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Hey Macbook Air owners, who also owns an iPad?

Have both, love both. I wanted to stick with one or the other, but like the other poster said, motorcycle and car. Both similar, and yet very different.

I will say in the last month, I use my iPad daily, and my Air every 2-4 days.

To me that means the iPad is just so easy that it has become my natural go-to device. But if I could only live with one, it would have to be the Air.

The Air can do everything. The iPad can do 80% of everything but in a nicer or more convenient or more comfortable fashion. (Oh, and I know travel exclusively with the iPad)

I'm glad I don't have to chose.
 
I use my macbook to create things like most people said. To download and access my FTP.

I take my ipad with me whereever I go. If I need to access my macbook I use LogMeIn on my ipad.
 
I use my MBA for real production work. Things you need full fledged applications for, things better done with multiple windows and apps open at once, any significant typing or editing.

The iPad excels at consumption. I read books and magazines, listen to music, watch video, view many things, including light documents, emails, etc, take light notes at meetings, emails, etc and do a ton of surfing.

Two devices that are good at different things. Except for battery life I could use the Air for everything I use the iPad for. I couldn't use an iPad for everything I use an Air for but the iPad is a better user experience at some things. Some folks could use one or the other happily, and find the other redundant, and others see a place for both.
 
I LOVE my MBA. Fantastic machine (early 2011 128gb). But it never gets used anymore, seems almost wasteful. Its real purpose in the last 6 months has been to download music from the cards that come with vinyl LP's.

I think an iPad would be better for me, but until I can download straight into my iTunes library (which might never happen) then....the MBA stays :rolleyes:
 
I have both an 11" MBA and a gen 1 iPad I use both all the time, they are both used for different things.

The iPad is used for games, book reading or other quick web browsing. The MBA is used for everything else.

I take both when I travel as you never know when you might need the MBA, and the iPad is great for use on airplanes etc.

They serve, as many people have already mentioned, different needs.
 
Another Mac Air (11") owner with an iPad (3). I originally thought there might be overlap in usage when I bought my iPad but my experience mirrors those mentioned here. My MBA is for work and for any lengthy emails. My iPad is for everything else. I always travel with both.
 
glen e said:
rediculous....and short sighted...the two do not compete...like owning a car and motorcycle....

iPad far more useful when traveling and you are consuming content. Laptops for creating content....
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Your opinions are taken less seriously when you misspell ridiculous.

I have no need for an iPad to consume content. I can do the same with my Air and smartphone. Don't just go calling people short-sighted. People work and consume content differently. I prefer to use Facebook and Twitter on a phone or laptop especially with access to easier methods of typing, either with a keyboard or one handed with a phone. Books and magazines are a pain to read on the iPad. I still believe the device is too heavy if I'm going to be reading for at least half an hour. A Kindle or Nexus 7 would be preferable.

Do people in this thread not have iPhones or another smartphone? If a smartphone, which is, to me, of higher priority than a tablet, can do the majority of the functions of a tablet, then the iPad is more of a luxury device to me. If you're on a feature phone, then yes, a tablet is an ideal device.
 
I own both.

iPad - Playing games like Cover Orange and Words With Friends (Touch screen is very nice here) / watching cat videos on YouTube before going to bed / fits nicely in my seat back pocket for whenever I leave the house to run errands or go to Disneyland (I have to have connectivity 24/7 for work)

MBA - Working on documentation while in meetings (physical keyboard is golden here) / communication via email, skype or IM when in a data center / portability for bringing from home to work and having my documents with me the whole time.

Depending on how busy my work load is I'll forego the MBA some days of the week, like today, and just bring the iPad to work. Evernote keeps most of my documents on both devices and I don't always have a meeting where the physical keyboard comes in handy. Both devices serve purposes that the other might not be suitable for, even if about 50% of their capabilities overlap.

Forgot to include, I also have an iPhone 4s. I use it for a WiFi hotspot if I only have the MBA and need to do something for work. I don't think I've ever opened Evernote on the phone because I either have the iPad or MBA to review tasks/todo/documentation. I send almost as many texts/iMessages as I do emails from the phone. When I'm at home in the morning waiting for the carpool I'll handle emails from the phone so I can jump out the door without having to bag up anything. Plus the camera on the iPhone is much easier to keep steady than the iPad, so when taking pictures of a cabling mess or something else it is very nice to have a small camera sized camera that I can use to instantly email the picture off to a coworker or friend.
 
