MBA with DesktopMac?

[existe]

Cross posted this in the MAC Studio forum.

Finally replaced my Windows 11 gaming box with Mac Studio, moved all my gaming to console. I use my MAC for Motion Graphics, digital paining, music and now for work getting into Infrastructure as Code with Python/Json/YAML/Jinja etc. so it is working out great but I want to get a companion device to the Studio and not sure if getting a MacBook Air versus an iPad Air is the better direction. I can code on the MacBook Air but like the pencil portion go the iPad for my art stuff.

Curious if others are using MBA with iMAC/Mini or Studio and finding it valuable and useful or redundant?

 

[adamlbiscuit]

If you're looking to do Digital Art I'd go for the iPad Air. Not only is it an amazing drawing device when paired with an Apple Pencil, but you can also use it as a complement to your Mac Studio.

The iPad & Mac support 'Sidecar' which means you can use your iPad Air as a second monitor for your Mac Studio and also use the Apple Pencil to turn it into a graphics tablet within your Mac apps.

If you want to code and don't think you'll ever want to do digital painting on the move, then the MacBook Air is worth considering though technically it won't be able to do anything that your Mac Studio can't - the main difference will be portability. The iPad + Apple Pencil however will give you a new experience entirely, as well as a different selection of apps to try out.

 

[jdb8167]

Cross posted this in the MAC Studio forum.

Finally replaced my Windows 11 gaming box with Mac Studio, moved all my gaming to console. I use my MAC for Motion Graphics, digital paining, music and now for work getting into Infrastructure as Code with Python/Json/YAML/Jinja etc. so it is working out great but I want to get a companion device to the Studio and not sure if getting a MacBook Air versus an iPad Air is the better direction. I can code on the MacBook Air but like the pencil portion go the iPad for my art stuff.

Curious if others are using MBA with iMAC/Mini or Studio and finding it valuable and useful or redundant?

Sounds to me that unless there is some specific specialized software for your IaC work, the iPad Air would give you both mobile access and with the Apple Pencil, a great digital art platform. I love the MacBook Air but your specific requirements seem to be leaning toward the iPad Air, Magic Keyboard, and Apple Pencil.

 

[Gewurtz66]

iPad and Apple Pencil is amazing for creating art. I love Procreate (yes that's what its' called), an award winning app from Australia that seems to be catching on big in the artist community for drawing with the pencil. Some amazing art work out there.

 

[MikeDr206]

I have a Mac Mini 2018 as my main machine, and a M1 MBA as my travel machine. Use Resilio Sync to keep them both synced.

The primary reason I have the Mini is so it’s connected 24/7 to serve as a Time Machine destination (external drives) to my wife’s MBP and my MBA, and to sync via Resilio with my employee’s MBP.

I’ve thought about replacing the MBA with a newer one and using that as my primary machine and making the Mac Mini more of a headless “server”. Or, replace the Mac Mini with an M1 Mini.

At the end of the day, I need a Mac that runs 24/7 for syncing purposes and Time Machine purposes.

The M1 MBA is for sure snappier than the 2018 Mac Mini, the 2018 is more than adequate.

 

[existe]

Ended up going with an iPad Air, Magic keyboard combination. Was able to load a few coding apps for when I need to do that and still get the ability to use pencil. So happy with the results. Appreciate the responses