of course you aren't going to agree, you have a desktop, laptop, and an iPad. You have an item for every specific use.Sounds like you've already made your decision, but to reiterate lots of the opinions that have been voiced here already, trading in your laptop for an iPad is a really terrible idea. While the iPad can replace many of the functions of a laptop, it doesn't get anywhere close to the functionality. And just to give you a frame of reference, I own a windows 7 desktop tower, a 2010 13" macbook air, and an iPad 2.
-Web browsing: the iPad overall is terrible when compared to a computer. It's much MUCH slower at rendering sites. Tabbed browsing is basically non-existent in safari (though as others have mentioned 3rd party browsers can help shore up that deficiency). Lack of memory means that even WITH the tabbed browsing functionality of one of the 3rd party browsers, you're limited to only a handful (around 5 for me while using atomic browser).
-Flash! This is a huge one. If you need to access anything flash at all, the iPad becomes a paperweight. You'd be surprised how many sites out there use flash. Sure, most of that is silly flash games and website animations, but you'll eventually have some class that requires you to complete either homework or even an exam online, and for that you'll want a real computer and web browser.
-Youtube: strange that I'd even put this in here, cause for most situations the iPad actually works great for watching youtube videos. But there are still many videos that don't "work on mobile" - NBA.com videos just to raise one example.
-multitasking: try having a google talk conversation while...doing pretty much anything else on the iPad. HUGE chore. I use IMO.im (fantastic app) for my google talk needs on the iPad. If someone sends me a message, a huge popup interrupts whatever it is i'm currently doing. Tap close to quickly finish what i was doing. Now, I have to double tap the home button, swipe around the quick bar to find IMO.im, and tap just to start typing out my response. If I want to get back to what I was doing before, I then have to double tap the home button to bring up the quick switch bar. And most IM conversations are conversations - this entire process would normally have to repeat a hundred times, but usually at that point it becomes way too tedious that I would just switch to my real computer.
-the ecosystem: this is extremely important because part of owning a computer is how interoperable it is. Part of the reason why the iPad is so successful is its OWN ecosystem of apps and accessories. When you own a computer, you can now seamlessly work with anyone or anything that is also in that ecosystem. For example, someone gives you a file on a usb drive. On your macbook, you just plug it in to your usb drive and you're set. On the iPad, you have to first load the drive into your home computer, convert the file into one the ipad likes, and then transfer it over before you can watch.
TL;dr: If you want portability, sell the MBP and get a MBA. If you really want the iPad, keep the mbp, save up for a bit, and get like a refurbished iPad 1.
of course you aren't going to agree, you have a desktop, laptop, and an iPad. You have an item for every specific use.
Thanks for your replies everyone. Seeing all of your ideas and thoughts helped me make an informed decision. This morning I sold my MacBook Pro. Remember that everyone's uses vary, what would be a bad decision for you could be a good one for me. And I feel that I made the right choice for myself.
awesome man. so you traded it in or actually sold it for more cash?
Tomorrow I might trade my 2010 MacBook Pro in for a 64GB Wifi + 3G iPad 2. I'd get the Smart Cover, Apple Keyboard, and Pages (to help replace Word, ect.) My family has one "central" computer, an iMac, used about 95% of the day by little sister. I'd use that only for syncing photos, music, and emergency cases when I need a full-fledged computer. I'd probably save a little more and buy an iMac off Craigslist eventually, so I could stop using the home computer and have my own.
I mostly browse the web (not Flash intensive sites), take and edit photos with my digital camera (and PhotoShop every once in awhile), take notes (using Springpad - a wonderful service!), Email (a lot), manage my calendar, use Google Docs, listen to 14+ GB of music, watch a lot of YouTube videos, check Facebook every once in awhile, use Google Talk, and post on forums.
I'd obviously lose Photoshop, but I didn't necessarily "need" the power from that to edit my photos. I find myself mostly just adjusting colors and such, something that a lot of the iOS App store apps can do.
I'd lose Google Talk. I haven't found a worthy client on iOS yet.But I think I could live with that.
What do you guys think? You can try and convince me one way or the other, or simply discuss problems and solutions for problems people doing what I might do could come acrossI'd really love other people's input.