Never owned a MacBook. Should I convert?

[iPad Bro]

Hello,

I have been a huge iPad fan for years now and I have a M1 12.9” iPad Pro currently, but I am seriously thinking about getting a M2 MacBook Air. Only thing stopping me is I’m so used to making art/graphics on my iPad Pro and would have to learn from scratch on the M2 MBA. Well, Affinity Photo is there, but the Apple Pencil is not.

What would you suggest I do? And what’s the best color option? I like Midnight, but I’ve heard it scratches easily, so maybe Space Gray is the one for me?

Thank you all for the help!

 

[laptech]

Hello,

I have been a huge iPad fan for years now and I have a M1 12.9” iPad Pro currently, but I am seriously thinking about getting a M2 MacBook Air. Only thing stopping me is I’m so used to making art/graphics on my iPad Pro and would have to learn from scratch on the M2 MBA. Well, Affinity Photo is there, but the Apple Pencil is not.

What would you suggest I do? And what’s the best color option? I like Midnight, but I’ve heard it scratches easily, so maybe Space Gray is the one for me?

Thank you all for the help!

I assume you use an Apple pencil with your ipad and if you do you will not like moving to an macbook air because when drawing, using a pencil becomes so intuitive and natural, the way you move your hand in brush like movements. You will not like moving to a mouse to do your drawing because you will come to do something that came natural to you using a pencil but will be combersome when using a mouse.

 

[Technerd108]

If you are interested in getting a Mac not to replace your iPad but in addition to it I think it is a great choice. For drawing I don't think the iPad can be replaced in all honesty.

As a laptop for everything else the M2 MacBook Air is a great choice. As for color options get what you like the best and don't worry about all the people saying things. If you have ever had any PC with an anodized finish the M2 air is the same thing.

I think the midnight is a great choice and I love the color matched keyboard. It doesn't get any more fingerprints than a similar color PC like the Samsung galaxybook 2 360 in the dark color is a worse fingerprint magnet.

As for configuration I would suggest the 8 core gpu, 16gb ram and 512gb ssd if you can afford it.

If you have to sell your iPad to get the MacBook and digital art is a big part of what you do then I would just keep your iPad. I just don't think you will be happy without the direct pencil to screen interaction and the M1 on the 12.9 is very fast for iPad OS.

 

[wilberforce]

To get similar functionality you would need to get something like a Wacom tablet, and the really good Wacom tablets cost more than the MacBook and iPad combined. Forget trying to hand draw with mouse/trackpad.
I could see a MacBook supplementing, not replacing, an iPad for hand drawing/illustration/art.
I use Apple Pencil on iPad (Fresco) then edit or composite in Photoshop on a Mac, but you could do similar on iPad too.

 

[1BadManVan]

Hello,

I have been a huge iPad fan for years now and I have a M1 12.9” iPad Pro currently, but I am seriously thinking about getting a M2 MacBook Air. Only thing stopping me is I’m so used to making art/graphics on my iPad Pro and would have to learn from scratch on the M2 MBA. Well, Affinity Photo is there, but the Apple Pencil is not.

What would you suggest I do? And what’s the best color option? I like Midnight, but I’ve heard it scratches easily, so maybe Space Gray is the one for me?

Thank you all for the help!

I guess it depends on if you’re getting rid of your iPad as well? If you’re using an Apple Pencil for your iPad for this graphic design, it’s definitely a learning curve.

I personally made the move to finally getting my first MacBook this summer and definitely happy I did. Just easier to multitask and be much more productive. But I don’t do any graphic or design work either. Though I know it’s definitely something people do on them

 

[TSE]

Do you like world class battery life?
Do you like your computer being incredibly fast in the real world, and not just benchmarks?
Do you love fantastic build quality and industrial design?
What about an operating system that doesn't slow down overtime?
Great keyboard? Screen? Touchpad?

If you answered yes to some or all of these, then definitely!

 

[CalMin]

As much as Apple tries to confuse us with the overlapping functionality, the fact is that an iPad complements a MacBook. They are two different devices and work brilliantly together. I have the Magic Keyboard for my iPad Pro, but iPadOS is quite limited in some ways vs. a MacBook. In other ways (e.g. pencil) it is light years ahead.

I use my iPad Pro as a digital notebook with notability and GoodNotes (yes both). I have zero artistic skills, so don't really use the creative stuff much. Ferrite is the best app in the world for my Podcast too and I do all that on my iPad.

It's great to be able to review a PDF or Word document on the iPad, or sign a document without printing which I do on my iPad all day long.

You might want to shop for a used M1 Air - they are pretty cheap these days and if you don't like it, you will certainly get your money back without difficulty. This will allow you to try MacOS with minimal investment. It's a different world to iPadOS and even Windows.

I think the period of adaption is real, although MacOS is ultimately so much more elegant than Windows. It's not something that I appreciated straight away but once I got it, I hated having to use Windows for work. It's even better with Apple silicon, because these Macs are just so effortlessly capable. They won't slow down no matter what you throw at them, and the overall stability is excellent as well as the battery life. And they run quiet, which I really appreciate. The 14" M1 Pro is the best computer I have ever purchased, and the M2 Air is similarly excellent.

 

[NastyMatt]

What has made you think about getting a MBA? i.e. what does it do that your IPP does not?

I have a M1 MBA and an IPP, I much prefer the IPP. It’s just more versatile and with extended screen support coming I don’t see any features the MBA has over the IPP (for me). I don’t even think the performance of the MBA is that amazing, some apps take an age to open - usually Microsoft Office apps!! (I have read having a screen plugged in can cause slow downs). If you only wanted a laptop then I would recommend a MBA in a heart beat.

But an IPP.. you can use it as a tablet, draw on it, watch films… use it both orientations.. drop it into a MK and you have a laptop… (by Xmas hopefully) plug in a screen and have a workstation.