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All iPads MBA owners, do you still need to have an iPad?
- Thread starter Mavericks
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This is total nonsense. If you say you can't use an iPad for general work (even if you have Good Reader installed lolol) you have no idea how to use an iPad. Seriously.
I sell consulting and travel all over the country. My trips are 1-4 days normally. My work entails emails, contracts, proposals, Web meetings, presentations and spreadsheets. Most of which I do in my office before traveling. Yet if I need to do some editing of documents, show a presentation or sales material or even iterate on contracts with change tracking on, I can do all of that with my ipad while my 11 inch air is sitting at home for my daughter to minecraft on.
I use a lot of different apps and while sometimes it is a little more difficult to do, I have almost never wished for my laptop while traveling for over a year. The reduction to one small device to take along is totally worth it. And frequently I would prefer an iPad anyway.
- Dropbox - all documents available all the time. My work file directory is all in Dropbox
- Evernote for all of my meeting and daily notes - free and syncs to all platforms
- Pages, Keynote and numbers - office document editing and compatibility works fine 9 out of 10 times for me.
- LogMeIn - to reach my office iMac when I need to. Not very often but then I can do anything I could with the laptop.
- Go To Meeting - participate and host web meetings
- DocuSign Ink for signatures
- PDFReader
- JotNotPro for scanning and saving to Dropbox or Evernote.
I have a Logitech Ultrathin keyboard and use it for long periods of typing but I had no problem typing his message out on my iPad 3 without a physical keyboard.
The MacBook Air is a great laptop but I am so over laptops, fat software clients, updates, and machines that open up and force you to use a pointer and touch pad. I find the direct contact with the interface of an iPad far superior.
Still I use a 27 inch iMac in the office for screen real estate. But on the road I prefer my iPad and I see A LOT of other people doing the same thing. Maybe half in most if the meetings I attend?
Sorry if I sounded a little snarky early on in this post but I find people who laugh at using an iPad for work to be a bit irritating. Certainly some have legitimate work requirements that make the iPad impossible. But most do not. They are stuck in the fat computing model of 2002 just they found a thin new girl friend in the MBA and have postponed the modernization of their work methods a little longer.
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Count me in the opposite camp
I may be in a position to answer this since I use both devices for work:
I've used my 64gb LTE iPad 3 with logitech ultrathin keyboard since these products have appeared. I use it to carry a few online manuals with me, docket appointments, make notes, and mostly to take electronic files consisting of scanned documents with me on location. Also have an iPhone 5.
Picked up an 11" Haswell MBA as an impulse buy on CL. And I have to confess, I'm picking it up more and more and using the iPad less and less:
Haswell has negated the battery consideration in considering between the two. In fact, the MBA may have the upper hand, at least compared to my iP3. The Air also seems to charge much more quickly as well.
Negligible difference in size and weight between the two. Slight advantage to the Air, since a shell seems to provide adequate protection with less bulk that the iPad/BT KB combo. I also have to be more careful with the iPad as configured, since the Logitech's magnets don't hold it very securely together. The Air is comparatively rock solid. The logitech keyboard is not bad, but not quite as good as the Air's. I've dropped an iPad once due to slight carelessness, but I really can't see that happening with the Air.
The Air wins hands down for speed, no contest. Just simple tasks such as pulling up a scanned document or just getting on the internet to do research is so much quicker on the Air. It seems that half the time I can get a simple task completed on the Air in the same time the iPad just logs onto wifi.
The LTE iPad does have an advantage with connectivity. The out of office locations I primarily go to 7/8 of the time either provide or are within range of wifi. The eighth time is when I really need the Pad.
Likewise the iPad also has a better screen. While smaller than the Air, it is good enough and has retina along with a tablet form function. I couldn't see myself reading anything terribly long on the Air. The Air's trackpad has enough functionality that I don't miss hand gestures on the iPad. (Though I occasionally catch myself trying to do them on the Air's screen.) I also don't have to clean fingerprints and smudges off the air's screen after two or three uses while it's almost mandatory on the tablet.
