iPad or Macbook Air for University?

Get a MacBook Air. It is a computer in which you will be able tu run many apps needed in the university. Also you'll write on it much more easily. The iPad is nice but it will not substitute a computer.

I'd go for the Air over the iPAD, the 11.6 machine is a perfect size and very light weight.

I have had an iPad since day one and use it everyday and like it a lot. My 13.3 MBAir arrived yesterday--it is my FIRST Mac so it has taken a bit of getting use to. When Steve Jobs unveiled the MBAir he said that it is what you get when "an iPad and a Mac 'hook up' " which is a pretty good definition. Before the Air, I was looking forward to the introduction of the next version of the iPad. Now I will not buy it since the Air is so much more versatile. Apps that I use on the iPad and miss on the Air will soon be coming to the Mac App Store. So, go for the Air without a doubt. You need a computer for University in my opinion. Hope this helps with your decision.

Go to the Apple Store and try typing on an iPad -- just a flat, featureless, piece of glass.

If that works for you, the iPad might be enough for the purpose you describe.

But I'm betting you'll want a real keyboard, i.e. an MBA...

Plus, with the advent of the Mac App Store, you might see a lot of iPad apps migrate to the MacBook Air.

An ipad will not be something I will count on to take note as a student going to university. But as other said, go to an Apple store and try typing on it for 20 minutes to get a feel.

I would just get the MBA or better a macbook pro 13". You can have a brand new Macbook Pro for the same price as the baseline 11" Macbook Air.

I've owned both. The MBA is a computer with wireless printing, central document storage, flash support, (sorry Steve), app switching and a real keyboard. It's a no-brainer.

As someone who teaches a lot of Uni classes -- let me tell you right off the bat don't even think about an iPad as your only device. If you get one, great, you can use it in conjunction with your MBA, but you can not print from the iPad, it's much harder to type on, students in my classes can't keep up with taking notes without a real keyboard...but most importantly, you will have to be able to print assignments to hand them in. You can not print from an iPad. I think Jobs said something about print being added in the next software update, but even that won't work universally. Don't get an iPad thinking it can be your only device. If you can only get one, get the MBA or a Macbook Pro.

ask on the ipad discussion group before deciding. I agree that the Air is the answer, but some devout iPaders might not. Folks here are all about the Air, I think.

I have an iPad too -- I can state from experience running a classroom where half the class has iPads that almost NONE of them use the iPads for taking notes or for classwork after the first few days...If you can't print, and you can't type as fast as you can on a keyboard, then you can't use it in a classroom.

Good advise to ask in the ipad room too -- but I wouldn't be surprised if you can the same responses.

Hi,

I'm currently a university student majoring in physics.

Another factor that you may need to consider is the subject you are going to study. If you are going to study engineering or science, I suggest you to get Air simply because you'll need the laptop for taking tons of data during experiment. Ipad cant do that I guess.

If you are majoring in social science or arts, you may need ipad simply because you need to read a lot of journal and article and reading it with ipad is definitely a pleasure. 🙂

If you are majoring in medicine, you dont need both. You need to save the money to pay the super expensive school fees and buying text books. :P

Cheers.

Message was edited by: (n_n)

No doubt about it: MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. The iPad is a consumption device. You can read articles, watch video, etc... But for any kind of serious academic work you need a real computer that is fully capable and functional with a real keyboard and Microsoft Office.

I use iMac, MBA, and iPad. Looked at the new MBA 11.6 and was almost sold on it until I realized the only thing I was looking for was a better way to type. Love the iPad and all it does, but can't type on it very well. But then if I travel I'll end up taking both iPad and MBA with me--too much 'stuff'. So I bought an extra Apple Bluetooth keyboard, synced it to the iPad and I'm set.

Kristen - if I read your post correctly you have an I-Mac back at "home" for real computing

The IPad is about 1/2 the cost of an MBA so I would conserve money and buy the IPad for note taking and use the I-Mac for serious typing/work.

Given most Unis have WiFi access everywhere, you dont need the 3G version of the I-Pad...more money saved.