I have both, and use both extensively for work.

iPad:

I carry my entire research library on my iPad and it´s my primary reading device for work. It´s much more comfortable as an e-reader than my Air, and it´s very easy to annotate and make notes on pdfs with a stylus. I´ve basically used my iPad to go paperless in my office, both with regard to reading all kinds of papers and for note taking.

I also use my iPad as my notebook, and IMO it is superior to my Air for this purposes due to the combination of stylus input and long battery life. When I´m in seminars, I can make easily make notes that combine hand writing, drawings and regular text input (I have an external keyboard for my iPad), and I never have to worry about running about of battery. I also never have to worry about wifi access, which is often an issue when I go to other institutions for seminars etc, with 3G access on my iPad. I sync all my notes to my Air so they are accessible from both devices.

For day to day portability, I prefer the iPad due to the combination of stylus input, 3G and long battery life. I never worry about internet access. I never worry about running out of battery. Stylus input is very practical for a lot of my work related tasks.

I also use my iPad for looking up things on the go on the internet, checking emails, etc - the usual stuff.

Air:

I use my Air for more ´heavy´content creation. I write my articles on my Air (as well as on the pc provided by my university), I use it to organise my research library, to sort, transcribe and analysemy video and audiodata, and to write presentations. The Air always comes with me if I´m travelling for more than two nights.

I also use it to organise my photos and music, but keep both synced to my iPad.

The idea that the iPad is just a toy is just pure nonsense IMO. It CAN be a toy only. But it can also be a device that hugely improves your work flow.

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Zeni Xeni said:
Do people in this thread not have iPhones or another smartphone? If a smartphone, which is, to me, of higher priority than a tablet, can do the majority of the functions of a tablet, then the iPad is more of a luxury device to me. If you're on a feature phone, then yes, a tablet is an ideal device.
Click to expand...

I do have a smart phone, but there is no way I´d use that to take notes in meetings or to read research articles. The screen is way too small for me.
 
i used to have a heavy 15" MBP on my desk and finally bought the new iPad

compared to the iPad 2 that i had last year, i was quite disappointed with its weight

as i decided to sell my MBP in order to get a MBA for travelling, i also returned the iPad

now the only machine i have and is the most versatile for me is my MBA

for the moment, when i need to check my mails or surf, i only use my iphone

this may change in the future if Apple releases a lighter iPad, but still, in my own opinion, owning the full combo is useless

after having the MBA, buying an iPad would reduce the iPhone to a cellphone + mp3 only

so for now, my friends are my MBA and my iPhone 4S
 
Moshe1010 said:
This.
Click to expand...
Maybe. Maybe not.

MBA is far more powerful and versatile for doing different tasks. For creating content MBA hands down owns iPad. Consuming content, yes, iPad might be easier and more comfortable, but that doesn't mean that MBA won't do it as well.

They do overlap quite a bit and all-in-all MBA does everything that iPad does, while iPad can't do many of the tasks MBA can. Just because one device is marginally better at doing some specific task doesn't mean that you should immediately splurge and buy everything to optimize the best possible device for every task imaginable. Sure, if you have a lot of spare cash and don't mind owning multiple devices that somewhat overlap in what they can do it's great to have both, but I do just fine with just my MBA.
 
Also pay attention to the ergonomics of how you will use each device.

MBA - Flat keyboard, angled screen. So easy to use outdoors as the screen is readable in sunlight.
iPad - Combined keyboard and screen. If approx. horizontal then difficult to use in sunlight. If approx vertical then less easy to use keyboard. (Try using a vertical keyboard as a test)
Yes, you can use a keyboard attachment, but then it becomes clumsy to work with (IMO)
 
I have both and use both. Just like the others have said, if I'm creating something, like a document for work or something I'll use the Air. If I'm just browsing around, or watching netflix then I'll grab the iPad.
 
I have a late 2011 MBP 13, a PC desktop, an iPhone 4 and an iPad 2. I use them all, believe it or not.

The PC has my Creative Suite apps on it (too expensive to buy again for the MBP), but the MBP is my Go-To computer. Otherwise, I use the iPad for pretty much the same things mentioned above by other posters - easy portability with iBooks, Email on the go, and the wide variety of specific apps such as Calendar, Measure Map, Maps, weather apps, NFL apps, and such.

