post-Script: folks have mentioned that it is harder to type on an iPad than a MBA. That is very true, although you can purchase a keyboard very inexpensively. However, an iPad is really good at consuming on-line material, movies, etc., but what the one thing that nobody mentioned are the apps. The Apps give wide ranging utility and functionality that is not found on a laptop. The iPad is a cool device and it offers true mobility.
Click to expand...


You are right, there are more apps for the iPad than the Air, but is there anything you can do on an iPad that you can't do on an Air?
 
TheJing said:
You are right, there are more apps for the iPad than the Air, but is there anything you can do on an iPad that you can't do on an Air?
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Agreed. The whole point of the apps is to dummy down true processing on real computers. Like there is an eBay app to make things easier for on an iPad, but the best way to access eBay is on a real computer with their website.
 
Sure, things like some of the topo map apps, the SkyWalk apps come to mind immediately. Certainly those types of apps are more convenient, if not better on an iPad. It is not a dumbing down process, it is a different process. Look beyond the eBay, FaceBook, etc. apps. Look at all of the wonderful medical apps that doctors are using that didn't even exist before the iPad was created. I think that some of the most interesting app development is currently happening in the biz and educational areas. Given some more time IMO you will see more of a divergence in the apps found on the iPad vs. laptops. I am pretty existed to see what will develop.
 
Kendo said:
Agreed. The whole point of the apps is to dummy down true processing on real computers. Like there is an eBay app to make things easier for on an iPad, but the best way to access eBay is on a real computer with their website.
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this is very, very shortsighted...the business/Health care world is buying ipads, not MBA's for many situations...I'll bet you're a student, right?
 
glen e said:
this is very, very shortsighted...the business/Health care world is buying ipads, not MBA's for many situations...I'll bet you're a student, right?
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No I'm actually an analyst for a global financial firm but to be honest, I don't have one single colleague who carries around an iPad (for business use at least) and this includes all of the managing directors on my floor (3 MD's and 200 associates). Currently the Blackberry seems to be the tool of choice for most higher ups.

However yes, after reading the responses with the medical apps, I guess I can agree my comments were a little shortsighted. I can definitely see it being a lot more useful carrying around one iPad than 400 charts for each patient. But that has more to do with the functionality of an iPad (carrying around a tablet that stores all this great information) than the actual app itself.

But I was thinking more along the lines of general use when I was posting. I mean it is great that there are apps to help autistic kids which can do more for them than a computer, but I was thinking more along with the average person who sits in a Starbucks (which I'm not saying is the target audience for Apple, but definitely the biggest percentage that contributes to all those iPads that were sold).
 
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I certainly can understand what you mean coming from a Blackberry/PC work environment. My wife works at one and just broke the mold by ordering an iPhone to replace her Blackberry. The med apps do more than access charts, which is what the airplanes pilots iPads do, some are diagnostic tools. I have an interesting comment about the iPad. Recently we where at a major airport waiting for a flight in the United Lounge. I started to count iPads vs. laptops and I was surprised to see that about 1/3 were iPads that day. I thought that was a pretty high adoption for traveling biz people.
 
True but now we come back in full circle on if the reason why 1/3 of those people have an iPad due to the apps, or due to the sheer portability? :D

In any event, we just proved that both are completely different tools and a MacBook Air can completely co-exist with the iPad.
 
Kendo said:
But I was thinking more along the lines of general use when I was posting. I mean it is great that there are apps to help autistic kids which can do more for them than a computer, but I was thinking more along with the average person who sits in a Starbucks (which I'm not saying is the target audience for Apple, but definitely the biggest percentage that contributes to all those iPads that were sold).
Click to expand...

this is usually the problem as people just think one way and see the ipad as to how it would fit in their lives or what they see at starbucks. It is a combination of the apps and the portability. The batt lasts a lot longer (10-12 hours) so people who are reading PDF's at job sites, people traveling and can't find power, and others who do business standing up. Sonic automotive, who owns about 350 dealers across the US, just put all their brochures and pricing stats on ipads and bought about 2000 of them. So a salesperson can talk to you at the car or on the lot instead of you being pressured to sit in their office. I manage driving events for BMW and when a customer comes in to drive, it is easier to hand them a pad to fill out his vitals than hand him a laptop/clamshell. And the Apple store staff are using pads not clamshells when they wait in you. Retail loves ipads.

Over the last 3 years, every person here who touts the MBA over the pad, has never tried to do business standing up....clamshells don't make it...then again, when I'm writing a presentation, I need the MBA.....Apple knows this and it's why they sell both.
 
glen e said:
this is usually the problem as people just think one way and see the ipad as to how it would fit in their lives or what they see at starbucks. It is a combination of the apps and the portability. The batt lasts a lot longer (10-12 hours) so people who are reading PDF's at job sites, people traveling and can't find power, and others who do business standing up. Sonic automotive, who owns about 350 dealers across the US, just put all their brochures and pricing stats on ipads and bought about 2000 of them. So a salesperson can talk to you at the car or on the lot instead of you being pressured to sit in their office. I manage driving events for BMW and when a customer comes in to drive, it is easier to hand them a pad to fill out his vitals than hand him a laptop/clamshell. And the Apple store staff are using pads not clamshells when they wait in you. Retail loves ipads.

Over the last 3 years, every person here who touts the MBA over the pad, has never tried to do business standing up....clamshells don't make it...then again, when I'm writing a presentation, I need the MBA.....Apple knows this and it's why they sell both.
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Agreed but now we are steering away from the apps and arguing based on the iPad's portability factor (your example of handing a customer an iPad and not a clamshell). I never argued about this. In fact I don't even know what we're arguing about anymore haha.
 
Kendo said:
Agreed but now we are steering away from the apps and arguing based on the iPad's portability factor (your example of handing a customer an iPad and not a clamshell). I never argued about this.
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not too much...they are intertwined...ipad apps for retail are far easier to use for customer input than clamshells...due to touch input...Mazda has just gone to pads too for their retail operations...
 
I'm struggling with the same decision as you, and I'm leaning towards the Air.

If you don't truly need the processing power of the iMac, there is no reason to get it. Just get an external display for your Air, and it's basically the same. Think if you would really use the extra features of the iMac. For me, I don't think I would, so I'd rather just get an external display and an air.
 
Update

Ok, I ended up getting an iMac. I went to the Apple store and played with all their computers and after much consideration, decided for the iMac. I just love the way it looks and feels, plus I've always wanted one. I also used my grandparents' Christmas cash to buy an iPad, so that will be me on-the-go 'computer'. So far, I'm VERY pleased with my decision.

Thanks for everyone's input, and Happy Holidays to everyone. :)

~Katie~
 
JudgeKenny said:
Ok, I ended up getting an iMac. I went to the Apple store and played with all their computers and after much consideration, decided for the iMac. I just love the way it looks and feels, plus I've always wanted one. I also used my grandparents' Christmas cash to buy an iPad, so that will be me on-the-go 'computer'. So far, I'm VERY pleased with my decision.

Thanks for everyone's input, and Happy Holidays to everyone. :)

~Katie~
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Grats! Glad you were able to make a decision. Enjoy. :)
 
I personally prefer the MBA + 27" Apple Display over the iMac + iPad. I like to have one single device so I don't have to move around files, passwords and whatnot.
 
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