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esskay

macrumors 6502
Jan 3, 2008
308
7
Depending on your needs that might be decent, but multitasking, cutting and pasting, web browsing, etc. are all a lot better on a real PC. iOS isn't really up to dealing with a website like this decently-I'm sure some do, but it's extremely crippled by comparison to OS X or Windows.

I agree, I never go anywhere without my MBP but was responding to the OP's original criteria and list of pros and cons.

I really prefer using the ipad when lounging around though... Like right now. :)
 

robertpetry

macrumors 6502
Feb 12, 2009
478
135
St Augustine, FL
iPad by a mile. MBA is great if you need laptop functionality but you can do 90% anyway. Plus you already have one so no reason to have two.

On a plane, around the house or hotel, and just out and about, the iPad is much better IMHO. Much more portable than even an 11 inch air. And touch makes for a much better interface for me.
 

Wolfpup

macrumors 68030
Sep 7, 2006
2,927
105
iPad by a mile. MBA is great if you need laptop functionality but you can do 90% anyway. Plus you already have one so no reason to have two.

On a plane, around the house or hotel, and just out and about, the iPad is much better IMHO. Much more portable than even an 11 inch air. And touch makes for a much better interface for me.

Depends entirely on what you're doing with it. Reading books, laying down in bed, that's awesome Writing, even responding on forums, a Mac destroys it.
 

robertpetry

macrumors 6502
Feb 12, 2009
478
135
St Augustine, FL
I totally disagree. I reply to forums and do light email all the time on the iPad while my MBA sits nearby. I know a lot of people who do the same. iPad is just more comfortable unless you are sitting at a table.
 

raggdoll

macrumors regular
Mar 21, 2012
110
1
Toronto GTA
LTE iPad. Why on earth would you want to schlep two laptops with you? Bleh. One is bad enough. When possible I travel with just my iPad. iPad is great for travel.

But I'd wait for #5 or Mini w/ Retina.

MBA is pretty light, for the increased usage abilities to do all things osx, I'd get it and schlep it along with you :)
 

Wolfpup

macrumors 68030
Sep 7, 2006
2,927
105
I totally disagree. I reply to forums and do light email all the time on the iPad while my MBA sits nearby. I know a lot of people who do the same. iPad is just more comfortable unless you are sitting at a table.

Light email's okay, and SUUUUUPER light forum usage, but yuck...I gave up trying to use iOS for that yeeeeeears ago. Editing text, entering text. having multiple tabs open etc. is all harder or impossible on iOS.

I mean if you HAVE to, but tasks that take seconds on OS X or Windows can take 20 minutes on iOS.
 

robertpetry

macrumors 6502
Feb 12, 2009
478
135
St Augustine, FL
Light email's okay, and SUUUUUPER light forum usage, but yuck...I gave up trying to use iOS for that yeeeeeears ago. Editing text, entering text. having multiple tabs open etc. is all harder or impossible on iOS.

I mean if you HAVE to, but tasks that take seconds on OS X or Windows can take 20 minutes on iOS.

To each his own. I have never found that to be the case. Instant on, use of tap talk, much more portable. The iPad is a much better solution if you already have a laptop (and for many that don't) as a second machine. I can follow and post on forums much easier and more quickly with my ipad. Just as I am doing right now.
 

Amplelink

macrumors 6502a
Oct 8, 2012
934
392
Light email's okay, and SUUUUUPER light forum usage, but yuck...I gave up trying to use iOS for that yeeeeeears ago. Editing text, entering text. having multiple tabs open etc. is all harder or impossible on iOS.

I mean if you HAVE to, but tasks that take seconds on OS X or Windows can take 20 minutes on iOS.

That's my main beef with tablets. There are certain things that are just infinitely easier on a laptop. Editing documents is one. Working with multiple tabs in a browser is another. For light computer usage, the iPad shines. But anything more than that requires a full blown computer. We might be in the so-called post-PC era, but I'm not ready to go all-iOS yet.
 

esskay

macrumors 6502
Jan 3, 2008
308
7
Back in the day, I used to travel with two laptops... Work plus personal. Was a pain but had to separate the two. IIRC it was the smallest HP at the time and a Dell X1...at least they were ultraportables.

And I walked to the office, uphill both ways. Lol
 

Commy1

macrumors 6502a
Feb 25, 2013
728
73
iPad for certain. If you're going portable then go all the way, not to mention the iPad is a lot cheaper.
 

mellofello

macrumors 65816
Feb 1, 2011
1,257
556
I travel for work often. I too have a 300 pound tough book that I have to lug with me. Our company has very strict policies about what types of activities are permissible on their computers. If you download non accepted programs on our network it will get you reprimanded, or worse.

When I'm on the road and not on the LAN, then I'm sure it is harder to track my activities, but to be safe I always carry a personal device. I own both the 13 MBA, and also run a mini. If I had to choose it would definitely be the air.

Stuck in a hotel room for days at a time, the air just provides much more opportunities for entertainment. I have 256 gb of storage that I can fill up with movies, and music. Also having flash, and utorrent provide me with infinite sources of content that are inaccessible from a iPad. Plus uhmmm you are stuck in a room with no wife so porn is much better on a laptop.

Plus using windows makes my skin crawl so the majority of work is actually done on the air. I have to write long reports, and respond to a million emails. Having the perfectly spaced keyboard, and great trackpad is a godsend.

If you bring your MBA along I'm sure you will find the company laptop collecting dust.

When I travel for pleasure I bring the mini. It served me well on a recent trip to Europe. I fly carry on only when going for personal trips so having a minimalist computer is great.

I am on the lookout for a good deal on a used 11 inch MBA for future trips, but even the 13 is all but unnoticed in my bag.
 

Whoakapi

Cancelled
May 26, 2010
382
215
Easy question. You can't take the MBA with you on the loo. At least not without practice.
 

esskay

macrumors 6502
Jan 3, 2008
308
7
Easy question. You can't take the MBA with you on the loo. At least not without practice.

LOL

You just need a stand for it! Your wife's little stainless steel lidded trash can will probably do the trick. ;)

Nexio+Pedal+Bin.jpg
 

srsub3

macrumors 6502
Mar 10, 2013
418
275
NYC
mmm nice question. Now with the new lineup of air is even harder to choose. I'd say that the new 11 air has everything you need and it is better than iPad cause there you can manage your own files... on the other part it doesn't have 3/4G capabilities..... to me however actually is a better choice.... putting attachment on mail in iOS sometimes is problematic.....
 
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