The most important difference: The Macbook treats you like an adult. If you want to tinker with the OS, the file system, install any piece of software you want, run Windoze and Linux on it, program the hell out of it, go for it.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple's 2020 MacBook Air vs. 2020 iPad Pro
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
iToyOS is buggy!
Yesterday I tried to do a very basic task, just rename a file in the Files app, on my 2018 iPad 6th, it took me 5 minutes, the file name was very big (around 50 letters), I couldn't move the cursor to the beggining or the end of the file's name, I had to dismiss the Files app several times until I finally was able to.
Yesterday I tried to do a very basic task, just rename a file in the Files app, on my 2018 iPad 6th, it took me 5 minutes, the file name was very big (around 50 letters), I couldn't move the cursor to the beggining or the end of the file's name, I had to dismiss the Files app several times until I finally was able to.
Curious - does anybody do basic to extensive Excel work on an iPad (of any variety)? I see the app, but when I've tried to use it, it just doesn't seem to have the power and functionality of Excel on my MacBook Pro. I guess same question for WORD and Powerpoint
Apple spent all those years saying macbooks are a separate device from iPad, just to make a keyboard/trackpad for it. Really, just put some real OS in the iPad and macbooks will become a museum thing.
My current MBP 13” with TB will be my last Mac I imagine. I reckon by the time I’m ready to upgrade the iPad will be the perfect blend of both OS’s. I hope.
if Xcode comes to the iPad and theres real support for developers, then I see no need to buy a macbook. It has cameras, pencil support and touch. The only thing that it needs is a real OS.
Steve Jobs and Tim Cook have said that they are different devices, but I guess no one wants to keep buying 2 separate devices anymore.
I love using my iPad Pro for most of the things I do. I also have a work issued Windows laptop that I use but I’d prefer to use my iPad Pro. For my professional and personal needs my iPad Pro gets the job done.
I prefer the MBA over the IPP.
It would have been better to make this question a poll so results can be easily seen.
[Nowadays Car & Driver tends to have a poll at the end of their articles and it makes it easy to see what public opinion is about a given issue. For example, on this page, at the end of the article, we have a poll. When you take it you can instantly see how others voted.]
Attachments
So iPad has much faster multi-core performance, but can't handle heavy multi-tasking 
I see too many advantages in the iPad Pro and iPadOS. Speed, screen, zero upkeep, stability, cost, app selection, portability, security, media consumption, drawing ability, and cameras are all better on the iPad Pro. Unless you need very specific apps on macOS, you’re better off adapting to the future.
Power has never been the limiting factor with the iPad Pro. It’s been more than powerful enough since the original three years ago.
What good is having a fast chip if you can’t do anything with it? I’d say barely any iPad user gets anywhere near the max capability out of it.
And don’t get me started on a LiDAR camera on an iPad...
Would I rather own an iPad if it could do what I wanted? Maybe. It’s faster, sleeker, lighter, runs cooler, more versatile, etc. I prefer 16:10 to 4:3 but that’s not a big deal. Either way, the iPad’s use cases haven‘t changed much in nearly ten years.
What good is having a fast chip if you can’t do anything with it? I’d say barely any iPad user gets anywhere near the max capability out of it.
And don’t get me started on a LiDAR camera on an iPad...
Would I rather own an iPad if it could do what I wanted? Maybe. It’s faster, sleeker, lighter, runs cooler, more versatile, etc. I prefer 16:10 to 4:3 but that’s not a big deal. Either way, the iPad’s use cases haven‘t changed much in nearly ten years.
Artists are people too. The iPad is better than a Cintiq in many ways, and when you factor it's competitors in the sketching/art space incredibly good value, while the Air is.. Just another low end laptop, that even if I did rig up my tablet to it wouldn't be even approaching as smooth to work on.
There's an argument for both, but if it wasn't for development purposes I wouldn't need Macs much really..
But for people who may not need a substantial OS, an iOS is perfect. I use my iPad Pro 90% of the time at my job. Very rarely do I need a double monitor except to complete a spreadsheet or 2.
Currently, have an iPad Air2 (being replaced by a 12.9" iPP), 2015 MacBook Air, and 5K iMac. When traveling, I have generally carry the iPad with a bluetooth keyboard rather than the MacBook Air. I just find it easier to use in the car, plane, hotel etc. For mu usage, the MacBook Air gets little use. But, if I could only have one device, outside an iPhone, I think the MacBook Air is the winner due to its price, capability and functionality.
iPad Pro, it is fun to use and I manage a small business using it. Macbook Air is great for sure but it is not the future and less fun.
It's interesting to me to see people pushing iPad as a MacBook replacement. I used to routinely use an iPad, but since the iPhone has grown in size it's enough for most media consumption. For real work I will always want a MacBook or desktop. There's just no compelling middle use case between my iPhone and MacBook, so I gave my iPad to my kids. I guess there are some people that like working on an iPad, but I just don't get it - why bother with all the compromises?
I think a fair comparison is the the iPP + Magic Keyboard vs MBA + iPad 7. This would be comparable in price.
My requirement is that it run Logic...
iPad : well sort of...as a remote
MacBook : Hold my Corona
iPad : well sort of...as a remote
MacBook : Hold my Corona
I have an ipad pro 2018, try as i might to make it work at my office, its just a joke.
cant use autocad, cant connect to my local a0 printer, cant print pdf (some apps), that alone is a fail. Not to mentoin the other apps i need like excel, word, pdf editors. simple tasks like rotating pdfs, editing formulas in excel are made harder because of the interface.
if you can use it as a pc replacement, good on ya, but for the rest of us, its nothing more than a 11”/12.9” phone trying to pretend to be a pc.
cant use autocad, cant connect to my local a0 printer, cant print pdf (some apps), that alone is a fail. Not to mentoin the other apps i need like excel, word, pdf editors. simple tasks like rotating pdfs, editing formulas in excel are made harder because of the interface.
if you can use it as a pc replacement, good on ya, but for the rest of us, its nothing more than a 11”/12.9” phone trying to pretend to be a pc.
I agree. But the screen on my iPad Pro is so nice. Do the new Airs give this kind of display?
Personally, I love having both. I really love my 2018 iPad Pro more than words and I’m dying to get the new keyboard w/touchpad (yes, the price is nuts though). I enjoy using my iPad more that my 2019 Air by orders of magnitude. I think a big part of it comes down to the screen and dedicated iPadOS starting to mature. Most laptops are rated around a paltry 400nits, but barely manage to even get that. My Air is lucky to hit 350 at max setting and it drives me insane. My iPad Pro is rated at 600nits, regularly benchmarks even higher, and is also 120hz. It’s a godsend for my tired middle aged eyes. I use the tool that I need when I need it, but I spend a whole lot more time on my iPad. Hoping to see more big things from iPadOS 14 in June.
$1,075 for one iPad Pro + keyboard or a pile of surplus 5-10 Thinkpads.
Tough call.
Tough call.
Why not just wait for the iPad keyboard case with the trackpad to do this comparison?
So far, iPadOS is really difficult to use for me, and I thought it would be easier than a desktop OS. Maybe if I had never ever used a computer, then iPad would seem easy?
So far, iPadOS is really difficult to use for me, and I thought it would be easier than a desktop OS. Maybe if I had never ever used a computer, then iPad would seem easy?
