First, I know this general question has been asked and discussed many times before. I've already read through several helpful threads about it, but a few questions remain. 
Skip down to "Questions" below if you're in a hurry.
Our 4 year old original MacBook finally seems to have kicked the bucket this week. For the time being, my wife and I are sharing the Mac mini I'm using to type this, but that gets old pretty fast. Both with the lack of portability and with the one user at a time thing. So, what to do?
The conventional wisdom says to get a 13" MacBook Pro, which costs the same now as we originally paid for our white MacBook in 2006. The aluminum enclosure is a nice upgrade since I believe that flexing of the polycarbonate case was a major factor in our MacBook's eventual demise. But otherwise I'm extremely underwhelmed with what the current machine gives us, after 4 years of progress - especially the barely faster CPU.
So another (cheaper) possibility might be to get an iPad for portability around the house and on trips, sharing the Mac mini (or an upgraded desktop machine) for "real" computer work and syncing. I would say the iPad would work for 90% of what my wife does - web, email, etc - but that last 10% is problematic. She definitely needs Office, and iWork doesn't appear to cut it. Sharing the desktop machine for that might work. In general, it's doubtful that both of us would need the real computer at the same time; one could "work" while the other surfs/etc on the iPad.
Questions
We're probably still leaning towards a MBP, but the iPad is very compelling in terms of price, and the fact that it would do most of what we need out of a portable machine. And the money saved could go towards upgrading this old Mac mini, which I would like too. Just a real shame that there are a few potential deal breakers that needn't be there if the software were a bit better. Decisions, decisions...
Skip down to "Questions" below if you're in a hurry.Our 4 year old original MacBook finally seems to have kicked the bucket this week. For the time being, my wife and I are sharing the Mac mini I'm using to type this, but that gets old pretty fast. Both with the lack of portability and with the one user at a time thing. So, what to do?
The conventional wisdom says to get a 13" MacBook Pro, which costs the same now as we originally paid for our white MacBook in 2006. The aluminum enclosure is a nice upgrade since I believe that flexing of the polycarbonate case was a major factor in our MacBook's eventual demise. But otherwise I'm extremely underwhelmed with what the current machine gives us, after 4 years of progress - especially the barely faster CPU.
So another (cheaper) possibility might be to get an iPad for portability around the house and on trips, sharing the Mac mini (or an upgraded desktop machine) for "real" computer work and syncing. I would say the iPad would work for 90% of what my wife does - web, email, etc - but that last 10% is problematic. She definitely needs Office, and iWork doesn't appear to cut it. Sharing the desktop machine for that might work. In general, it's doubtful that both of us would need the real computer at the same time; one could "work" while the other surfs/etc on the iPad.
Questions
- One concern is ergonomics. The iPad seems to be pretty bad in this regard - kind of surprising coming from Apple (but then again, when's the last time they rigorously followed their own HIG for software? ). You either hold it constantly with one hand (or both) so that the screen is at a similar angle as a laptop screen would naturally be. Or you lay it flat in your lap while holding your neck at an unnatural angle, looking straight down. Either one seems like a recipe for carpal tunnel or other joint problems. Anyone care to comment on experience with this?
- Another concern is sharing. I find it astonishing that the iPad doesn't have user profiles with separate bookmarks and email - I guess Apple wants every household to purchase iPads for all individuals in the house. Email might not be an issue if we both just use webmail and remember to logout when done. I suppose we could also have top-level bookmark folders for each of us to separate those, too - mobile Safari has bookmark folders, right??
Does anyone have any thoughts and experiences on sharing an iPad among multiple users? What worked and what didn't? What about syncing? I presume it can't be synced with both accounts on the real computer, so you have to designate just one as the sync account.
- My primary concern on trips is being able to edit and upload photos to share with people back home. I know the iPad has that memory card reader accessory, but what about editing photos before uploading? I couldn't tell from Apple's pages whether it can do anything - from simple adjustments like cropping to stuff like color adjustment. Or are there 3rd party apps that can do this?
- My final concern is the virtual keyboard. I don't think I have a real question here, as I assume it would get easier with practice. But I must say, we spent some time at an Apple store a couple months ago, and I hated it. Definitely wouldn't use it for writing anything as long as this post. That could be a deal breaker right there.
We're probably still leaning towards a MBP, but the iPad is very compelling in terms of price, and the fact that it would do most of what we need out of a portable machine. And the money saved could go towards upgrading this old Mac mini, which I would like too.
Just a real shame that there are a few potential deal breakers that needn't be there if the software were a bit better. Decisions, decisions...