Possibly the biggest benefit of the iPad is the overwhelming number of iOS apps compared to MacOS. Personally, this is hypothetical to me since it is negated by adequate MacOS equivalent apps and the ability to use the remaining must have iOS apps on my iPhone.
Again, I'm pulling the Air out of the briefcase on a regular basis while the iPad combo usually remains inside. I'm contemplating either making the iPad a dedicated e-reader for manuals or primarily leaving it at the office and taking it only when I need to hand an electronic document to another person for detailed inspection due to the tablet form function.
Adding to the complexity is the 2013 Nexus 7 which despite its small size has a good enough screen and innards to store and store all my manuals for easy retrieval while taking up a negligible amount of space within my briefcase. And it's relatively inexpensive price doesn't make using it for a super ereader an issue; scanned, searchable PDF's require more screen and horsepower than most standard ereaders provide.
I realize these are highly subjective considerations, and very definitely first world problems. But depending on your uses and preferences, I think a very good case can be made for using the Air rather than the iPad for doing off site work.
I may be in a position to answer this since I use both devices for work:
I've used my 64gb LTE iPad 3 with logitech ultrathin keyboard since these products have appeared. I use it to carry a few online manuals with me, docket appointments, make notes, and mostly to take electronic files consisting of scanned documents with me on location. Also have an iPhone 5.
Picked up an 11" Haswell MBA as an impulse buy on CL. And I have to confess, I'm picking it up more and more and using the iPad less and less:
Haswell has negated the battery consideration in considering between the two. In fact, the MBA may have the upper hand, at least compared to my iP3. The Air also seems to charge much more quickly as well.
Negligible difference in size and weight between the two. Slight advantage to the Air, since a shell seems to provide adequate protection with less bulk that the iPad/BT KB combo. I also have to be more careful with the iPad as configured, since the Logitech's magnets don't hold it very securely together. The Air is comparatively rock solid. The logitech keyboard is not bad, but not quite as good as the Air's. I've dropped an iPad once due to slight carelessness, but I really can't see that happening with the Air.
The Air wins hands down for speed, no contest. Just simple tasks such as pulling up a scanned document or just getting on the internet to do research is so much quicker on the Air. It seems that half the time I can get a simple task completed on the Air in the same time the iPad just logs onto wifi.
The LTE iPad does have an advantage with connectivity. The out of office locations I primarily go to 7/8 of the time either provide or are within range of wifi. The eighth time is when I really need the Pad.
Likewise the iPad also has a better screen. While smaller than the Air, it is good enough and has retina along with a tablet form function. I couldn't see myself reading anything terribly long on the Air. The Air's trackpad has enough functionality that I don't miss hand gestures on the iPad. (Though I occasionally catch myself trying to do them on the Air's screen.) I also don't have to clean fingerprints and smudges off the air's screen after two or three uses while it's almost mandatory on the tablet.
Possibly the biggest benefit of the iPad is the overwhelming number of iOS apps compared to MacOS. Personally, this is hypothetical to me since it is negated by adequate MacOS equivalent apps and the ability to use the remaining must have iOS apps on my iPhone.
Again, I'm pulling the Air out of the briefcase on a regular basis while the iPad combo usually remains inside. I'm contemplating either making the iPad a dedicated e-reader for manuals or primarily leaving it at the office and taking it only when I need to hand an electronic document to another person for detailed inspection due to the tablet form function.
Adding to the complexity is the 2013 Nexus 7 which despite its small size has a good enough screen and innards to store and store all my manuals for easy retrieval while taking up a negligible amount of space within my briefcase. And it's relatively inexpensive price doesn't make using it for a super ereader an issue; scanned, searchable PDF's require more screen and horsepower than most standard ereaders provide.
I realize these are highly subjective considerations, and very definitely first world problems. But depending on your uses and preferences, I think a very good case can be made for using the Air rather than the iPad for doing off site work.
Yes, I need a MBA mainly for school work and coding.
Use my iPad 1 for ebooks, PDF, YouTube, news, and sometimes games.
Use my iPad 1 for ebooks, PDF, YouTube, news, and sometimes games.
I purchased a 11" MBA this year, precisely because the iPad didn't cut it for me.
