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Thanks for posting this! I'm currently torn on an Air 2 or this new Macbook. I don't do any work on my personal computer as I have a dedicated work laptop so I'm leaning towards having an air as well.

I have owned an Air 2 but sold it thinking the 6+ would fit the bill but now I find myself wanting the bigger screen but kinda stuck between an MBA or another iPad.

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This is one of my biggest complaints as well. I keep Google Chrome on my iPhone to circumvent this but it would be nice if I could JUST use Safari.

If I was in your situation it would come down to how much I would miss having a keyboard/mouse and if you frequently use windows side by side
 
Sure you can, there are even code editors for it. That said, you'd want a BT keyboard for that and then it's not much different from a laptop. I think the screen estate is acceptable for coding purposes.

Honestly, if you really wanted to, you could run Android on the iPad.

So, yes you CAN get code editors on it but if you're in school as a CS major, you're not going to be using an iPad to code. If you're in a business, you're not using an iPad to code. Apple ain't using iPads to make their software products.

Screen estate might be ok at looking at code, but if you done coding and needed to split each workspace by half or even four, its just impossible. Might be cool for getting people intrested in coding in html, but java, css, and most other stuff, you're coding on a computer.

Maybe on iPad Pro though...that would be interestng.
 
This is one of my biggest complaints as well. I keep Google Chrome on my iPhone to circumvent this but it would be nice if I could JUST use Safari.

But I haven't found Google Chrome to fix the issue either. For example, try going to Apple's website. Even if you force desktop mode, still doesn't work.
 
I dissagree completely, myself and my collegues work soley in iPad Air 2 and we do allot of work on Numbers and Pages, the equivallent to Excel and Word, and we create and edit presentations on Keynote and we find them all outstanding!

You are much better men and women than I am, but you're also the first person I've seen post that they think that creating and editing sophisticated or even middle-of-the-road Word or Excel files is anywhere near as easy on a tablet as on even a small notebook. Personally, I don't think it's an either/or debate. Apple is going to be very disappointed by your post, since iPad sales are shrinking and notebook sales are doing very nicely. You're going to put them out of business. :eek: ;)
 
I am subscribing to this thread as I am waiting to build up credit at telmex so I can either get an ipad air 2 or macbook air. Originally I was going with the ia2, but looking at them a 128 gb ia2 it's really close in price to the bottom mba so the decision is hard. That's prices here in mexico where the ia2 is about 827.00 us and the mba is about 1000.us.
 
They are whispering..."both...both...both..." Or maybe it's "los dos...los dos...los dos..." that you're hearing? ;) It's been way too many years since I studied Spanish. :) Or you could wait for the rumored iPad Pro and have a BIGGER screen than the rMB! :eek:
 
They are whispering..."both...both...both..." Or maybe it's "los dos...los dos...los dos..." that you're hearing? ;) It's been way too many years since I studied Spanish. :) Or you could wait for the rumored iPad Pro and have a BIGGER screen than the rMB! :eek:
Lol, I wish I could but it's far too much money. I would have to wait another year to build up enough credit for "los dos".

The rumored ipad pro would be a good idea, depending on the price. I know nobody else that owns apple products, apple has priced most of us mexican's out of the equation.
 
Honestly, if you really wanted to, you could run Android on the iPad.

So, yes you CAN get code editors on it but if you're in school as a CS major, you're not going to be using an iPad to code. If you're in a business, you're not using an iPad to code. Apple ain't using iPads to make their software products.

Screen estate might be ok at looking at code, but if you done coding and needed to split each workspace by half or even four, its just impossible. Might be cool for getting people intrested in coding in html, but java, css, and most other stuff, you're coding on a computer.

Maybe on iPad Pro though...that would be interestng.

Still, I prefer Coding on my Macbook rather than my iPad. If I have to carry around a BT Keyboard around its pretty much the same thing as carrying my mac. But I like it for casual use, like reading or internet browsing etc.
 
You are much better men and women than I am, but you're also the first person I've seen post that they think that creating and editing sophisticated or even middle-of-the-road Word or Excel files is anywhere near as easy on a tablet as on even a small notebook. Personally, I don't think it's an either/or debate. Apple is going to be very disappointed by your post, since iPad sales are shrinking and notebook sales are doing very nicely. You're going to put them out of business. :eek: ;)


Hahaha, good, clean debating, Macrumors needs more people like you on this forum.
 
Hahaha, good, clean debating, Macrumors needs more people like you on this forum.

Et tu. ;)

I've actually been thinking about why I feel that a small notebook works better for me than an iPad.

The mouse is the biggest thing.

