Ipad or Macbook pro 13 for travel??

If you need software that you have only on your Macbook Pro, then you need to take that. If you can get by with the software you have on the iPad, that will do the trick.

The conditions within which either device will operate safely are published on Apple's website.

The heat won't really bother both devices, so you don't have to worry it. The only thing the Macbook Pro has advantage over the iPad 2 is the ability to display Adobe Flash pages. Before you go, make sure you are able to use your iPad 2 to check a few websites that are crucial to to your travel. If most of the sites you go to need Flash, then it's obvious you will have to bring the Macbook Pro. Adobe Flash is not only limited to video, so services like Skyfire and the rest will not help you on site navigation that requires mouse and keyboard interface which can become awkward with the iPad 2. Fortunately, make sites provide free Apple apps with a touch interface to allow access to those Flash sites properly, so make sure you have those apps loaded before your travel. A year ago, I would have to travel with my Macbook and iPad 1st gen because of Adobe Flash (my work demands Flash sites unfortunately). I've since addressed this issue with an Android tablet. But both of them are awkward to work with websites that use a mouse and keyboard interface (few do), so I sometimes end up bringing the Macbook.

This is a usage question. I love using the iPad for traveling. (Ever tried to use a laptop in cattle class on the plane? - you cannot open the screen and when you do it is difficult to type)

Now if you expect to do serious work, then the laptop is better. I always carry both and find that I use the laptop less and less. Note you still need a computer for syncing the iPad 😟

While on a flight I write documents, create presentations, write or review proposals, or develop apps. I use MS Office most times because of my office environment.

Oooops, I answered based on the original poster's question rather than on your question. I don't use my iPad an the plane. I use my Macbook Pro, and I sit in the exit row as much as possible so as to have the room to open it up.

It depends, if I am presenting a paper then I will work in Pages ($10).

If I want to relax I play games. Angry birds does keep me busy, but I also like playing Tower Madness.($8)

Gears is also fun, but difficult to play on a plane.

Mahjong is also fun and then the alltime favourite - Sudoku.

I would use it for entertainment on the airport

Then you want something that will play DVDs. And that is a MacBook Pro.

True, but these days you can get the DVD/Blu-Ray with a download option and that you can play on the iPad. (Nice to have the 64G one for this option...)

For entertainment purposes, there are several options available. I will list them all because I have used all of them with great success in airports.

Option 1: Load all your movies in advance before your flight. This means you must pre-convert all your movies compatible with the iPad. Then use iTunes to sync it to your iPad. The only limitation is with your built-in storage capacity of your iPad. However, you can bypass this limitation with Option 2 and 3. I have the Elgato Turbo H.264 turbo to do the dirty job of fast batch converting movie files into H.264.

Option 2: Leave your Macbook Pro home and make it an AirVideo server. Much like Pogoplug Video and Jetstream HD, it streams HD and SD video of any format to your iPad via WIFI and 3G. This means you can host terabytes of movies on the road. The Macbook Pro will automatically convert on the fly any video format to iPad friendly format on the fly and then stream it. This hinges on a 3G or WIFI connection which is available in most American airports, but may not be available for free in India.

Option 3: Carry a WIFI media portable storage hotspot. I use an Android tablet for this job, but you can actually buy a device called the Air Stash that will provide media streaming on the road. With the WIFI media hotspot, you can bring as many movies as you like and store them on SD cards and then pop them in into the Air Stash. You connect the iPad to the Air Stash via WIFI. This is a superior method for several reasons. First, you can bypass iTunes for loading music, pictures and videos so you can be truly portable on the field. Secondly, if you happen to buy a movie in India and would like to watch it on the iPad, all you have to do is make sure it is in H.264 MP4 (most are anyhow) and then save it to an SD card using a normal PC computer. Then use Air Stash to host this movie to the iPad.

Also with Air Stash, it is supposed to act as a WebDAV server which allows saving of files from Pages, Numbers and Keynote on a SD card. If you want to share files with someone in India without WIFI or 3G, this is the only way you can actually share files without needing a full blown computer. Again, I have used the iPad as a full blown laptop and is only made possible with the help of my Android 7 inch tablet to serve as a WebDAV, FTP and HTTP server. Since the tablet takes CF, SD, MicroSD and USB, I can share files with other people like you would with a computer. Air Stash is a smaller package, but the Android serves as a Adobe Flash player which the Air Stash can not and nor can the iPad.

On my travels, I also carry a Kensington bluetooth keyboard which is part of the leather case for my iPad 1.

Last but not least, if you travel a lot to India or elsewhere, you might want to consider buying a 3G wireless hotspot and then buying a 3G data stick with a prepaid plan in the host country.

I dump a ton of movies on my iPad. Keeps me and the wife entertained while flying. I have an audio splitter.

You first add them into iTunes then you sync to the iPad.