I do a lot of forum typing/reading, and the iPad simply is too cumbersome to type on, and hold in bed/on the couch, etc...
An MBA + iPhone is the best combo IMO. I also have an iMac that hosts all my music and serves as more of a workhorse for anything more intensive. Although, knowing what I know now, all I really need is a MBA and iPhone. Money wasted on an iMac, and iPad...not to mention my GF's MBP that also sits around mostly unused.
With that said, my parents pretty much exclusively use iPads now. My Mum got an iPad 2 around the same time I did, and she uses it for hours and hours each day, she has no need of a computer anymore. My step dad got an iPad Mini this year and it's very much the same scenario - used for hours each day.
It all comes down to what you use it for - there is no right or wrong setup.
I do a lot of forum typing/reading, and the iPad simply is too cumbersome to type on, and hold in bed/on the couch, etc...
An MBA + iPhone is the best combo IMO. I also have an iMac that hosts all my music and serves as more of a workhorse for anything more intensive. Although, knowing what I know now, all I really need is a MBA and iPhone. Money wasted on an iMac, and iPad...not to mention my GF's MBP that also sits around mostly unused.
With that said, my parents pretty much exclusively use iPads now. My Mum got an iPad 2 around the same time I did, and she uses it for hours and hours each day, she has no need of a computer anymore. My step dad got an iPad Mini this year and it's very much the same scenario - used for hours each day.
It all comes down to what you use it for - there is no right or wrong setup.
Internaut
macrumors 65816
My MBA is upstairs, in the drawer under the bed. My iPad is here with me, right now. It's very early Saturday. The mortal remains of the wine are in front of me. Should I go upstairs and get the MBA to reply to thish Fred?
I really don't see the need for an iPad at all if you have an Air. Especially an 11", but 13" as well.
I've had 1 3rd gen and 1 4th gen. I couldn't replace my laptop with it, and it overlapped far too much when I had it side by side with one.
The only thing the iPad does better than a laptop is render websites. Looks amazing. But that is ruined as of late because of the awful ads I've seen lately on iOS friendly sites.
With a very capable gaming PC, Macbook Air, and iPhone 5, there really is no need at all for an iPad... I also do have an old kindle for reading. All these things do what the iPad does but better.
I've had 1 3rd gen and 1 4th gen. I couldn't replace my laptop with it, and it overlapped far too much when I had it side by side with one.
The only thing the iPad does better than a laptop is render websites. Looks amazing. But that is ruined as of late because of the awful ads I've seen lately on iOS friendly sites.
With a very capable gaming PC, Macbook Air, and iPhone 5, there really is no need at all for an iPad... I also do have an old kindle for reading. All these things do what the iPad does but better.
My MBA is completely essential, it's a great product.
My iPad 4 & iPad mini are just for variety, reading, news, videos. Useful and fun but certainly not a must have. I only bought them because I could easily afford them. Even so I feel they're quite overpriced. That's my take on it.
My iPad 4 & iPad mini are just for variety, reading, news, videos. Useful and fun but certainly not a must have. I only bought them because I could easily afford them. Even so I feel they're quite overpriced. That's my take on it.
I have the 13 inch MBA and an iPad 4.
I use the iPad almost exclusively, while my wife prefers the MBA.
I still need the MBA for its USB slot. Printing, syncing my golf gps gadget. Also the memory card slot has been usefull.
Plus the obvious need for a proper keyboard if you do a lot of typing.
I use the iPad almost exclusively, while my wife prefers the MBA.
I still need the MBA for its USB slot. Printing, syncing my golf gps gadget. Also the memory card slot has been usefull.
Plus the obvious need for a proper keyboard if you do a lot of typing.
Ever since I got my 13 inch MacBook Air last December, I admit that my iPad 2 use has decreased substantially (1 or 2 nights a month). However, its because of the size and weight of the iPad 2.
I do see myself using an iPad Mini as well as my current MacBook Air. For me, the 13 inch MacBook Air and iPad Mini is the perfect combination.
Will probably get the iPad Mini 2 if it has retina display.
