iPad My #1 reason the iPad is greater than MacBook Air

[Night Spring]

Prior to going on a trip, in order to put movies on the iPad I have to run movies through Handbrake, then sync to iTunes, then sync my iPad to iTunes. And then I'm limited to the iPad's fixed storage space.

You don't necessarily have to convert video files before putting them on iPad. Just get one of the many media player apps that play multiple file formats.

As for storage space, consider using a wifi hard drive. And I'm sure once SSD prices come down enough, we'll get wifi SSD drives.

 

[shawalla]

You don't necessarily have to convert video files before putting them on iPad. Just get one of the many media player apps that play multiple file formats.

As for storage space, consider using a wifi hard drive. And I'm sure once SSD prices come down enough, we'll get wifi SSD drives.

I might give a third party player a try. So how do you get the video files onto the iPad?

As for a wifi drive, they're pretty expensive and add additional bulk and hassle that I'm not sure I want to put up with. I guess I'm lucky in that I can simply use my MacBook Air or my Note 2 as an easier alternative. But it is in comparison with those devices that the iPad's lack of easy file transferring is so jarring.

Anyway, I'll have a look around for some other video players to see if that removes that particular pain point.

 

[Night Spring]

I might give a third party player a try. So how do you get the video files onto the iPad?

USB transfer through iTunes, or WiFi transfer (each app will show you how to do it). If the file is small enough, you can also upload it to Dropbox or other similar online storage service, and use "Open In..." to transfer to the video app. I forget what the file size limit was for this.

 

[whit2891]

What?

So I guess you would rather carry a separate keyboard with you while you're on the go? Worst argument ever.

 

[Night Spring]

So I guess you would rather carry a separate keyboard with you while you're on the go? Worst argument ever.

If you are referring to the OP, I guess what they are saying is that the convenience of having LTE trumps the inconvenience of having a separate keyboard. Plus, there are any number of keyboard covers and keyboards with built-in stands that lets you prop up the iPad like a notebook screen.

 

[DisplacedMic]

I hear complaints about how the price of the 128gb iPad 4 with LTE's price is enough to push someone to the MacBook Air. That's fine for some people, but the one feature that the iPad has that the MacBook doesn't have is LTE. And considering you can remote into a Mac Mini and get full functionality from anywhere, I don't really see the advantage of the Air, except for the keyboard. And that advantage goes away quickly with any number of bluetooth keyboards. I guess until the Air adds built in LTE, in my mind anyways, the iPad wins.

do you not consider having a "real" OS to be an advantage?

Nothing against the iPad - but it's not a real computer. Sure it can be (and is) a very useful tool for millions of people but it's a totally different device from a fully functioning computer like the Macbook Air.

Yes, if all you need is browsing, email, youtube etc the the iPad is perfect. But what if you need to do any number of tasks that the iPad simply can't do?

Just look at the geekbench scores - the first generation MBA has a higher score than the newest and best iPad. Now obviously i am not suggesting you run out and by a 1st gen air, but i think this illustrates the point I am trying to make nicely.

Saying the iPad is better than the Air makes as much sense as saying my screwdriver is better than my hammer. Guess what, you can hammer a nail into a board with the butt of your screwdriver if you need to...

 

[yinz]

I think it's safe to say that these two products aren't really all that comparable. The products satisfy different needs and requirements and depending on this will determine which is best for you. For example, if someone who has a lot of meat on their body, protein is not necessarily the most important thing, so beef isn't that important to consume in high concentrations. On the other hand, if someone who is a skinny to the bones need to build some tissue, then eating more steak will help that person.

TLDR; "iPad VS MacBook Air" discussion is moot as both are not comparable products.

 

[petvas]

I think it's safe to say that these two products aren't really all that comparable. The products satisfy different needs and requirements and depending on this will determine which is best for you. For example, if someone who has a lot of meat on their body, protein is not necessarily the most important thing, so beef isn't that important to consume in high concentrations. On the other hand, if someone who is a skinny to the bones need to build some tissue, then eating more steak will help that person.

TLDR; "iPad VS MacBook Air" discussion is moot as both are not comparable products.

I think they are comparable because of overlapping functionality. Having said that, it should be clear to everybody that the Air is a computer with a desktop OS, while the iPad is a computer with a tablet OS, that is optimized for specific usage patterns. The greatest advantage of an iPad is its mobility, the instant on experience, and the direct way of interaction via touchscreen. Its advantages are also its weaknesses! It is a great device, but not for everybody.

