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iPad iPad vs MacBook Neo

Does the MacBook Neo Make Deciding between an iPad and MacBook Harder for You?

  • Yes

    Votes: 35 28.7%

  • No

    Votes: 87 71.3%
  • Total voters
    122
K

KPOM

macrumors P6
Original poster
For those looking for something basic to check emails, browse the web, etc. does the introduction of the MacBook Neo make the choice between an iPad and a Mac more difficult for you? With the Apple Magic Keyboard, the base iPad has a virtually identical price as the base MacBook Neo.
iPad Advantages
Touch screen
Can be used without the keyboard
More portable

MacBook Neo Advantages
More storage
Larger screen
Easier to use on a lap or airplane tray table
More powerful OS
 
Isengardtom said:
Not for me as I love touch - I don’t have a keyboard with my iPad

But I do find this laptop an interesting device for students or people that like laptops and are on a budget

I’m more a Mac desktop + iPad guy
Click to expand...

Same. I'm more of a desktop + iPad person. I do have laptops but I don't use them unless I'm away from home or don't want to sit at my desk and WFH on the couch.

Plus, I'm more comfortable with Windows and it's easier to use Windows for gaming anyway.
 
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KPOM said:
For those looking for something basic to check emails, browse the web, etc. does the introduction of the MacBook Neo make the choice between an iPad and a Mac more difficult for you? With the Apple Magic Keyboard, the base iPad has a virtually identical price as the base MacBook Neo.
iPad Advantages
Touch screen
Can be used without the keyboard
More portable

MacBook Neo Advantages
More storage
Larger screen
Easier to use on a lap or airplane tray table
More powerful OS
Click to expand...
I've had laptops for 30+ years, also for personal use. My main computer has always been a desktop (currently M1Max Studio with ASD), about 1.5 yrs ago I traded my M1 MBA for a M2 iPad Air 13, wanted the screen size and it is much lighter. I use it as a couch computer, browsing news and stuff in the mornings. During the day I use my Studio.
For me this was the first iPad, it's a great consumption device but I hate typing on it, and spending $$$ for a keyboard, could have spend that money on a laptop.
The idea of the iPhone fold has me thinking to replace the iPad basically with the fold, but it's expensive and rumored to lack features that I want in an iPhone.
So now I am pondering to trade in my iPad for a base Neo (don't need 256 nor touchid as I have an AW for unlocking).
I probably will visit the Apple Store in a couple weeks and will being my iPad for side-to-side comparison of screen quality.
 
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It's a much easier decision now.

Before, if you had $500 to spend on a casual computing device, it was either:

A) Low-cost iPad with a ridiculously expensively Magic Keyboard Folio, or
B) Mac mini and monitor, which seemed overkill and bulky.

The problem with iPad was you couldn't do any real productivity because of iPadOS and display too small.

Now, you have three choices to pick from, depending on how much productivity vs. content consumption you want.
 
I went iPad Pro with keyboard and sold my Mac Bk Air back in 2015 and don't miss the MacBook. I currently have the original 11" Pro with Smart KYBD Folio and it still serves all my travel purposes, thanks to iCloud drive and my Mac Mini which does all the heavy lifting. My only issue with this older model is lack of memory 64Gb is not near enough. I also use a iPad mini 6 just for reading. To be honest I only use the old Pro when I travel or need to access files on iCloud while traveling hardly ever at home anymore due to the Mac Mini and iPad Mini.
 
I think the main reason why people try to use an iPad as a laptop is that it's a fun device to use (touch, pen etc), it's not the price. The Neo is just a cheap MacBook. It won't overlap with people wanting a single device because they enjoy the iPad.
Where it could overlap is for people wanting a secondary cheap device, to their main Macbook, PC or even iPad (for the iPad first people).
 
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I am conflated, I got my M4 iPad Pro 11”, pencil and Magic Keyboard, I use it all the time but I am sat here thinking what I use it for, web, email, You Tube etc. I try the odd bit of animation but it is a very odd bit I do. So I am thinking is it better to sell my iPad for a Neo? At the end of the day it is a secondary device for me, but its smaller size is more useful to lug around. And I have on the odd occasion used it as a tablet for games. I will check out a Neo after next week and have a think. I mean I also want an M5 Studio and thinking about the Studio XDR Display lol so could just worry about those, although I would try and sell my iPad setup for the cost of a Neo with Touch ID.

