In the market for a portable writing product since my MacBook Pro is getting older and not that easy to carry around. Write in Word and have a blog to manage. Would an iPad work easily or should I choose MacBook Air? Esp. since I'll need to purchase a new MBP later.
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
You only get 2 helpful and 1 solved to use.
There is quite a bit of difference between Pages on an iPad and Pages on a Mac running OS X. I have a MacBook Pro and an iPad with a keyboard. I much prefer writing on the MBP and I've recently recommended the MBA to two friends (one just yesterday) and they love them. I would also not want to keep up with a blog with the iPad/keyboard combination.
If you only have to write content, you might consider the iPad, with a keyboard.
If you have to do anything except the most basic formatting, you'll need access to a real notebook (like the Air).
The only things the iPad has going for it (over the Air) is a more densely-packed display if you pick a Retina model, and perhaps the chance to review your writing in public... I guess... although again, anything else apart from plain reading is a pain. Even checking something on a web site is much more convenient on a traditional form factor like the Air.
Even the iPad's portability is affected, once you need to carry a separate keyboard.
I use Pages and OfficeHD for writing on the iPad. They are VERY limited in comparison to the full version you have on a MacBook pro. I think the MacBook Air can run a Junior version of Office and full Pages. A good deal of the editing functions are not on a iPad, etc.
Then there is the keyboard issue. You could get a bluetooth keyboard for under $100. It still will not be as comfortable as a full Macbook Pro or the smaller Air. Adding a keyboard brings the bulk and weight of an iPad to about equal that of the Air.
If you can live with those issues, the tie breaker may be price. An iPad and BT keyboard will be 1/2 the cost of the Air.
Happy shopping!
All of these responses helped with this process. Will check out the MBA, see if it's worth the extra funds, or maybe look into refurbished, since I have a MBP that's still working well.
Not sure why the "this helped me" button disappeared.
Anyway, thanks much again.
Just an addendum for the thread, went to Apple Store, was enlightened by two, no three neat "experts" there. The iPad with iOS 7 will do much more than I'd imagined. They showed me how to use Pages and them email the doc to myself as a Word document. Big help. Plus I can toggle back and forth between screens for research. For my needs, drafts, not the final, it may be a cheaper way to go for now. I was really tempted by the MBA, but didn't like the screen compared to my "old" MBP. For that price wanted to be thrilled with the screen I have to look at.
In addition they helped me to see I could use any size keyboard with the iPad, large one, and some site online pointed out stand-alone keyboards may be better and might just work for me. So, am waiting until the so-called big news tomorrow, 10/22, will decide then.
Thanks for all the good insight.
Well, as for iOS 7... it does pretty much the same things as iOS 6 :-)
As for swipe-toggling screens for research, I wouldn't recommend it for the following reasons:
* first, every time you toggle screen you're dragging 4 fingers across the screen. Wow-factor in the Apple store, not so much as an every-day routine. Tip: you can do it via the keyboard (apparently.... I found a how-to but got tired of it halfway through and never resumed it... it's not as straightforward as it should be)
* second, you're toggling into a web browser that's far less capable than a standard one, hold less tabs in a convenient way. Sure, there's no hard limit, but after 4-5 tabs it gets messy. And you can't open another window of the same browser, so you're just stuck.
Just for comparison, as I write I have 16 tabs open just in one window of my browser. Of course, some of those tabs are used by mail and facebook, whereas the iPad has dedicated apps, but for the rest, as they say... there isn't an app for that, and I need all of those tabs.
And, big deal, god knows why the iPad can't hold still those tabs! I mean, if you let a tab sit still for 2 minutes (I haven't actually timed it, but it's short), that tab has to re-load when you open it! Not ideal when I just want to continue watching that page...
Just some fodder for thought :-)
Message was edited by: Stefano_T ... wow, hit accidentally Ctrl-S (I think) and the message just got posted! Go keyboard-shortcuts!
Message was edited by: Stefano_T Originally posted incomplete, due to accidental press of an unknown keyboard shortcut!
I got lost am afraid in some of your analysis. In the end we know much of this is personal style, preference, comfort level, etc. I'd already read about the differences between keypads, weight, bluetooth vs. not, wired vs. not. To be further considered.
In the end, not ready to pay for MPA in it's current configuration. It may be the right idea in a year. Today, I can "make do" with one of the new iPads coming in Nov. Just being practical. Neither right nor wrong. Thanks for your advise though.
You're welcome!
By the way, my previous post was a bit messy because it was accidentally posted before I could properly finish it. I guess the final version is still readable, though?
