iPad 3 or MacBook Air?

[bkitchen0406]

I think it depends on your major and how you use it. I went to college for computer networking and had to have a windows laptop. Now i am a writer and am switching to an iPad because of the dictation and dragon software. My wife is going back to school and mostly uses her iPad and seldom uses her laptop. There is nothing wrong with getting the iPad and a 400.00 windows laptop. I am not saying its the best option for all, but for us we almost never use our computer anymore, but they are there if we need them. I just sold my macbook air to pay for the new iPad and kept my cheap windows laptop.

So all and all it depends how you use it.

 

[TLewis]

hmm.. thanks for the help. i'm still stuck though, haha. as i do have a windows 7 netbook, but it doesn't do as much as i'd like, and the family have an iMac, which i much prefer.. which is why i am tempted by the macbook air

You really haven't said what you need to do (or what you're doing at uni).

If you're going into engineering/sciences/etc., a laptop is pretty much required. At some point, you'll probably be doing some serious number crunching, and the iPad just isn't going to do. Also, note-taking on an iPad is problematic, especially if you have to do technical diagrams or equations; while some people can use a stylus, a stylus on an iPad is a lot like using a crayon. (Side note: if you can afford it, you might want to consider getting a livescribe pen, as that gives you all of the speed/flexibility of drawing on paper, and the advantages of electronic notes.)

On the other hand, if you're going into art history, you might be able to get away with an iPad.

Still, if you can only get one, you should get the macbook. No, it's not as cool or as portable, but it can be used for a lot more things. You're only missing the touch interface.

my friend said an ipad is basically a large iPod touch, is this true?

Somewhat. I think it's like saying a BMW is basically a faster Vauxhall.

 

[iHeartsteve]

hmm.. thanks for the help. i'm still stuck though, haha. as i do have a windows 7 netbook, but it doesn't do as much as i'd like, and the family have an iMac, which i much prefer.. which is why i am tempted by the macbook air - my friend said an ipad is basically a large iPod touch, is this true?

sounds like you need MBA. Yes its large itouch. Don't get me wrong, I love my ipad and use it everyday but just mostly for email and web browsing. I already have laptop.

Are you looking at 11" or 13" ??? If you're getting an 11" then getting an ipad is kind of extravagant. but if you travel a lot or want to do reading on Ipad than thats of course easier to hold.

You should buy MBA and in a couple months buy a 16g ipad3 refurb.

 

[Night Spring]

my friend said an ipad is basically a large iPod touch, is this true?

It's true enough, but the problem with that statement is that people usually grossly underestimate what the iPod touch is capable of. The iPod touch is actually a pretty good computer, but people mostly use it only to listen to music and play games. But it could do a lot more if only it had a bigger screen .... enter the iPad.

As for your original question, you mentioned there is an iMac at home. If you can use that for your schoolwork without fighting over it with other people, then an iPad could be a perfect companion device. It all depends on how much computing you have to do while away from home. And how comfortable you are with using the iPad's virtual keyboard and/or stylus input. Unfortunately, the only way to find out the later is to buy one and use it. So, do you need a notebook computer right away for note taking in class? Will you be doing class activities on campus that requires a notebook? Then you obviously need a MacBook of some kind. If not, you may be able to get away with an iPad. It's really hard to say, because so much depends on individual circumstance.

 

[glittersparkles]

thanks for the help everyone - i've decided on the macbook air, as it seems like the best idea, as it does more of what i want, i think, thaaaanks

 

[ASKendrew]

I'm sure you'll be happy with your decision!

 

[glittersparkles]

well actually, i'm not convinced.. seeing as we have an iMac already.. are you able to write essays on an iPad? if not, then i will definitely get the MacBook Air..

 

[ZBoater]

well actually, i'm not convinced.. seeing as we have an iMac already.. are you able to write essays on an iPad? if not, then i will definitely get the MacBook Air..

Ummmm, yes. I mean, if the onscreen keyboard doesn't do it for you, you can always pair a Bluetooth keyboard to the iPad.

Plus, the new iPad will take dictation....

 

[homeboy]

well actually, i'm not convinced.. seeing as we have an iMac already.. are you able to write essays on an iPad? if not, then i will definitely get the MacBook Air..

Can you type on the iPad?

Yes.

Can you productively type an essay that requires you to switch between difference webpages and PDFs for sources, quotes, etc?

No.

Typing an academic essay on an iPad is like trying to eat spaghetti with a spoon. It's possible but far from the most efficient approach.

 

[ZBoater]

Can you type on the iPad?

Yes.

Can you productively type an essay that requires you to switch between difference webpages and PDFs for sources, quotes, etc?

No.

Typing an academic essay on an iPad is like trying to eat spaghetti with a spoon. It's possible but far from the most efficient approach.

