Can the iPad be a contender for the MacBook air?

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.

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

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

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)

Originally Posted by Ex Microsoft

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!

Originally Posted by Ex Microsoft

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Ex Microsoft

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!

The iPad is a limited-use tablet.

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