can an ipad replace my macbook?

[pritchp]

Right so im in a little bit of a dilemma now!

At the moment i have :

macbook (silver unibody one) they stopped making them ages ago
Ipad 1
Iphone 4S

My macbook this morning has refused to start and from looking on the internet it looks like the HDD has decided to fry itself.
My ipad 1 is very slow and i don't really use it much as a result...

My question is..

Should i just buy a macbook pro...

or..

shall i buy an ipad 3 (the retina one).

Will the ipad be capable of replacing my macbook. I don't do much on my macbook... usually just surf the internet, e-mails, films, etc.

i guess if i download pages i could just type any documents i need onto the ipad and maybe by a keyboard for it although at the moment i dont do much in the way of typing..

thoughts?

 

[Daveyb133]

simple answer rob, no it cant. but an extra 600 quid is a massive difference.

a tablet can never replace a laptop / computer, no matter what people say.

u start buying all the extras for an ipad and you would be surprised how expensive they really get.

 

[Alex_225]

I agree, a tablet is a great bit of kit but it's not a replacement for a laptop or PC.

For example the top end tablets have 64gb of storage and that simply isn't enough, especially if you have a decent sized music collection let alone digital movies.

To give you an idea I have a work laptop so don't count that as my own device, so I have an iPad and more recently replaced my Windows PC with an iMac. I store all my music and movies and important stuff on the Mac and put the bits and pieces on my iPad. Even with a 64gb iPad I've managed to fill that and had to remove some stuff from it.

In my opinion you either want a laptop (Macbook obviously ) for mobile computing or a PC and a tablet.

 

[MovingShadow]

TBH, I've never understood yet why I would ever need a tablet. To me it seems more like a gadget or a gimmick.

The times I've seen people use is for playing games and watching email and a few youtube videos.

If I have a laptop I can do all of this and so much more.

Even my android phone can do all of this stuff so I really don't get it why people need a tablet. Read a newspaper? I still prefer the oldskool way of holding and flipping through paper pages myself.

So if you have to choose between a laptop or a tablet, I'd say go for a laptop/netbook (or Macbook).

 

[BlackTwingo-i]

You probably dont need it for work.. So why spend £1000ish on a lapto to watch vids of youtube and aurf the t'internet?

 

[pritchp]

Ooo good point. A personal point to me,
Ill take it away on all my trips to FaceTime and watch films Etc

 

[Alex_225]

If you have a laptop, you don't need a tablet that is the simple fact. Especially if you have a small, slim laptop like a Macbook air.

But they make a great addition if you have a home PC. I can sit on the sofa, surfing my usual forums, chat to people, do all the web based stuff and play a few games etc.

Also a tablet is perfect for travelling. If you do a lot of commuting or travelling then they are perfect. Store you movies, music, games all the stuff to relieve the boredom. Yeah an Android phone or iPhone does all that but on a smaller screen. I wouldn't sit at home using my iPhone for that.

If you can afford a tablet, then why not! :lol:

 

[maggi200]

Small tablets make sense.
Laptops make sense.
Desktops make sense.

Really expensive tablets that are the size of the moon do not.

 

[N0ddie]

Buy a MacBook Pro. iPad does not replace a proper computer.

We have an 27" iMac for heavy work, 13" MacBook Air for light computer work and the iPad and iPad mini for just couch web browsing.

 

[pritchp]

looking at the macbook air, is it any good noddie?

can't decide on 11 or 13 "

 

[N0ddie]

looking at the macbook air, is it any good noddie?

can't decide on 11 or 13 "

Very good yeah. Has to be 13" as the 11" is just too wee.

It's a very competent machine, just lacks the serious power of a Pro or iMac. Though, for the uses you stated above, the Air will comfortably manage.

 

[Matt]

Yeah my choice would be a 13" MBA because the 11" MBA is too small and an iPad is no replacement for a laptop.