Not being able to put two documents side by side is something I often have to do that I can't do with iOS.

The software interface contributes, Word and Excel still work better for me on a computer (OS X or Win) than a tablet.

I'd say that display size contributes but I can be much more productive on an 11" (well, 11.6") MBA than my 9.7" iPad Air, which isn't a huge difference.

Notice that I didn't say that OS X works better than iOS, because having access to the file structure is nice but in general doesn't really affect my ability to open, edit, save and send/share a document or spreadsheet.

It's sort of an interesting question (to me) because the differences in my real world experiences (Sandy was a real trial) are greater than I would expect.

And just so you know, I am absolutely certain that if you took all of my digital tools and told me I could only have ONE, I'd ditch the desktops, notebooks, phones, etc. and the sole survivor would be my iPad Air. YMMV, most people would probably keep either the phone or the notebook.
 
Been forced due to the 2gb ram to retire my MBA 2010 as my work computer. Now toting my MBPR daily between work and home. The main reason is limitations of iOS on the iPad.

I would love to use the iPad for transporting between work and home if it had user account ts like my other Mac notebooks for starters. We use iMessage at work instead of email for issues that need immediate action. And the Mac notebooks are great for that, as well as th iPad.

I would live the iPad Pro to be OSX based. The rMB is close, but need the iPad feeling here with my customers.
 
Hey guys,

I thought I would share my thoughts on the whole notebook vs tablet debate.

Apple has released the new Macbook Air 12", it is increadibly light and beautiful. Here is my argument though. There are lots and lots of businesses whose personal have replaced their notebooks with tablets. Many people don't understand that allot of the business work (if not all in some peoples cases) can actually be done on a tablet, and can even be a better option when portability is an important factor.

A lot of people argue that many companies programs couldn't run on a tablet, one of the main reasons for this is because the IT infrastructure and programs the company uses arn't built to support tablets. The problem (but not unsolvable problem) is that many companies IT infrastructure and programs are well established and would require a lot of work and money to be able to be optimized for tablets, BUT, the bottom line is, if that company wanted to redesign thier infrastucture and programs to be compatable with tablets...they could!
Sure there are always going to be examples that one could argue where it wouldn't make sense or be feasable and thats fine, i am not trying to create the impression that tablets could be everyones main computer. So, comparing a notebook to a tablet isn't all that far out. Especially if your work tasks could be run on a tablet and if your company has build its systems and software to run on tablets or could if it wanted to, then it doesn't matter what you use.

So if this is the case for you, then my comparrason below would make sence. (The comparrason below assumes you type using the on screen keybord)

New Macbook Air Features vs iPad Air 2

Now got a retina display - Air 2 already has it
Now thinner than ever before (13.1mm) - Air 2 is 6.7mm
Now the lightest notebook on the market (2.1 Pounds) - Air 2 is 1 Pound
Now with 9 hour battery life - Air 2 10 hours
Now with 1.1/ 1.2 or special order 1.3 Ghz processor - Air 2 has a 1.5Ghz processor
New colours, Silver, Space grey or Gold - Air 2 the same
Now more portable than ever - Air 2 at least twice as portable

I am a less is more kind of guy and I think with the speed of the new Air 2 being equivalent to many entry level MacBook Airs and seeing how advanced the apps coming out of the App Store are becoming, the iPad Air 2 is a fantastic choice for users whose work flow can allow it. I mean going to work with just your iPad & iPhone, what a pleasure!

P.S i am already doing this and it is great!


I never heard of 12 inches MacBook Air!! But I have seen new 12 inches MacBook.
 
I would like to know how close the A9X processor will be to current Intel mobile processors that are in MB's now? Also, the iPad will need at some point will need a first party input device to make more professional work easier. This collaboration with IBM should help leverage more proprietary apps that business/industries can use to make programs more specific to what they need in the future. We are getting to that point to where tablets will overtake notebooks but don't think we are there yet.

I have really come around to the idea of the tablet though and think the iPad is the best piece of tech apple makes. I thought I would never say that I much rather have an iPad that an iPhone.
 
Everyone seems to think that the rMB is revolutionary in size and weight... but it is really only slightly smaller, thinner, and lighter than the MBA11.

rMB: 11.04" x 7.74" x 0.52" 2.03 lbs
MBA11:11.80" x 7.56" x0.68" 2.38 lbs

Correct. For many users, the MBA 11 is a perfect choice for portability and computing power. It would beat out any tablet in performance tests because it's still a laptop class processor and computer. Oddly, I don't think they sell that many of them compared to the 13" MBA and iPads. Interesting.
 
