I haven't used my iPad once since getting my rMB - anyone else?

[Young Turk]

Since getting my new rMB a few days ago, coming from a rMBP 13", I have practically never put it down.

My iPad Air 2, which I used to use every day for casual couch browsing and such, has been idly abandoned by the charger for the past week.

Somehow the rMB feels like an iPad on which I can do much more and type more comfortably, whilst still being extremely portable. So much so, that I am debating wether I should sell the iPad.

Is it just me, or has anyone else's experience been similar?

2 days straight I've left the iPad Air 2 at home and not taken it to my law firm.

 

[wchigo]

No. I have seen them, and all I have are questions. How is it better than the MBA (other than the Retina screen)? Why is ONE USB-C port better than separate ports for separate functions? Is it better to type on a rMB than an MBA? Why would anyone want to buy one and use it?

I had a 13" MacBook Air for a good while before I ended up replacing it with a 13" MacBook Pro with Retina. I then bought the rMB a couple days ago and it has been perfect for what I [personally] need out of a laptop.

It's kind of unfair to ask why it is better than a MBA and exclude people from citing the screen as a reason, as for many that is an integral reason. So aside from the screen, I much prefer the black bezels in the rMB/rMBP versus the silver bezels in the Air, it has a smaller footprint, newer (and arguably better) trackpad and I really enjoy the colour options (went with the Space Grey myself.)

If I were to buy a MBA, I would have to go with the 13" as the 11" screen is way too small for me (I know, I lived with one for 1-2 months) and I would definitely have to upgrade the storage as 128GB would be cutting it too close for me. I also would upgrade it to 8GB RAM as that's what I had on my 13" Pro and 4GB is really quite low these days with how much RAM OSes and programs take up these days. Suddenly I'm looking at paying $1299 for a 13" MBA/8GB/256GB which, surprise!, is the same price as the 12" rMB, but lacks the benefits I listed above.

Certainly, the MBA has the longer battery life and "classic" style keyboard that people are used to, on top of the extra ports. However, I kind of like the new keyboard and I would gladly trade those 3 hours of battery life for the much better screen. That leaves us with the ports. Honestly, I think I used the SD card reader like once the entire time I had the Air and only used the Thunderbolt ports with an adapter to plug into my TV via HDMI. The ports I used the most was definitely USB for thumb drives and external HDs. My rMBP was basically the same except I no longer needed the adapter as HDMI was built-in.

Yes, I have to buy an adapter to be able to use regular USB thumb drives right now. Yes, if I want to be able to charge my rMB at the same time that I use a thumb drive/HDMI, I need a more expensive adapter. However, if I had a MBA and wanted to use HDMI, I would have to use an adapter anyways and the other ports on the MBA are largely unused by me. So the lack of ports is no huge loss for me and I'm more than happy to give them up in this particular case.

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Back on topic, I actually still use my iPad a lot for videos and such. Many sites are blocked in China due to information control but where I work/live now, we do have a VPN installed allowing access to things like Google and Facebook. YouTube is blocked though, but I discovered you can bypass it in a way by using the YouTube app on the iPhone or iPad. I have a 6+ and I while I do watch videos on it (I never did this prior as I found the screens on the previous iterations much too small), given the choice I would rather use my iPad for the larger screen while at home. That's why I'll probably hang on to my iPad Air 2 for a good long while and will contribute to the decline in tablet sales.

 

[Mac 128]

For me, the real dream device, which I would easily pay twice as much than the for the rMB, would be an  rMB Surface.

Basically an rMB, but with a detachable/flippable screen, that when in flipped/detached mode, boots up iOS 9. Also LTE support. (sure the hotspot with continuity works, but not nearly well enough as just having it built in)

I'd buy that in a split second. Too bad it's probably not/never going to happen anytime soon...

I doubt it will happen ever. Microsoft beat Apple to the punch here, and Apple would have to eat some serious crow to build something like that. Considering that's what they're doing with the iPhone 6 plus vis-a-vis Samsung, maybe it will happen. I suppose if they can find a way to do it without the kickstand, then maybe there's a chance.