But advantage with Neo is Mac OS, and you can have multiple You Tube windows open for instance. Things like that which the apps limit you with.

EDIT: Although I probably won’t be doing this lol… but if I did not have an iPad Pro I would be tempted for sure.
 
Last edited:
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Currently have an iMac 27” & MacBook Pro……….. Cannot remember when I last turned either on. They just sit there if EVER I need MacOS.
Happy with my M4 iPad Pro 13” & iPad Mini 6.
 
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Ipad for content consumption, the neo for content creation. That is for real work and activities, the macbook, macos wins out every time. For just reading, playing mindless games and/or watching some videos the iPad can be a good alternative.

I think thanks to macos, you have more flexibility and options
 
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Pezimak said:
I am conflated, I got my M4 iPad Pro 11”, pencil and Magic Keyboard, I use it all the time but I am sat here thinking what I use it for, web, email, You Tube etc. I try the odd bit of animation but it is a very odd bit I do. So I am thinking is it better to sell my iPad for a Neo? At the end of the day it is a secondary device for me, but its smaller size is more useful to lug around. And I have on the odd occasion used it as a tablet for games. I will check out a Neo after next week and have a think. I mean I also want an M5 Studio and thinking about the Studio XDR Display lol so could just worry about those, although I would try and sell my iPad setup for the cost of a Neo with Touch ID.

But advantage with Neo is Mac OS, and you can have multiple You Tube windows open for instance. Things like that which the apps limit you with.

EDIT: Although I probably won’t be doing this lol… but if I did not have an iPad Pro I would be tempted for sure.
Click to expand...
Technically you can open up different YouTube windows using different browsers like say safari, brave etc but then you run into the sound problem which would freeze the other video playing.

Again the limitations of iPad os is so frustrating. If an iPhone chip and run Mac OSX why not let the iPad Pro do that, then you really do get the best of both worlds and the superior experience. Those who need more processing get a MacBook Pro, for everyone else the iPad Pro becomes the defacto machine to get because of its versatility and duality.
 
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Student of Life said:
Technically you can open up different YouTube windows using different browsers like say safari, brave etc but then you run into the sound problem which would freeze the other video playing.

Again the limitations of iPad os is so frustrating. If an iPhone chip and run Mac OSX why not let the iPad Pro do that, then you really do get the best of both worlds and the superior experience. Those who need more processing get a MacBook Pro, for everyone else the iPad Pro becomes the defacto machine to get because of its versatility and duality.
Click to expand...
The new Beam browser for iPad lets you have PiP which makes that kind of task simple.
 
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I think its great that there's an even more affordable portable MacBook option now, but I think the better buy is a certified refurbished M4 MacBook Air for another $150 (ignoring any potential discounts on the Neo of course). For that extra $150 one gets a lot; double the RAM, thunderbolt 4 on both ports, backlit keyboard, better trackpad, center stage camera, magsafe etc. For those who need an even cheaper machine though the Neo is a great choice.
 
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“More powerful OS” is not an advantage for the MacBook (or the other way around). iPadOS is the best OS for tablets, and macOS the best OS for laptops. The real difference is the kind of tasks/target user, and whether they’re better served with a tablet or a laptop.
 
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I switched from using a macbook to an iPad Pro back in 2018 and I haven’t looked back. I have fully adapted to an iPad iOS only workflow. Being an artist made that transition easier because with the Apple pencil, the iPad is the best digital sketchbook ever created. However, I also enjoy doing everything else on an iPad more than a laptop. To me writing, editing photos & videos, surfing the web & consuming media are all infinitely more enjoyable & productive on an iPad than a laptop. I will never go back. When i try to use my friends laptop now i laugh. It’s ridiculous. I hate MacOS now. 😆 It’s clunky & annoying. I feel the exact opposite as those still used to laptops feel about iPads. To me it’s all what you’re used to.
 
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