WHich do you prefer more for daily commuting: MBP or Ipad2?

Maybe its just me but I actually think the ipad2 (or just ipad in general) is much more ideal and portable when im out commuting (to work, library, friends, sisters, cafe, whatever). After you spend some time with one, its really hard to go back to lugging a notebook around (even if its the 13" MBP). What I realized is, i only do work on my laptops (both are 13") when im at home and theyre hooked up to my 24" monitors (for the screen real estate and multi tasking). If im out, im just browsing the web, typing stuff up, email, basic non intensive stuff. So thats how i see an ipad is prefered by many now over a notebook.

I dont have an ipad (i borrowed my sisters for a week and loved it), i have been thinking about picking one up and using it as my primary device when commuting. Even at the libraries and wifi hotspots, i see more ipads and less and less notebooks each and every day.

 

I know it isn't an option but I think my 13" macbook pro paired with my iphone 4 is a perfect combo. I only bring my mac with me if i'm expecting to do intensive tasks. Otherwise my phone pretty much covers all my needs and I can just keep it in my pocket rather than carry around a case/backpack or something. The only reason I'm considering getting an ipad is as a textbook replacement (meaning uni textbooks) since I think it might work better than my kindle due to graphics and whatnot.

 

Another more noticeably absent choice is: None of the above.

I have both a MBP and a iPad, and neither makes a good substitute for the other.

A more valid comparison would tbe the product that most closely bridges the gap between a tablet and a notebook, that being a MBA.

I bought a MBA 11,and found it virtually eclipsed my usage of the ipad as a compact traveling companion. The ipad has been rather dormant since. And I only see a little more usability in the ipad 2, but not even close to the Air. My travel device budget will probably sit until the next Air revision.


Typing right now in a hotel on the road on my MBA 11, not missing my ipad at all.

 

I'd have to agree with SP Forsythe on this one; the MBA is a great substitute for a full spec laptop. I personally found no use of the iPad 1 or 2 mostly because of the lack of MS Office capability and that I found the typing aspects of it not to my liking. It's also just a giant iPod.

For traveling and coffee shop use I prefer a MBA to lugging around a 17" notebook. With this day and age of USB storage, cloud systems, and many places offering free WiFi (not to mention phone tethering) the MBA is my ideal product.

 

The iPad is most certainly not just a giant iPod. I am actually quite sick of people making that comment. That would essentially make every tablet out there just a giant version of some other portable device. The Xoom would be a large Droid X, the PlayBook would be a giant Storm, and HP's tablet would be a bigger version of the Pre 2. That simply isn't the case.

As for me, I have both a 13" MBP and a first generation iPad (I am not going to get the iPad 2). I take my iPad with me everywhere on a daily basis as it is the size of a standard notebook (of paper, not a computer) and it holds everything. I can open, edit, and save PowerPoint, Word, and Excel files right from the device and even give presentations from it. Everything fits in a small 10" netbook carrying case. I can throw my iPad in there, its AC adapter, my headphones, digital camera, Nintendo 3DS, its charger, my iPad's VGA and HDMI adapters, and my 4G iPod touch all in something that weighs just as much as my 13" MBP.

I couldn't imagine carrying around my MBP on a daily basis simply because I would need a larger case and my back is no longer used to carrying around large amounts of weight.

 

I was actually in an Apple store yesterday with my younger brother. He has a couple of Macs, but is far from being up on technology. He was looking at the iPad2's, and asked the Apple store employee if the iPads were "computers". To which the Apple store salesperson answered.... "No, Apple is very careful so as not to make the iPads replace a computer. They are essentially big ipad touch's that permit the use of software that is more usable on a larger screen."

Whilst the Apple Store employee might have technical flaws in his answer, the explanation is close enough to the mark so as to make sure potential purchasers are not oversold on its capability. I certainly prefer the answer to, "Sure it's a computer that will do everything a notebook would do, only with a touchscreen".