I do see myself using an iPad Mini as well as my current MacBook Air. For me, the 13 inch MacBook Air and iPad Mini is the perfect combination.
Will probably get the iPad Mini 2 if it has retina display.
I got both. Probably the second most deadly combination only behind rMBP+iPad.
Just don't get the mini.
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Depends on your needs. Ever know what's it like to print out 1000+ pages for one class? Me neither. And plus it's in color, I can find pages quickly, and it's not bulky at all. Saves tons of ink as well.
I can study directly on my iPad and research on my MBA simultaneously.
Ever since I got the iPad, I've been asking myself if I still need the MBA. Unfortunately, the answer is still yes, but the iPad is my most often used device, and both my iMac and my MBA have seen considerably less use.
On the other hand, nobody ever "needs" an iPad. It's just much more convenient than a conventional computer for certain functions, like reading, light email and editing while on the go, iMessage/FaceTime, etc.
On the other hand, nobody ever "needs" an iPad. It's just much more convenient than a conventional computer for certain functions, like reading, light email and editing while on the go, iMessage/FaceTime, etc.
iPad is good for work as well. All you need is a portable keyboard. Macbook Air is cool but it is not much for gaming or entertainment. Apps are less on iOS than mac OS. iPad is more portable than an Air. I rarely use my Macbook Pro. I don't do heavy photo editing or do engineering CAD work. I don't even do heavy writing or anything like that. iPad can do everything I need to do and want to do.
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Unless, iPad is the only computing device you own. I do my bills, watch tv shows, movies, games, emails, imessage, facebooking, etc. I cannot think of anything that I need from my macbook pro. My mac has been collecting dusts. I do use my Macbook to watch cbs shows using Chrome browser. I don't really need my macbook at all. I do need my iPad to do my billings online. I use my ioS devices everyday.
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Unless, iPad is the only computing device you own. I do my bills, watch tv shows, movies, games, emails, imessage, facebooking, etc. I cannot think of anything that I need from my macbook pro. My mac has been collecting dusts. I do use my Macbook to watch cbs shows using Chrome browser. I don't really need my macbook at all. I do need my iPad to do my billings online. I use my ioS devices everyday.
It boils down to what you will use them for. If your answer is "I don't know" then think carefully about getting any one of them. I had my macbook air and iphone for quite a while and it was a great combo, but I travel a lot for work and found that I could do with an entertainment device bigger than my iphone while sitting on a plane for hours at a time. So I got an iPad mini and it's perfect for my situation. Still love my MBA for watching movies off a USB drive, photo editing and just having a keyboard sometimes.
My 2 cents
Alex
My 2 cents
Alex
Yes. You still need an iPad if you have MacBook Air especially for consumer content that's much easier to use on iPad than the Air.
I have 2013 MBA and iPad 3 and 4. I prefer the iPad for hbo go, watch espn, NFL Sunday ticket etc reading magazines like sports illustrated. It's so much easier and less cumbersome than booting up the MBA.
Honestly I have different uses for all my computer stuff. My late 2012 iMac 27 inch is my primary computer I do most of my real work on.
My MacBook Air I use it for travel. I am in hotel for 5-6 months out of the year.
iPad is my entertainment consumer device 90% of the time
I have 2013 MBA and iPad 3 and 4. I prefer the iPad for hbo go, watch espn, NFL Sunday ticket etc reading magazines like sports illustrated. It's so much easier and less cumbersome than booting up the MBA.
Honestly I have different uses for all my computer stuff. My late 2012 iMac 27 inch is my primary computer I do most of my real work on.
My MacBook Air I use it for travel. I am in hotel for 5-6 months out of the year.
iPad is my entertainment consumer device 90% of the time
not an MBA but MBP and yet i do have an ipad mini. my daughter has MBP also and she has an Ipad 3. she said it's handy when going to her class instead of lugging her MBP. to me my mini is my go to device. it's so handy and can do almost all the tasks i normally do on my MBP.
I have a 13" MBA and a Nexus 7. Having both is definitely beneficial to someone that reads a lot and has to research at the same time. I read on the tablet and do research on the Air. If I could only pick 1 it would be the air hands down but having both is definitely useful sometimes.