In the meantime, I believe in the correct tool for the job. That's why I own an iPad, a MacBook Pro, and an iPhone. I have unique uses for all three, and use them all regularly. It seems to me cost is an issue for you. Apple is not interested in compromising their products to help customers save money. I happen to believe there is no practical benefit to making a hybrid Surface-like product, at least until iOS and MacOS are the same thing, and it can be done wirelessly, without clumsy dock connectors that detract from the design symmetry. I have no problem carrying an iPad, an iPhone and a MBP wherever I go, assuming I need all three of them. I would never give up any one of them at present.

 

[username:]

If rMB had built in cellular i would get one. No wifi means my ipad air 2 is my favourite device atm. I think you have overlooked how convenient the cellular connection is to some people, especially when travelling.

Why would i open up a laptop, try to connect to personal hotspot, realise that again it hasnt worked, get my phone, switch on personal hotspot, connect on my laptop, open up a web browser and log into my email, or sit waiting while the mail app connects and downloads a days worth of emails, when i could just flip open my ipad and instantly check email and search the web?

Also, things as simple as notifications come through on an ipad when asleep, similar to a phone. While the macbook if closed cannnot notify the user of anything.

 

[unixunderground]

I doubt it will happen ever. Microsoft beat Apple to the punch here, and Apple would have to eat some serious crow to build something like that. Considering that's what they're doing with the iPhone 6 plus vis-a-vis Samsung, maybe it will happen. I suppose if they can find a way to do it without the kickstand, then maybe there's a chance.

In the meantime, I believe in the correct tool for the job. That's why I own an iPad, a MacBook Pro, and an iPhone. I have unique uses for all three, and use them all regularly. It seems to me cost is an issue for you. Apple is not interested in compromising their products to help customers save money. I happen to believe there is no practical benefit to making a hybrid Surface-like product, at least until iOS and MacOS are the same thing, and it can be done wirelessly, without clumsy dock connectors that detract from the design symmetry. I have no problem carrying an iPad, an iPhone and a MBP wherever I go, assuming I need all three of them. I would never give up any one of them at present.

Though I am stil skeptical for the short term, I am curios as to if Apple is eventually going to merge iOS and OSX. All signs in recent times certainly point to that (Launchpad interface,notification center, continuity, mobile processor on the rMB, etc.)
It remains to be seen, but I think the next step will be going over to ARM.

Even though I certainly don't swim in gold, I can easily afford having multiple devices. What bugs me though is having a $900 paperweight sitting on my desk unused, depreciating with every day that goes by.

More than saving money, the real advantage for me would be the reduced weight/number of things to carry around and keep charged. But mostly portability.

Because while I love my rMB, there are some particular occasions, where having a large touchscreen interface can still be more useful.

But as it is now, especially since I am always on the go, easily walking 15k+ steps a day, and traveling often, I find it hard to justify the extra weight.

 

[unixunderground]

If rMB had built in cellular i would get one. No wifi means my ipad air 2 is my favourite device atm. I think you have overlooked how convenient the cellular connection is to some people, especially when travelling.

Why would i open up a laptop, try to connect to personal hotspot, realise that again it hasnt worked, get my phone, switch on personal hotspot, connect on my laptop, open up a web browser and log into my email, or sit waiting while the mail app connects and downloads a days worth of emails, when i could just flip open my ipad and instantly check email and search the web?

Also, things as simple as notifications come through on an ipad when asleep, similar to a phone. While the macbook if closed cannnot notify the user of anything.

Couldn't agree more, just yesterday I spent over 15 minutes trying to get "Instant" hotspot to work, and finally gave up.

I had an LTE Chromebook for a while, and instant internet as soon as the screen was opened, no matter if on the train, car, airport, or in the woods, was one of my favorite features. I would instantly pay $200 more to have that sort of convenience on a rMB.