If I were stricken with only an iPad to use, I suppose I could get by with its' office and web browsing applications to accomplish tasks on the road. But as far as replacing my MBA for most things when I travel... not a chance.

 

Sorry you feel that way kornchild2002, but it's still a giant iPad. They transfered the same environment used on the iPod touch to a new product with a bigger screen and made a few specialized apps for it. I played with the iPad 1 & 2 and my frist impression was generally like so: "ok this seems cool...how do you get around this thing...the UI is just like the iPod touch, ok treat it like a iPod...typing is annoying...I don't like it...well I'll give it a chance...I hate it, what a waste of money" and I walked away.

In general I do not like tablets (for me anyway), so everything is just a bigger version of something else with the lack of any competent usability of a small notebook (for my uses) or the voice abilities of a cellular device for my activities.

 

to answer the tread title, "it depends on if you/I need to do serious work during that commute or not."

 

Running the same OS as smaller handheld devices does not mean that one is just a different version of another product. I can put Windows Server on my nettop, that doesn't mean that it is a miniature version of an actual server. I can put OS X on my quad-core desktop at work, that doesn't mean that it is a non-mobile large MacBook Pro. The iPad is not just a giant iPod touch just like a semi truck is not a giant version of a Honda Civic. It may run iOS, the same OS on the iPhone and iPod touch, but that doesn't mean it is just a larger version of those products. Next you are going to tell me that the AppleTV 2 is just a screen-less iPod touch that just sits there because it too runs iOS.

iOS was the logical choice for the iPad as it was built around touch input. That was the issue with all other tablet devices. They tried to take a desktop OS, add a few layers, and make it have clunky touch/pen input. There are many things that even a first generation iPad can do that neither the iPhone or 4G iPod touch can pull off. It all depends on the apps and how the device is used. I definitely don't use it like a giant iPod touch and that is on a daily basis. In fact, if it was just a giant iPod touch, I would not be able to use it all. People who make those comments tend to either not understand tablets in general or they see no need for them.

Tablets certainly aren't for everybody so I can certainly understand that. However, it is still no reason to call them giant smartphones when they certainly aren't. I am even surprised that an Apple Store employee made that analogy simply because Apple is trying to push the iPad as something completely different from any product in their lineup.

 

The iPad is just a toy to me. I like mine, but its really not that useful and I could live without it. I mainly just play a few games and sometimes check my email on it. Its really not something I would carry with me unless I go on a long trip.

 

i played around with an ipad2 today and i actually like the first one better. the second one feels too much like the air and the first feels like the MBP.

i dont see myself buying one....yet. my 13" MBP is portable and really not that much bigger than an ipad but does 1000x more.

 

I need X-Windows for work and the iPad isn't going to support X-Windows.

 

I'm going to do iMac + iPad 2 combo, then switch to 13" MBP if I don't end up liking it. adjusting right now to not having a laptop for first time in 7 years, but having iPhone helps.

 

I'll stick with my MBP; my wife has an iPad2 and I just cant get in to it.

 

I don't use use my MacBook pro much but i do have a iPad and a lenovo setup on my end and I take my laptop everywhere with me and iPad comes along.

I use the iPad daily four surfing web and checking my email (a lot better experience to view email on the iPad than my samsung epic).

I think the iPad can be a part of my daly life more so that a laptop. But it sure isn't a replacement when I need to do some serious typing or research the laptop is the way to go.

 

I think it's a personal thing to be honest.

I have a MBP and iPad 2 and I find myself using the iPad 2 a lot when commuting a lot, especially on the airplane and such.

I use it in meetings to take notes (Note Taker HD is amazing for this), I use it to check e-mail/news feeds/social sites.

I also use it for Citrix / VNC / Remote Desktop and I find it wonderful for smaller tasks that need to be handled immediately. The Citrix Receiver app is seriously amazing.

For non-work stuff, I absolutely love reading newspapers and magazines on the iPad. The MBP doesn't even come close to how easy it is to read it on the iPad instead.