As you say, everyone has a different taste, although not everything is subjective.
In the end, the only way to know for sure is to try! Probably in a week or so you will also see what I meant about the browser and stuff. Trust me, I'm no iPad hater. I've been using both an iPad and a MBA for a long time now, and I was just trying to explain what IMHO are some of the issues in using an iPad on a daily basis, especially for work that involves some web research.
But I agree with you, it's probably not the best of times to get a MBA, with a display update hopefully around the corner (it's been around the corner for ages, now!)
As for the keyboards, what I meant is that, unless I'm mistaken, it's got to be bluetooth (you're aware of that, right?) which takes a big bite off the "any size keyboard" range 😉.
Yes, am aware of the bluetooth/any size issue. One highly recommended keyboard carried a "wait and see" banner on it the day the new iPads were introduced. So, it's always a work in progress, something waiting around the corner!😉 Life! (Although in Truth, everything's always all here now, perfect). When I move past my "obsession" with the Mini and move to purchase the larger one, will re-research the keyboards, decide which one makes sense the way I will use it. I don't need more than one or two windows open to write my "drafts", record my musings quickly before losing them. In the end will always retire to the MBP to pull it altogether. The primary reason I even considered an iPad a few months ago was to keep me from wearing out the MBP, in and out all day looking up something/nonsense. So, it's not just for writing, it's maybe primarily to preserve any laptop I may have in the future. Having made that decision, it occurred to me I could get more writing done.
So, on with the divine adventure.
Peace to you!
This is just from experience as a freelance writer and blogger using both the iPad with a keyboard and the Macbook Air 13" for writing and blog management: I would strongly recomend that you seriously consider going with the Macbook Air. I wrote for an entire year using the iPad and have now switched over to the Macbook and I have to tell you my life got so so so much easier. For me, I purchased a Macbook Air with the new Haswell processor and it handles everything I throw at it. I purchased this computer with a student discount and with a discount at BestBuy and ended up spending $850. There are ways to get it cheaper. By the time I set up my iPad with all the features and accessories I needed, I spent $800. I spent $500 on the iPad itself, $100 on the external keyboard, $80 for protective gear, and at least $80 on applications to make the iPad work for writing purposes, and there was more money on accessories such as the camera connection kit and an extra charger. When I bought my Macbook Air, all the applications I need to begin writing were already there and all the protective gear was unnecessary. And as far as a keyboard, well, it already has one. My computer weighs 2.96 pounds and to be honest, after packing all the needed accessories with my iPad the weight was pretty much the same. With my Macbook, I don't have to spend any time putting anything together, I just take the computer out, open it, and I'm ready to work. As far as writing goes, the MBA provides a much more immursive writing experience. There are no extra steps, no worries about chords (because the battery lasts 12 hours)... Nothing. I can have chrome open in the background so I can do research at the touch of a keyboard button. Because the keyboard is integrated with the computer, the gestures are more intuitive than they would be with a peripheral keyboard. Not to mention, with the MBA, I have more storage. Also, I have 2 USB 3 ports, an SDXC card slot, and a thunderbolt port. None of these are available on the iPad. Just my thoughts... I know the original poster has already made this decision, but maybe my little review would be helpful for someone doing a google search on the subject. That's how I came across this thread! Enjoy your iPad, I am so happy with my MBA.
Re-visiting all this info, am now seeing a key point missed may be the absence of a trackpad on keyboards for any Mac? (Apologies if I missed that comment somewhere).
Anyway, giving me pause, since for some reason I can't pinpoint, am not feeling motivated to act, saw the new Air in person, was underwhelmed ( I really just want a mini).
Learning not to act before the spirit moves me so, will see, new minis here today already. Maybe should just punt, get a mini, and wait for the rumored HD upgrade on MBA mid-2014!!
Uh... trackpads on keyboards for Mac?😕
Apple sells their separate trackpad for mac. It's pretty good, too.
There are also products from 3rd parties that allow you to join a wireless keyboard with a wireless trackpad, but you still have to buy both the trackpad and the keyboard (plus the "joiner").
There's also a new keyboard from logitech that has a trackpad on the right of the keyboard. It's not available in all markets (yet). Plus, if you're used to have the trackpad on the left of the keyboard (e.g., some left-handed people), no luck.
That Logitech keyboard with the trackpad seems to be only for Android, etc. at present. This makes it all too complicated. Such a grand adventure all of this. But, it will all work itself out.
Thanks much.
You need the MacBook Air.
Which is better for writers, iPad or Macbook Air?
