Ditching iPad for Macbook Air

[blairharrington]

Has anybody ditched their tablet for a small and portable laptop instead?

I used to love my first-gen iPad Mini, and it still does some things fine, like native AirPlay to my Apple TV and reading books and magazines. But it's pretty terrible at this point at just browsing in a single tab.

I could just wait for the inevitable iPad Mini 4 coming this fall but I'm electing instead to get an 11" MBA. While heavier of course than my iPad Mini it is still very light in it's own right and the OS is just more enjoyable than iOS on a tablet IMO.

 

[slackerinabox]

Very different usage for me, so I don't think they're comparable at all. If you're looking for something to couch surf and play apps get an iPad (you'll miss the iOs game market), if you want an everyday productivity tool get an MBA.

 

[Eug]

Use both.

I have an iPad Air 2. Waiting to buy a second or third gen 12" MacBook to replace my 2009 13" MacBook Pro which is too heavy.

 

[mmntech]

You could always buy a Surface Pro 3 and get the best of both worlds. The 128GB model is $100 more than the 11'' Air but has a higher res screen and a faster CPU. For $1300, you get 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage.

 

[Artdeco]

I was really hoping for an 11" MBA with retina, would have replaced iPads with it.

 

[CZroe]

I was really hoping for an 11" MBA with retina, would have replaced iPads with it.

There's always the new 2015 MacBook non-Air.

 

[mmntech]

There's always the new 2015 MacBook non-Air.

Yeah, I'd stay the heck away from that thing. My beef with it is not so much the single USB port but the fact that its performance and battery life are lackluster compared to other Mac models. Especially when you take it's relatively high price point into account.

I'd pick up the 13'' Air instead upgraded to 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Same price as the vanilla MacBook but a much better computer overall. I don't consider the 1440x900 display to be that much of a deal breaker.

That's assuming the OP has $1299 to spend. If you decide to go with the 11'' Air, I'd probably still splurge on the 8GB RAM upgrade. Either that or opt for the 256GB SSD. Preferably both.

Another option is the MacBook Pro, if Retina is a deal breaker. Again I'd splurge on the 256GB model, though $1499 is a lot of money.

Use both.

I have an iPad Air 2. Waiting to buy a second or third gen 12" MacBook to replace my 2009 13" MacBook Pro which is too heavy.

He already owns an iPhone 6+ so I can see why the Mini would feel a bit superfluous.

 

[Artdeco]

There's always the new 2015 MacBook non-Air.

Between the cpu/graphics and the price, I'll wait. It does meet the size I want though. Maybe the 2nd gen.

 

[v-600]

I did replace a nexus with a surface. I find it replaces my rMBP most of the time too.

 

[poofyhairguy]

There's always the new 2015 MacBook non-Air.

What's the point of that? It is an iPad-level CPU trying to drive a normal OS. Might as well get a mobile device with an OS designed for a weak CPU.

It is the first true post-Jobs product. I still can't believe its price tag or battery life.

 

[CZroe]

What's the point of that? It is an iPad-level CPU trying to drive a normal OS. Might as well get a mobile device with an OS designed for a weak CPU.

It is the first true post-Jobs product. I still can't believe its price tag or battery life.

In case you missed it, he's specifically looking for a laptop that subs for his tablet.

 

[poofyhairguy]

In case you missed it, he's specifically looking for a laptop that subs for his tablet.

And there are real laptops with real laptop CPUs that do the job much better. If the new Macbook makes the cut so does an iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard case. Hell both need an adaptor to get to a normal USB port, its a mobile device.

The Macbook Airs are such better devices for being real computers its not even funny. Hopefully the new Macbook is a crazy flop iPhone 5C-style and Ives's baby gets thrown away. Then we get a real retina Air.

 

[Artdeco]

What's the point of that? It is an iPad-level CPU trying to drive a normal OS. Might as well get a mobile device with an OS designed for a weak CPU.

It is the first true post-Jobs product. I still can't believe its price tag or battery life.

I want a bit more cpu/graphics oomph, the single USB c port really doesn't bother me, price is a bit rich for my blood. Would be nice if they'd included LTE though.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I want a bit more cpu/graphics oomph

Everyone does for that kind of money. Better battery life too. But Ive was too concerned with how it looked. Like its a purse or something.

People hate on the watch, but the new Macbook is the first post-Jobs product, aka he never would have signed off on it. And anyone who calls themselves a nerd should be ashamed to buy it and reward such a setback for vanity.

In the words of the Comic Book Guy:

Worst Macbook Ever

 

[Artdeco]

Everyone does for that kind of money. Better battery life too. But Ive was too concerned with how it looked. Like its a purse or something.

People hate on the watch, but the new Macbook is the first post-Jobs product, aka he never would have signed off on it. And anyone who calls themselves a nerd should be ashamed to buy it and reward such a setback for vanity.