 

[saintforlife]

I hear complaints about how the price of the 128gb iPad 4 with LTE's price is enough to push someone to the MacBook Air. That's fine for some people, but the one feature that the iPad has that the MacBook doesn't have is LTE. And considering you can remote into a Mac Mini and get full functionality from anywhere, I don't really see the advantage of the Air, except for the keyboard. And that advantage goes away quickly with any number of bluetooth keyboards. I guess until the Air adds built in LTE, in my mind anyways, the iPad wins.

I have a USB dongle that let's me connect my MacBook Air to internet anywhere. My Air can run Windows, MS Office, Matlab natively and a host of other apps that aren't available on the iPad. The Air is a productivity and content creation device. The iPad is primarily a content consumption device. And no, typing emails on your bluetooth keyboard don't fall under the 'content creation' category.

Talk to me when your iPad can do all that.

 

[petvas]

I have a USB dongle that let's me connect my MacBook Air to internet anywhere. My Air can run Windows, MS Office, Matlab natively and a host of other apps that aren't available on the iPad. The Air is a productivity and content creation device. The iPad is primarily a content consumption device. And no, typing emails on your bluetooth keyboard don't fall under the 'content creation' category.

Talk to me when your iPad can do all that.

I think you are judging the iPad too hard. Nobody said that the iPad should replace the functionality of a computer. It has some unique features that make it so special and successful. It is easy to use, direct, fast, can do many basic things really well (but not great) and is a great gadget to own. For me it's not what I need, but I understand people fully who love it.

 

[Mainsail]

Recently, I watched the orginal iPad keynote from January 2010. In his presentation, Steve said that for a device to exist between a smartphone and laptop, it would need to do some things better than a smartphone or laptop...otherwise, it has no reason to exist. He identified the following:

Web browsing
Email
Photos
Video
Music
Games
Ereading or books

For many folks, the above list represents over 80% of their personal computing needs. For now, let's forget about work computers, which most folks dont get to pick anyway. That's done by their IT Department.

I think we can all agree that the iPad has been very successful. It completely eliminated netbooks, which Steve pointed out didn't do anything particularly well....just cheap laptops. So, I think Apple nailed it. The iPad is generally better than laptops for many of the common use activities. If folks need to do some heavy lifting with a computer, they can use a cheap desktop. So....for many people, the iPad has replaced the laptop as their portable computing solution. Some people keep a laptop around for occasional use, but they are replacing them with much less frequency now that they have a viable alternative.

 

[petvas]

Recently, I watched the orginal iPad keynote from January 2010. In his presentation, Steve said that for a device to exist between a smartphone and laptop, it would need to do some things better than a smartphone or laptop...otherwise, it has no reason to exist. He identified the following:

Web browsing
Email
Photos
Video
Music
Games
Ereading or books

For many folks, the above list represents over 80% of their personal computing needs. For now, let's forget about work computers, which most folks dont get to pick anyway. That's done by their IT Department.

I think we can all agree that the iPad has been very successful. It completely eliminated netbooks, which Steve pointed out didn't do anything particularly well....just cheap laptops. So, I think Apple nailed it. The iPad is generally better than laptops for many of the common use activities. If folks need to do some heavy lifting with a computer, they can use a cheap desktop. So....for many people, the iPad has replaced the laptop as their portable computing solution. Some people keep a laptop around for occasional use, but they are replacing them with much less frequency now that they have a viable alternative.

I agree, but the iPad doesn't do these things better. Actually we have to define what "better" means. The iPad offers a better user experience because of its interface and speed. "Better" means something different to a power user.
Let's consider Email for example: I can't even add attachments to a mail if I wanted to. Do normal consumers care? No, they don't! They just want email functionality and that is where the iPad thrives. It offers a "better" basic functionality, that yes, covers the needs of most people.
Maybe it's me with my computing background (I work as an IT Consultant)...I used to love my iPad, but as time went by, I realized I don't really need it. What I always wanted was a very small laptop that offers a great battery life and good performance. That is exactly what the Macbook Air really is. Back in 2011 we couldn't really say that about any ultra notebook..