Then the answer to the second question is "yes, but with difficulty", not "no". I can switch from QuickOffice to Safari and Goodreader without issues. A double click of the home button is all it takes. And I can copy and paste between them easily. I've written large, complex reports (they almost read like essays) with no issues, and that's with the onscreen keyboard!

 

[palpatine]

Can you type on the iPad?

Yes.

Can you productively type an essay that requires you to switch between difference webpages and PDFs for sources, quotes, etc?

No.

Typing an academic essay on an iPad is like trying to eat spaghetti with a spoon. It's possible but far from the most efficient approach.

can you type on the ipad?
yes.

can you type using an external keyboard and an ipad?
yes.

can you type on your iphone while you read on your ipad?
yes.

can you "productively type an essay that requires you to switch between difference webpages and PDFs for sources, quotes, etc."?
yes. i do it every day. you won't get a whole lot of benefit out of having multiple windows open on the mba's tiny screen, and when your battery runs out halfway through the day, i will still be trucking along

i should say that the mba is far more capable than the ipad, and you will probably want to have a computer of some sort available for the heavy lifting, but for day to day tasks, the ipad is pretty impressive. the mba is a safe choice, and will serve you well at uni. good job op! but, you might want to pick up one of those ipad 2s for cheap a very powerful combination, of course, is iPad + computer, especially if you have all of your books in pdf form (scan yourself or buy if available).

 

[ZBoater]

To be clear, if I could only have one, I'd get the MBA every day of the week. And weekends too. As great as the iPad is, it cannot replace the all the capabilities of a traditional computer.

 

[mariotr87]

I already have a MBA so now I'll pick an iPad, but if I had nothing I'd start with the MBA.

 

[Bokes]

Another vote for MBA. Then add the iPad.
I just replaced my mammoth Mac pro with the 13 inch MBA.
I hooked it up to an external thunderbolt hard drive and monitor.
I have not changed any of my computer work habits- and I have not noticed a single hiccup.

And with the $$$ I had left over from selling the Mac pro I ordered the new iPad.

IMO- MBA + ipad is a perfect combo.

 

[glittersparkles]

hmm. i'm now fairly torn, as i already have a laptop i do essays on and as my course is mostly practical i'm not sure whether or not to get a new laptop in a year or so, as my current one is fine, and i do usually use the iMac..

as an art student, which do you think would work better, as it would mostly be used for emails, research and photo editing?

 

[mariotr87]

Another vote for MBA. Then add the iPad.
I just replaced my mammoth Mac pro with the 13 inch MBA.
I hooked it up to an external thunderbolt hard drive and monitor.
I have not changed any of my computer work habits- and I have not noticed a single hiccup.

And with the $$$ I had left over from selling the Mac pro I ordered the new iPad.

IMO- MBA + ipad is a perfect combo.

I'd add the iPhone 4S to the combo . They all play so perfectly together...you can do anything anywhere with these devices + iCloud.

 

[wellok]

I'd add the iPhone 4S to the combo . They all play so perfectly together...you can do anything anywhere with these devices + iCloud.

Yesssss. I have a MBA, iPhone 4S, and preordered the iPad. I haven't used an iPad before but I can't imagine trying to do homework on one. I wouldn't give up my MBA for anything. It's amazing.

 

[whtrbt7]

The iPad can be a replacement for a full computer if you only need basic functions and don't need to do full multi-tasking. I take notes at meetings and compose virtual papers on the iPad just fine since I'm used to the keyboard. Unfortunately, my work also requires the use of AutoCAD, Adobe CS, and VMWare Fusion. So I can't drop a computer OS for a mobile OS yet. Once AutoCAD, Adobe CS, and VMWare come to the iPad, that's when mobile tablets will take over the functionality of a full computer OS. Oh and iOS needs to get full multitasking because I hate having to switch between apps only to notice that I have to reload web-page contents. We're getting there but I think we are still about 3-4 years off from having that capability.

 

[anirudh]

I REALLY dont mean to be rude, but this is a no brainer IMO. Irrespective of the tasks you plan to use it for, an iPad is not a replacement for a laptop. Get a refurb air. Save some money and MAYBE get an iPad down the road. The iPad might seem cool now, but you'll quickly start noticing some major missing functions like lack of a file system, lack of power, inability to create content etc etc.

 

[iDvisic]

hmm. i'm now fairly torn, as i already have a laptop i do essays on and as my course is mostly practical i'm not sure whether or not to get a new laptop in a year or so, as my current one is fine, and i do usually use the iMac..

as an art student, which do you think would work better, as it would mostly be used for emails, research and photo editing?

I read this and was like, "Wait. You already have a laptop? Why didn't you mention this before??" Then, I read back. You did say you have a Win7 netbook. Reading fail.

In that case--unless you have issue with the netbook (small keyboard uncomfortable for long typing sessions or something), I'd go for an iPad or some sort of tablet computer. It will be perfect for most of your uses, and having the tablet propped up beside the netbook for quick pdf references or web searches will be amazing. IMO.