I'm also debating myself between a iPad Air 2 and a Macbook Air 11...

I've gonne back and forth with a decision, as most Apple users do, but after I decide on one I remember the cons of it and then go back to the other one and vice versa... Been doing this game for 2 weeks now...

The iPad/Macbook is not for me but for my fiancee, she is finishing her degree and will have to write her thesis for master (Pharmacy) this year so she basically needs something to write down stuff, not so much excel and things like that. Also for research etc...

I think an iPad is a solid choice if you have another computer in your household available, in my case she has my iMac if she needs to do something that she cannot do on the iPad.

Of course it also hurts the iPad chances vs Macbook's when all the bluetooth keyboards are crap except one that costs 180$ (I'm looking at you BrydgeAir Gold keyboard). On a side note anyone has it ?

If the Macbook Retina was 200€ (MacbookR costs in Europe 1499€ which is US $1650) less that would be my pick but I cannot justify buying another laptop with non-Retina resolutions... :(
 
I'm sure there are some people who find it suits their needs, but for productivity, I would stick with the good ol' Macbook Air.
 
If the Macbook Retina was 200€ (MacbookR costs in Europe 1499€ which is US $1650) less that would be my pick but I cannot justify buying another laptop with non-Retina resolutions... :(

I personally feel that people put too much stock into "retina", but it's personal and subjective. I can definitely tell a big difference on a retina Ipad from a non-retina.

But when I was shopping for a Macbook, I spent a lot of time looking at the Macbook Pro's with retina, I ended up on a 13" MBA, and I think the display looks great. I have no regrets.

I couldn't see myself using an 11" MBA. But if I had to choose between that or an Ipad, I'd probably go with the 11" MBA - but most of my time on the computer is work stuff. If it was just casual browsing I'd probably think twice.

I'm sure there are some people who find it suits their needs, but for productivity, I would stick with the good ol' Macbook Air.

Ditto .
 
Correct. For many users, the MBA 11 is a perfect choice for portability and computing power. It would beat out any tablet in performance tests because it's still a laptop class processor and computer. Oddly, I don't think they sell that many of them compared to the 13" MBA and iPads. Interesting.

I had MBA 11 and I found it frustrating to get any serious work done due to small screen and low resolution.
 
I had MBA 11 and I found it frustrating to get any serious work done due to small screen and low resolution.

Agree. If I were to get a laptop (God forbid) it would definitely be a small one. The only thing holding me back is the teeny screen, which is smaller than an iPad screen and the resolution of a slightly wider original iPad. Think about it! I would be interested in the nMB if it wasn't for the fact that it's a laptop and I prefer the touch interface, and the enormous price.
 
Of course it also hurts the iPad chances vs Macbook's when all the bluetooth keyboards are crap except one that costs 180$ (I'm looking at you BrydgeAir Gold keyboard).

What makes you say that? I find the Apple bluetooth keyboard to be great, and just like the keyboard on the MBA (if there are differences other than having slightly more tilt, my fingers aren't finding them).

When paired with an Origami keyboard case, the ipad basically functions like a small laptop (one that runs iOS, of course).
http://store.apple.com/us/product/H6353ZM/A/incase-origami-workstation
 
Try doing major work in Excel or Word on an iPad and get back to me on how well it worked and how long it took. I love my iPads - i have two of them myself. But iOS is simply not comparable to OS X for working on spreadsheets, word processing or presentation materials.

That also assumes that you've got an accessory keyboard for the iPad, which puts the size and weight issues on an equal footing at best. In reality, a lot of iPad keyboards have poor key size, stroke and layout.

During Sandy, I was unable to get to work and had no utilities for a week and my only way to stay connected and get my work done was on my iPad. There were lots of things I couldn't do and the things I could do took massively longer than they would have if I'd been able to connect with a laptop running OS X or Windows.

The iPad/rMB debate isn't either/or. They're complementary.

As a side note, it will be interesting to see how things sort out if Apple introduces the iPad Pro, which people currently expect to have a 12.9" display. That would create an extremely interesting product overlap, where the iPad has a bigger retina display than part of the Macbook lineup.


I have tried twice to reduce my briefcase's weight by going to iPad. But basic salesman tools don't work well enough. :(:(:(
 
...I find the Apple bluetooth keyboard to be great, and just like the keyboard on the MBA (if there are differences other than having slightly more tilt, my fingers aren't finding them)...
I also use the Apple Bluetooth Keyboard and find it moire than acceptable when I need to write long documents. I use a WingStand www.wingstand.com to connect the keyboard to the iPad and it works quite well.
 
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