Apple Tablet: iPad or MacBook Air, Apple Tablet or Apple Notebook?
![Apple Tablet: iPad or MacBook Air, Apple Tablet or Apple Notebook? [Or Why Buy an iPad Rather Than a MacBook Air]](http://nexus404.com/Blog/thumbnailimages/alt/iPad-front-and-backTFTSThumb220153.jpg)
The Apple Tablet is probably the year’s most hyped device, but now, knowing almost everything about it, one good question comes to mind, why would anyone buy the iPad and not go for a MacBook or maybe the thin MacBook Air?
First thing that comes to mind is pricing. Yes, the “magical and revolutionary” device sells for $499, $599 and $699 on the Wi-Fi model that has 16, 32 and 64GB of flash storage, while the Wi-Fi + 3G model (by now you probably already know that 3G is optional and it costs more) should be sold at $629, $729 and $829, respectively.
But look, that 64GB model which boasts 3G connectivity is not far from the starting price of a MacBook laptop with a 15.4-inch display and more than decent specs. So why not buy a MacBook instead of the iPad? Could it be that the device appeals to you from an aesthetic point of view, as we have to agree, it looks pretty stylish. Of course it does, but so does the MacBook Air, except for the fact that the thin and light notebook starts selling at some $1,499.
So does that mean the iPad is a good buy? We don’t know. That’s why we’re asking you. Is it?
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The TFTS Team
I’m not really into this tipe of device! the way I see it
wether you carry with you an iphone( cuz it does pretty much anything and you’ll always have it on your pocket!) if instead you want a pro use macbook is better! it has all the usb(in wich you can connect a 3g pen like I do) you have way more complete apps and not just simple apps that just save the day!
I think that between carrying an ipad or a mbook is pretty much the same sooo… no ipad for me
Ok, its cool but… It is a big ipod touch, so it is fun for music, movies, digital reading, pictures, some simple games, but that is all. A netbook does more, and a laptop does way more. The iPad has iWork -great. How do you get that file on an off of it? Over the air at Starbucks? My netbook has USB ports, and I can take it to work and run a presentation off of it on a projector – can’t do that here. IPad is still a mobile OS – no flash, no multi tasking. This is one item that yes, it would be very cool to own and it would be fun to play with, but once I’m up from the couch I’m not walking around with this thing, and for any serious work I have a laptop. It will sell, but I expect v2.0 to be quickly released. For me personally, it doesn’t fit, but I do see the appeal.
It looks great. I am sure it’s fun to use BUT I just don’t need it! With my iMac I can do just everything I want to do. With my jailbroken iphone I have everything I need when out of the office. I can even connect the Apple BT-Keyboard to it (a great way to impress business partners who wonder where the notebook is). Air is perfect for meetings or when I am working in a Café or at a lake nearby (typing large texts on the iPad is no ergonomical fun). I guess the iPad is a good deal for people who need a stylish Netbook sort of thing, people who like to write Mails from time to time, surf a bit and read ebooks. The iPad might even be abused as a simple movie player for children in the car when traveling long distance. I would call all this niche-markets but is this the way to make big bucks or compete Netbooks?
In general, I am pretty disappointed that Apple does not invest more time and energy in software boosting. iTunes has become iMedia and “sync” but is still called “tunes” which is a superjoke, actually. iPhoto needs a major refurbishment (the damned modified-folder, bugs here and there). Windows 7 has been improved in such a way that Apple should take it as a good example of how to improve things the right way. Throwing one one gadget (toy) after another onto the market and worshipping “Apple” in pathetic ads does not impress me. My guess is that the iPad won’t have the same revolutionary success as the iPhone. In this context I remember my very first marketing lesson at university. “Never sit between two chairs.” The iPad does it. It sits right between the iPhone and the Macbook. Mr. Porter, the famous Marketing Guru, would say that this is not good at all. Let’s see…
I’m interested in this kind of device from Apple. I’ve currently got a Tablet PC from Toshiba and I like that I can use it for pretty much all my computing needs. Also has plenty of storage space. However, it isn’t a Mac.
I’d buy an iPad once it can get me more computing power. Until then I’ll stick with my MacMini for my video editing, my Tablet PC for business computing, and my Kindle for ebook reading.
I have NEVER coveted anything that says apple on it. Until today. This is a device that can easily be a household appliance rather than a computer.
Stick it in the kitchen for recipes.
Use for ebooks.
watch a movie in bed and fall asleep. u
se it for sales presentations (yes even in business)
My grandma could use it. (she can’t see an iphone too well).
I just hope it is very convenient to charge. Maybe a powermat will come up with something
As I type this post from my Google phone, i can really see the desire for the ipad. Typing will be far easier. Sure I have a macbook in the car right now but being at this coffee shop makes me not want to lug it out. I like this cushy chair and don’t want to move to a table. That, and I love ebooks. Ipad is better looking than kindle. Lastly, no more man-handling a full laptop to show others pix and videos.
There is a clear marketing benefit of the iPad: stay on top of the ‘touch’ technology, stay the ‘sexiest’, most innovative brand in the industry, make the iPad a collection item. Apple fans will buy it no matter what. The rest of the world may be seduced by the entry level price point. You may not need it yet it’ll look cool on your coffee table or car seat.
Right now I love my Macbook which does everything I need.The rest I do with my IPHONE. GRS
This is the best thing that has happen in man-kind so far.
My budget conscious and tech-illiterate friend needs a simple computer for what she does, which is almost nothing but web. For a moment, I thought the iPad was the perfect solution. Except, oops, no Flash! That rules out a huge chunk of the web. Oh, well. Maybe I’ll recommend a Mac mini….
I own both an iPad 3G and a MacBook Air. Let me tell you this, I am putting the iPad 3G on eBay as we speak. The MacBook Air is far superior. Just get an old Razr & bluetooth DUN it if you want to surf away from Wi-fi. The iPad is a beautiful device, don’t get me wrong, but the MBA is way better. Why doesn’t the iPad (or iPod Touch) come with an Airport Utility? Why can’t I stream my music over AirTunes? The notion that I have to dock my iPad (or iPod Touch) to get music on my stereo is ludicrous. I needed to tweak one line in a text file — yes, a .txt file– for crying out loud — with my iPad it was a nightmare — needed an app to get it off the webdav server and move it over to an ftp server. Then an app to edit it on the ftp server. Then back to the other app to move the file back, only to discover that the app will not overwrite files. So yes–a 3rd app to delete a file on the webdav. Then back to the app to move the file from ftp to webdav. This is crazy. Absolutely crazy. For cloud-based computing??? You have got to be kidding me, Steve!
Didn’t get it and thanking myself. I went to the Apple store, looked at that beautiful device… cruised the iWork apps (awful!) and turned around and bought the MacBook Air. Loving it… but wish it was a tablet-based device. Apple seriously missed the boat on this one and it is rocking my faith in their abilities to really do something well… was it really that hard to make a 4x iPod?