-->iDv.

 

[glittersparkles]

I REALLY dont mean to be rude, but this is a no brainer IMO. Irrespective of the tasks you plan to use it for, an iPad is not a replacement for a laptop. Get a refurb air. Save some money and MAYBE get an iPad down the road. The iPad might seem cool now, but you'll quickly start noticing some major missing functions like lack of a file system, lack of power, inability to create content etc etc.

"no brainer"?!

thanks for the help, but i don't want a refurb, as i get education discount anyway, but i also said i already have a laptop, i'm not replacing a laptop with an iPad. if you want to say i have no brain then at least read what i've written first. thanks.

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I read this and was like, "Wait. You already have a laptop? Why didn't you mention this before??" Then, I read back. You did say you have a Win7 netbook. Reading fail.

In that case--unless you have issue with the netbook (small keyboard uncomfortable for long typing sessions or something), I'd go for an iPad or some sort of tablet computer. It will be perfect for most of your uses, and having the tablet propped up beside the netbook for quick pdf references or web searches will be amazing. IMO.

-->iDv.

ah, thankyou!
i should've been more clear i suppose, that i do have a netbook already, a windows 7 one thats like 3 years old, which i only use for essays and typing, which is the main reason why i want some form of apple software, as i feel the editing for photographs and the like is better -- hence the want of an ipad or macair; its not replacing traditional computers, its a second device for what i already use..

 

[iDvisic]

I REALLY dont mean to be rude, but this is a no brainer IMO. Irrespective of the tasks you plan to use it for, an iPad is not a replacement for a laptop. Get a refurb air. Save some money and MAYBE get an iPad down the road. The iPad might seem cool now, but you'll quickly start noticing some major missing functions like lack of a file system, lack of power, inability to create content etc etc.

This is such a misleading statement--and a really tired argument. People use the iPad for content creation every day. Is it ideal for all kinds of content creation? Of course not. No tool is perfect for every job. Last year during NaNoWriMo I knew many people who wrote their entire novels on iPad+external keyboard (and even sometimes w/out the keyboard, to add quick things on the go). 50,000 words of prose hammered out in a month seems like content creation to me.

And one of the things they loved about the experience? The lack of true multitasking. When they wrote, they wrote. End of story. Pun intended.

Many of the people who claim you can't create content on an iPad just haven't explored all the available apps, so they don't know that exactly what they want to do is possible. Others are wanting a specific type of content creation that just isn't particularly feasible on tablet computers in general.

Just because you can't create content on an iPad doesn't mean others don't. They do. Some even prefer it.

So, can we please retire this dated discussion?

-->iDv.

 

[wntrdove]

You've said you're an art student? And most of your work is practical? Meaning you're taking a lot of studio courses or in design classes that are taking place in a computer lab anyway?

As a former design student who was in this sort of situation myself I would've killed for an iPad while I was in school. On top of the normal selection of books (this was pre-computer) I regularly had to drag around a full box of art supplies and an 18x24 portfolio. Or a fully loaded camera bag. And since I was commuting from home (which is what it sounded like you are doing) I had to carry all of it around with me the majority of the time. It amounted to a lot of awkward weight and I'm actually envious as nowadays I would have just had an iPad loaded up with my textbooks. Would have made lugging around the more awkward stuff a breeze.

 

[glittersparkles]

You've said you're an art student? And most of your work is practical? Meaning you're taking a lot of studio courses or in design classes that are taking place in a computer lab anyway?

As a former design student who was in this sort of situation myself I would've killed for an iPad while I was in school. On top of the normal selection of books (this was pre-computer) I regularly had to drag around a full box of art supplies and an 18x24 portfolio. Or a fully loaded camera bag. And since I was commuting from home (which is what it sounded like you are doing) I had to carry all of it around with me the majority of the time. It amounted to a lot of awkward weight and I'm actually envious as nowadays I would have just had an iPad loaded up with my textbooks. Would have made lugging around the more awkward stuff a breeze.

yes, thats currently what i'm doing - commuting with a portfolio and DSLR, books, sketchbooks, etc, which is why i do also want something light, and something that i can use to design and edit on whilst i'm working, rather than having to wait to get home to do that kind of thing.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Macbook Air. That was easy too answer. I would in addition never go for the more expensive iPads as they are to close to the 11" MBA.

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hmm. i'm now fairly torn, as i already have a laptop i do essays on and as my course is mostly practical i'm not sure whether or not to get a new laptop in a year or so, as my current one is fine, and i do usually use the iMac..

as an art student, which do you think would work better, as it would mostly be used for emails, research and photo editing?

Well well. If you already have a laptop why do you want to add another one? I thought you have nothing so far. This changes everything quite a bit.

Which laptop you have ?