 

[Mainsail]

I agree with you. The iPad is great for the common tasks that most users perform. It really isn't surprising that a tablet would leave an IT Consultant wanting. I think the Macbook Air is also a wonderful machine, and I just bought one for my daughter for college. Most students really do need a more powerful portable solution than an iPad because they create a lot of content while away from their home/dorm. So, the iPad doesn't necessarily work for everyone.

BTW - you can use the iPad to mail an attachment, but you need to send it from the app where the attachment is stored. Also, there are third party apps (e.g. Group Email) that allow you to send multiple attachments in one email.

 

[petvas]

I agree with you. The iPad is great for the common tasks that most users perform. It really isn't surprising that a tablet would leave an IT Consultant wanting. I think the Macbook Air is also a wonderful machine, and I just bought one for my daughter for college. Most students really do need a more powerful portable solution than an iPad because they create a lot of content while away from their home/dorm. So, the iPad doesn't necessarily work for everyone.

BTW - you can use the iPad to mail an attachment, but you need to send it from the app where the attachment is stored. Also, there are third party apps (e.g. Group Email) that allow you to send multiple attachments in one email.

Yes, there are apps to do that, but there is a scenario that wouldn't work with iOS: You want to reply to a mail and attach anything but a picture or video. How would you do that? It's unfortunately not possible.
I am also using smart mailboxes a lot on my Mac. The lack of them in iOS is frustrating...

 

[Mainsail]

You are right. You can not attach a document when replying to an email, so you would need to start a new message. I guess this may or may not be a big problem for someone depending on how often it comes up and how inconvenient it seems to just send a new message.

I have owned an iPad since the first launch, and it just isn't a problem for me. I use my iPad for work and personal, and send tons of email every day. This doesn't mean that it wouldn't be a problem for someone else...just hasn't been for me.

 

[Deliro]

Ah resurrected threads.

The only tablet OS I would even consider using if I was going full laptop replacement would be android. For the following

- Ability to use USB devices such as a mouse, flash drives/external HDs, etc
- Apps that allow me full file system access.
- Storing and working with any file type

Im sure i could think of other reasons but those jump out. Even then a tablet is better only for light content consumption. And yes I said light, meaning if I were doing research on the web that had me switching tabs and copying/pasting a lot I'd still rather pick up my MBA over any tablet. My time is valuable to me and being efficient to allow me to do more is the option I'll always take. Mobility is also not going to away me as the 11 inch MBA is nearly as portable as an iPad.

 

[Mainsail]

Yes, but what if you kept your portable computing simple and only handled the heavy lifting back at a comfy desktop workstation with a warm cup of joe. Would you still need a laptop?

You could still use the iPad to respond to email, browse the web, calendaring, reminders, review PDFs, organize and share photos/documents, get directions, outline new documents and draft memos. When I am mobile, I like to keep it simple.

For years, I used laptops to create and edit large spreadsheets and presentations....and I hated it! Just not enough screen real estate for me. And the trackpad was too cramped. Of course, I simply do not attempt such things with a tablet. I am happy to review and annotate PDFs on my iPad, but for the deep dive, I just wait until I am back at the office to use my full sized desktop workstation.

However, I am getting older and grumpier and less tolerant of discomfort and inconvenience. So, this might not work for everyone.

 

[petvas]

Yes, but what if you kept your portable computing simple and only handled the heavy lifting back at a comfy desktop workstation with a warm cup of joe. Would you still need a laptop?

You could still use the iPad to respond to email, browse the web, calendaring, reminders, review PDFs, organize and share photos/documents, get directions, outline new documents and draft memos. When I am mobile, I like to keep it simple.

For years, I used laptops to create and edit large spreadsheets and presentations....and I hated it! Just not enough screen real estate for me. And the trackpad was too cramped. Of course, I simply do not attempt such things with a tablet. I am happy to review and annotate PDFs on my iPad, but for the deep dive, I just wait until I am back at the office to use my full sized desktop workstation.

However, I am getting older and grumpier and less tolerant of discomfort and inconvenience. So, this might not work for everyone.

