Hi, new here. Purchased a MacBook Air last fall. Tossup at the time between that and ipad, and opted for Air because it's more functional for my work, Office spreadsheet functions. Own a 1st generation Kindle for reading. Really would like to have ipad 2, but am I nuts? Probably don't need it, due to the overlap in the technology, so please tell me why I shouldn't be without ipad even with the others I already have. Thanks.

Like you say, there is an overlap, but.....

The iPad and MacBook air will compliment each other, you may not want to carry the air around with you all the time, thus the iPad can do that job, with the kindle, you are limited to what it an do compared to the iPad

It is impossible to fully explain how much use you can get out of the iPad. It is like explaining bread. You can tell that it is used to make sandwiches, toast, stuffing, etc., but you cannot describe how great these things taste. And then some one gets a loaf and discovers they like it to make french toast.

Originally Posted by Seadog

It is impossible to fully explain how much use you can get out of the iPad. It is like explaining bread. You can tell that it is used to make sandwiches, toast, stuffing, etc., but you cannot describe how great these things taste. And then some one gets a loaf and discovers they like it to make french toast.

LOL! Love the analogy, so true!

I use my bread as a trencher or bread bowl for soup.

What are the corresponding uses for iPad to those?

Thanks for the help. This reminds me of the old adage that says "If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it." In this one, it's like all gadgets/tech tools, etc., which always has told me "You don't really need it, you can live without it, but you know you want it and you're gonna get it, so just shut up and go experience it." Thanks for the quick replies. Birthday/Father's day coming soon.

The MacBook air could be your home device and the iPad can be on the go device.

I have an iPad 1 and a MB Air. I had an iPad 2 but returned it for the Air--originally was going to sell the iPad 1 and just upgrade to the 2. In my case I was kind of needing a laptop too, though the irony is that the reason it is "kind of" is because of the iPad.

But right now the iPad and Air seem like a nice combo. The Air is enough laptop for my needs, as my prior laptop was mainly just a client to remote into other machines. But to me the air is a truly amazing machine. It's not the much larger than the iPad and yet does not feel that compromised (compared to Netbooks I have tried). It even charges my iPad, which I find a bonus (even when Air is off).

When I traveled with only my iPad I started bringing along the bluetooth keyboard, and it's case. I think now if I needed to do any keyboard work I would just bring iPad and the Air. Together they are still light compared to my other laptop.

One area where the Air just cannot compete is in battery life. While it is good on the Air, it is excellent on the iPad. For handheld use, no question the iPad is of course it. But when I don't want to hold the iPad, getting the screen angle "just right" is often a chore--at least with my case. With the Air of course that means just moving the screen up or down a little.

OTOH the Air, despite its diminutive appearance, is a full fledged Mac: it can use USB devices, runs flash if needed, you name it. Of course I find myself not using the entire screen much of the time, as I often have several windows open. I would almost like a more "full screen" operation like my iPad (thought that sword cuts both ways--many times I am happy it is easier to switch around open windows on the Air). Seems like OS X Lion will have that full screen mode. Should be interesting on the Air.

So in my opinion the two products go together well. If you have both you will no doubt reach out to touch the screen on the Air, and might even reach for the trackpad on the iPad . But if I had to choose just one, and I needed a regular laptop at times, even a light one, it would have to be the Air.



Michael

Michael, that's a great report. I use Air for some work, still do most of my spreadsheet work on PC, but I find Air to be a terrific computer. I love it. I love Apple products. So, I know I'm going to love ipad2 when I start using it. Just made the decision based upon all of your comments. Thank you.

Originally Posted by RFCohn

Michael, that's a great report. I use Air for some work, still do most of my spreadsheet work on PC, but I find Air to be a terrific computer. I love it. I love Apple products. So, I know I'm going to love ipad2 when I start using it. Just made the decision based upon all of your comments. Thank you.

Glad it helped! You will love the iPad 2.



Michael