iPad vs. MacBook air

[Ex Microsoft]

Can the iPad be a contender for the MacBook air?

 

[iPadCharlie]

No, not really. The MacBook Air is a full-fledged computer whereas the iPad is primarily a "consumption device" made for consuming stuff (music, videos, books, etc.) from Apple. The iPad is very powerful and can do many of the things that a "real" computer can do so it all depends on what you needs are in a portable device that will determine how close it comes to meeting those needs.

 

[Gunny008]

It already is, CNET have said iPad running IOS 4.2 makes MacBook Air useless...

 

[Ex Microsoft]

I am new to the whole apple thing, this IOS 4.2 you said, is this software already installed onto the iPad?

 

[gentlefury]

Considering the under power of the air they are basically the same. The MBA runs core apps like a champ, but your not gonna be running anything that is extremely proc intensive. That being said they don't do much differently, and the iPad has better battery life and more apps (until the mac app store opens next month)

 

[Gunny008]

I am new to the whole apple thing, this IOS 4.2 you said, is this software already installed onto the iPad?

if you go to settings>general>about and look for version half way down it should say IOS 4.2.1. More info on IOS 4.2 can be found on the apple site.

If not. connect iPad to computer, let itunes load and check for update!

 

[RAC]

Can the iPad be a contender for the MacBook air?

The MacBook Air costs a lot more and I believe that the battery life is significantly less. It looks very nice though.

I wouldn't use the iPad for any purpose that requires extensive typing. You can buy a separate keyboard but that would mean two items to carry around, keep charged etc. Whether the MacBook Air keyboard is suitable for intensive typing is probably open to debate but it has to be better in this regard than the iPad.

As mentioned, the Air runs fully fledged computer applications, not just scaled up iPhone Apps. I do wonder whether it might be resource bound for some of them though.

 

[Superbike81]

The MacBook Air is just as good for typing as any other laptop.

They are completely different products though. There is no reason to even consider the two as competitors.

 

[4phun]

The iPad stands alone as the world's best tablet experience

Can the iPad be a contender for the MacBook air?

No

The Mac book Air is a fantastic Apple laptop with iPad like features.

The iPad is a whole new tablet class to itself. There is nothing exactly like it at present.

If some one says how about Android or Windows tablets, they are only fooling themselves and others who would listen to them.

The iPad stands alone as the world's best tablet experience this Christmas season.

You can take that to the bank!

 

[Superbike81]

The iPad is a limited-use tablet.

The MacBook Air is a very thin fully functional (minus optical drive) laptop.

 

[chowdown]

... they don't do much differently

MBA has two usb ports and is able to run Office. Massive difference, imo.

 

[gentlefury]

... they don't do much differently

MBA has two usb ports and is able to run Office. Massive difference, imo.

iPad has one usb port and runs iWork....whats the difference?

 

[chowdown]

iPad has one usb port

Say what?

 

[gentlefury]

iPad has one usb port

Say what?

Umm, what do you think that thing is that you plug into your computer. If you want a standard port use the camera kit...if you want to use hard drives (which kinda defeats the point of the device) you can jailbreak and use iFile.

 

[Superbike81]

With an adapter, you can turn the charging port into a USB port, but it still lacks 95% of the functionality that the MBA offers with it's USB ports. Even after being jailbroken, you need a separate app for everything little thing you want to do with that USB port.

Also comparing iWork to MS Office for Mac is ridiculous. The level of productivity between the two is like comparing a Toyota Corolla to a Mercedes CLS. Sure, they both will do essentially the same thing (carry people, process text), but MS Office does everything so much better and more efficiently.

Let's research and type a 15-20 page paper and see who gets done first. You can only use the iPad, I'll use a MacBook Air. Go!

Not even a contest between the two. The iPad is not a portable productivity machine when compared to a fully functioning notebook.