In fact, the one device that's sort of been left in the dust is the iPhone. I have many of the same apps on the iPhone and iPad, and there's absolutely NO contest in which is the best for apps use. The iPad wins hands-down. HOWEVER, the iPhone is a PHONE and none of the others are. Also, it's always perfectly capable when other devices aren't available.

I do have a keyboard (Logitech) for the iPad, but have actually gotten halfway decent in typing on the screen - a bonus for keeping the iPad lightweight and portable.
 
Zeni Xeni said:
Do people in this thread not have iPhones or another smartphone? If a smartphone, which is, to me, of higher priority than a tablet, can do the majority of the functions of a tablet, then the iPad is more of a luxury device to me. If you're on a feature phone, then yes, a tablet is an ideal device.
Click to expand...

Strange take if you ask me.

I have an iPhone, iPad, and mb air and all 3 are used differently.

My iPhone is the last place I turn for anything that requires a web browser. But it is with me at all times so if needed will suffice.

My iPad is where I read most news in the morning, Netflix/Hulu, play a few games, and visit favorite web sites. Sure I could do that on my iPhone but that is a compromise. Very useful when it is the only option but not so much when other options are available.

My iPhone is the first choice for iMessage/SMS, Facebook/Twitter updates, and email on-the-go. I would say it is used for "content" creation far more than my iPad is.

My air is basically just for work and other stuff where I need full access to a computer. Even though it is small, it is still a laptop and operated as one. I never, or certainly rarely, hold it in my hands while using it the way I easily do with my iPad.




Michael
 
I had the same issue the other way round. Thought buying the MBA would make my iPAD3 redundant. Not the case still use the iPAD for iBooks and Kindle. As an avid air traveller I would use the iPAD for movies due to it's better battery.
 
If the MBA has a screen as good as the new ipad, I would sell my ipad, but reading PDF on ipad 3 is so much better than on a computer.
 
My ipad3 -- surfing, handy google research, email. Internet radio, i work at home and its usual by my side.
My 2012 macbook base 13" air. Some surfing, streaming movies, email, WORD when not wanting to be tied to my mac mini desktop.
 
Fontane said:
I'm considering buying the iPad 3 but love my Macbook Air. I use the Air for everything -- surfing, word processing, etc (but use a kindle for reading). I'm not worried about the money (it's a gift to myself) but don't want to buy a gadget I will not use.

Can some of you please tell me what you use your iPad for?
Click to expand...

I have both. Because I find my MBA's & MBP's so ideal for my needs, the iPad is purely for those times when I just want to check something on the web. Otherwise, it doesn't see much use. If it was 7", I'd tuck it in my laptop bag, and I'd use it more since I spend time in Airliners & Starbucks when traveling.

While I've taken my full size iPad along with whatever Apple Laptop I'm carrying. The extra weight and concern over screen breakage (even in a sleeve) is the deal breaker. Originally I thought it would be strong enough to handle it, but my fellow frequent flyers that also carry MBP's said they'd experienced cracked screens when adding their iPads to their bags.
 
I too have both, but I rarely use both simultaneously. I usually bring my Air to my writing gig to type up the daily stuff I need, while I bring my iPad to interpretation gigs during which I can refer to relevant materials in a swipe while interpreting.

Tyling up stuff in general, and especially stuff I know I will refer to in the near future is much easier on the Air, while looking up said stuff is significantly easier on the iPad.
 
Interesting thread..

I have an ipad3 kindle galaxy s2 phone and an MBA on order as well as several windows laptops..

All have different needs! Kindle is my reading device and when we go on holiday the worldwide 3G means I can keep up with emails for free (French campsites seem to charge a fortune for wifi lol).

iPad is used a lot every day same reasons as everyone else, I also use an app called thinkpad a lot to track my projects, e.g. Day rates, project codes, days used and meeting minutes. It's used as the first part of my workflow for photography, I.e. a big preview screen for deleting the duffers before importing into Lightroom.

My son is now getting to the point that he needs to do more homework on a computer and using pages is a pain on a touchscreen for doing much more than simple work.
That's where the 11" MBA will fit in, small enough to sit on my lap but I'll be able to do stuff like format sd cards, login to my banking websites without cursing, and all the apps my old family laptop did such as Evernote. But it can connect to a monitor when I need the real estate...

My quad core 17" windows laptop is used for my photography, so the MBA shouldn't get too stressed!
 
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