You see, everybody is different. I had desktop computers since I can remember. This year I decided to go completely mobile. Yes, the screen estate is an issue, but I am happy with my rMBP 15". If I need more, then I will get a Cinema Display. Generally when I work on my computer I prefer doing that on the couch, or even on my bed. I hate going to my desk to sit in front of a computer. I prefer being mobile, even inside my own house. I think that a Retina Macbook Pro is the greatest computer Apple has ever created and for me, 15" is too big to have when on the road, but perfect for using it at home.
When on the road, I prefer to have a smaller device that has a great battery life. The 11" Macbook Air is ideal for that. You said that the iPad can do all this stuff. Yes, it can, but it doesn't really do a great job with that. How do you organize your photos on your iPad? Use iPhoto or Aperture on OS X and the difference is like night and day..Using Maps is better suited on the iPhone for me.
Internet surfing is ok on the iPad but much better with a browser that has no compatibility issues, like any browser on OS X. How do you even organize documents on an iPad? It has no user exposed file system...
You see, the iPad is a great device, but iOS is too limiting for me, especially on a tablet. I prefer OS X everywhere..

 

[Mainsail]

I use Flickrstackr to organize my photos in the cloud and share with relatives. 1 Terabyte free. I used it daily during our recent trip to Europe, so we could share with the grandparents back home.

I use Goodreader to organize and annotate documents. Very popular app and works great.

Nevertheless, there are compromises when using an iPad. Some folks are not willing or able to make them. I purchased my daughter a MacBook Air for college, since I thought she would be doing a lot of content creation away from her dorm, and an iPad would not be sufficient.....so, I agree. The iPad is not for everyone.

 

[Deliro]

I could saw a 2x4 with a serrated knife... But I'd rather use a power saw.. It's about utilizing the best tool for the job. The iPad is a fine for sitting on my my lazy boy while casually surfing the web or reading a book, but anything else I'd rather just grab my MBA and get it all done in fraction of time.

 

[Mainsail]

Yes yes. And since we are using analogies, I would rather cut my steak with a knife than use a power saw. I rarely cut 2x4s, but I need to cut meat every night at dinner.

The reason the iPad has been so successful is it is very good at doing the most common everyday computing activities.

 

[leftywamumonkey]

Verizon unlimited plan. As far as I know, no tethering

The carriers will get you, one way or another...

AT&T Unlimited Data, tethering would cost another $30... They sure do get you.

 

[Night Spring]

Yes yes. And since we are using analogies, I would rather cut my steak with a knife than use a power saw. I rarely cut 2x4s, but I need to cut meat every night at dinner.

The reason the iPad has been so successful is it is very good at doing the most common everyday computing activities.

Exactly. Not to deny that there are many users who need the powers of a full computer, but there are a lot more users who for years were basically buying power saws to cut a steak. And while I find that for certain tasks, I still turn to my iMac or MBA, it's a delight to be able to walk out of the house with an iPad in my hand and know that I'll be able to access the Internet and do simple tasks on the go. Or to be able to sit in front of my TV with just an iPad in my lap instead of having to deal with a keyboard, which even the smallest keyboard on the smallest netbook was an annoyance when all I wanted to do was surf the net or read an ebook.

So to go back to the analogy, even the people who need power saws appreciate having a steak knife when they are eating dinner. Combined with the people who don't need power saws to begin with, well, no wonder iPads are selling much better than traditional PCs.

 

[petvas]

Exactly. Not to deny that there are many users who need the powers of a full computer, but there are a lot more users who for years were basically buying power saws to cut a steak. And while I find that for certain tasks, I still turn to my iMac or MBA, it's a delight to be able to walk out of the house with an iPad in my hand and know that I'll be able to access the Internet and do simple tasks on the go. Or to be able to sit in front of my TV with just an iPad in my lap instead of having to deal with a keyboard, which even the smallest keyboard on the smallest netbook was an annoyance when all I wanted to do was surf the net or read an ebook.

So to go back to the analogy, even the people who need power saws appreciate having a steak knife when they are eating dinner. Combined with the people who don't need power saws to begin with, well, no wonder iPads are selling much better than traditional PCs.

I agree with you, despite the fact that I sold my iPad. At some point I will get an iPad Mini, just for all casual stuff, nothing more.

 

[MorphMan]

I'm sure this has been said before, maybe by Apple

If your primary use is to consume information (web, movies, ebooks) then a tablet is your thing.

If your primary use is to create information (document creation, photo editing, etc) then a Laptop(/Desktop) is what you need.

If you do both and can afford it, get both.