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HopeCove Author

Level 1

11 points

New Ipad Pro or New Macbook air advice please?

Hi.

I hope someone of you lovely people can help me decide because I am pretty useless at making decisions.

I have a 2013 Macbook air, which I love. But the battery needs replacing and it is starting to overheat nowadays.

So initially I was thinking of replacing my Macbook Air with the latest M1 version. But having popped into a store yesterday, I was very taken with the new 12.9 Ipad Pro M1. Now I know it's not the same operating system yet and I may struggle, I guess to do the same things on the Ipad as I do on the Macbook Air that I do now.

These things are, mainly going to the internet. ( I do always have multiple tabs open about 40 open now on my macbook air (don't ask)! I do the same of my current Ipad 2 pro on the chrome app and the safari app. I know, I just can't help myself). Also, I have nearly 16,000 photos and 900 videos which I do like to edit etc even though I really am not keen on the apple photos app on either my existing macbook or Ipad. However, I do feel locked into it with icloud etc. I find editing a whole lot easier on my existing macbook than my existing Ipad. But given the new Magic Apple keyboard and pen, would that now be a better experience on the new Ipad?

So, I hope that someone who maybe has already had experience of changing from a macbook to the new ipad pro, can help and advise me. It would really be appreciated!!

Thank you.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.2

Posted on Jul 27, 2021 10:30 PM

Top-ranking reply

MichelPM

Level 10

81,324 points

Posted on Jul 29, 2021 8:26 AM

If you intend to use an iPad Pro like a MacBook, there is also the costs of an external keyboard case to consider, as well.

For the costs of a new M1 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro, which is, now, more prohibitively expensive, and the fact some users, like you, are just going to waste most of the touch screen experience by trying to turn a touch screen iPad into a laptop/MacBook and NOT use the touch screen hardly, your money would be better spent on a good spec'd out MacBook or MacBook Air.

macOS is more flexible and capable than iPadOS and for the costs a MacBook is a better value.

iPadOS window multiasking is very limited compared to macOS and a Mac computer.

External hard drive support on iPadOS is still in its infancy and is very rudimentary in its day to day use and execution.

Everything in a MacBook/Air is already built-in. No extra keyboard case to purchase. No extra weight added.

The Magic Keyboard case for iPad Pro is a great thing, but it is the cost of another iPad to purchase at $350 U.S.D..

The cheaper Folio keyboard case for iPad is good, but this means needing to use a separate Apple Magic mouse or compatible third party mouse or Apple Magic Trackpad OR an even cheaper third party keyboard with built-in Trackpad support.

Lots of paid, and potentially expensive, extra accessories with an iPad/iPad Pro.

Also, with any iPad, you need to get the largest internal data storage you can afford as NO Apple iOS/iPadOSvdevixes have expandable internal data storage.

If you have always been a Mac users and have NEVER been a user of iPads, switching to an iPad Pro is going to be a much more expensive and more frustrating an experience for you.

Do what you will.

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New Ipad Pro or New Macbook air advice please?

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