In the words of the Comic Book Guy:

Worst Macbook Ever

The first gen MBA was worse IMHO, this MB is fine, just not what I want.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The first gen MBA was worse IMHO,

How so? The first MBA revolutionized the laptop form factor (creating a new product category) and spearheaded SSDs on consumer machines. It was a great product in retrospect. Your are lapping up the modern Apple apologist logic to excuse the new device because of the first Air. They also thought people would buy the 5C.

The new one does nothing revolutionary outside of the USB port. It is a vanity device with little practical benefit beyond the old Macbook Airs. Retina is hardly revolutionary, and pairing a crappy SoC with that screen is downright iPad 3-esc.

The answer for what you seek is either an old Air or something that runs Windows OP.

 

[mmntech]

People hate on the watch, but the new Macbook is the first post-Jobs product, aka he never would have signed off on it. And anyone who calls themselves a nerd should be ashamed to buy it and reward such a setback for vanity.

It's a product that's 20% slower than the Air but costs 20% more.

Comparing it to the first gen Air is a cop-out argument as well. It was the company's first ever attempt to produce a thin-and-light full function laptop. After 7 years, you'd think they'd have learned. Why would you buy it when you can get something that's better and cheaper from the same company?

 

[HeXen]

Both have their place. I use a MBP 15" for everyday tasks. I only use tablet for reading digital magazines usually. Then I have a 7" gaming tablet for playing old NES games.

 

[McWatt]

If this is a replacement for an iPad, I think that whether or not you realize it now, you're going to miss the touch interface. I recommend sticking with a tablet of some sort or using a light laptop with a multitouch display. Even ignoring the touch requirement, Apple has no hardware on par with the new XPS 13, the one with the ridiculously small bezel and great battery life - maybe you can Hackintosh that.

Otherwise, a Surface 3 might be a good choice, pro or non-pro, if you can give up battery life compared to the iPad for tasks like movie watching.

 

[Eug]

It's a product that's 20% slower than the Air but costs 20% more.

Comparing it to the first gen Air is a cop-out argument as well. It was the company's first ever attempt to produce a thin-and-light full function laptop. After 7 years, you'd think they'd have learned. Why would you buy it when you can get something that's better and cheaper from the same company?

I don't like the Air at all. The resolutions on both Airs are not very ergonomic, and I hate the lousy viewing angles of the 11.6". The quality of the screen of the 13" is in the same ballpark of my 2009 MBP, which is to say it is OK but not great by 2015 standards. In contrast just about everyone says the 12" MacBook's screen is excellent.

When the original Air came out, I loved the form factor, but disliked the slow CPU and hated the slow hard drive. And I really hated the screen ergonomics - a huge disappointment and a deal killer for me. I said they should release a 12" MacBook but with "proper" screen ergonomics, meaning a better quality screen with a more appropriate pixel density.

Then, with the release of the Retina MBP, I said they should release my mythical 12" MacBook with a Retina screen, again with an appropriate pixel density.

Well, in 2015 they have done just that. The 12" MB has an excellent Retina screen, with a pixel density of 226 ppi, which happens to be the same as the 13" Retina MBP, or 4X the density of the 13" non-Retina MBP. It doesn't have the oddball (for OS X) pixel densities of the Airs, which are 135 and 128 ppi.

However, being a first generation product, it has a couple of downsides, the first of which is the slow CPU, and the second of which is the single USB C port. That's why I will wait until version 2 or 3. The CPU/GPU will undoubtedly improve, and who knows, maybe they'll add a second USB port as well.

 

[jpeyton]

The Macbook Air design is dated, it uses a low resolution TN screen with huge silver bezels...not really something I'd drop $900+ on right now.

The new Macbook 12 is a step in the right design direction, has a great screen, but they compromised a little too much on battery life and ports to make it very useful. It offers 33%+ less light workload battery life than the Air 13.

 

[HeXen]

I think the splurge to get the 15" pro is far worth it and will provide a much happier longterm experience if this is going to be something you'll use daily. I wouldn't bother with anything less after owning one. Hurts the wallet like it hurts getting a tooth fixed but you're happy when it's done. At the very least, get something with 15 inch display and SSD along with a good wifi chip.

 

[yh125d]

I had thought about upgrading from my ipad 3 to an air 2, but decided to wait to see the yoga 3. It was a little disappointing, and I had already begun to use the ipad less, so I stopped using the ipad and my little 13" acer laptop and bought a top spec i7/8gb/256ssd yoga 2 for like $1000. I think I made the right decision all told

 

[boomhower]

Nope. Different uses. I love my iPad for messing on the couch while watching TV, plus the games are a big deal with me. My MBP is for more serious stuff.

 

[blairharrington]

Today I bought a new 11" MBA 2014 base model for $700 before tax. Selling my iPad Mini now.

I don't need anything more powerful than that. The screen is fine. I had a MBA some years back.

I'm not against owning an iPad again someday, but I'd like to see how a MBA fares me on the road versus the iPad. The 6 Plus is enough around the house. Sometimes I like to catch up on websites at the end of a busy day and I'll just do so in bed on my MBA instead of an iPad.