Cost comparison is relevant! The metric that can be compared is storage size. Smallest MBA is 64gb. The largest iPad is 64gb, plus the cost of a Camera Connection Kit and extra SD cards. So there is a nexus to compare cost. I have seen others make this comparison too, so I will use their work. The cost differential is $200, reduced by the cost of additional kit to nearly zero.
So get down to it- how will I use this thing? It is intended to be a light go-anywhere assistant. The things I do on the go in order of importance:
• write for blogs
• read the news
• browse websites
• track expenses
• manage spreadsheets
• manage email
• produce presentations
• manage photos
• post process photos
• watch movies, TV shows
• watch/listen to Podcasts
• read books
The issue that ensues is software. What do you want to run? The choice is between the big variety of apps or the power of a laptop.
Question- Is the software I own for my MBP transpotabke to my Air? This is a deal killer, for the point of an MBA is to use the same software: Office, Aperture.
The apps for iPad are more costly than the iPhone, but the suite of apps I think I would use is smaller. For example I would not need as many imaging apps, nor apps to find stuff on the road.
The second key point is UI. Compare touchscreen to hard keyboard with touchpad. For writing the hard keyboard is undoubted better. For websurfing and content consumption the touchscreen is the way to go. I see many people who love their iPad fail to consider the irony of a Bluetooth keyboard or keyboard/case combo that make it look like a disjointed MCA. Is this a better way to go, capitalizing on flexibility?
Workflows. Once you know what you do with the device, the next level of definition is to understand the workflows for each device. So let's look at some of the more important functions' workflows.
Blogging
Writing posts offline on iPad is not a problem. BlogPress is the semi robust but functional solution. Composing in it offline, and publishing when on wifi works, then edit and fine tune in Safari.
For the MBA and MBP, so far I have not found a no-cost equivalent in OSX. There is a software package for pros that is $40, MarsEdit 3.
Photography
Current iPad software seems limited to the suite of photo apps the iPhone sports. These are fun but not in anyway suitable for photography. The built in photo app will handle RAW images, so storing and culling them is a snap, but even the 64GB iPad will fill up quick with files, until you can move them off the iPad onto a Mac via sync. This is not a bad work flow- camera SD card >>> iPad, cull >>>MBP. Keep all originals on a collection of SD cards till finished with a project. The downfall is in the event of a long trip, months, storage alternatives are required. Here is where a Hyper Drive comes in. For about $500 you can get up to a TB of storage that works with the iPad directly, making this a cost equivalent to a high end MBA.
Presentations
So far it looks like one way to do this is to use Keynote, then save the presentation as a .ppt, and send it as a email or put it on Dropbox for sharing.
Here's are some tips on how to do a Powerpoint-friendly Keynote presentation:
1. Use only standard fonts that Windows uses (like Times New Roman, Arial, Helvetica)
2. Use only standard bullets, not those lovely Keynote image bullets
3. Do not use 3D transitions
4. Use JPG files for images, do not cut and paste into the slides directly
5. Check the result
Or, you can use QuickOffice and work in .ppt from Powerpoint 2003 files.
Spreadsheets
This one is the most problematic. For now, using QuickOffice seems to be the best solution- open an existing worksheet, or create one, then email it or save it onto Dropbox. There are limits to the size and some of the functions, but for most uses this will work fine. The interface is very good.
Win, Lose and Draw
Looking at the things I do, assigning a level of value for each, and assigning a rating for how well each device works shows it is not a clear decision.
Numerically, it looks like this:
iPad- 179
MBA- 177
A virtual tie.
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