Mac Laptop or Ipad...which should I get?

[Corky]

I am buying a new computer today and I am going to either go with a Mac Laptop or an Ipad...which should I get?

Also, can I hook up an external hard drive to either of the above? And hook one of the above up to my printer?

I'm going to our local Apple store today, again. I did go down there a couple of weeks ago and only talked about the Ipad. But I am not sure which way to go, laptop or ipad.

Thnx!!

[Whimsy]

It totally depends on what you want to do with your devices. For now I use both a laptop and an iPad. I love each of them but it their own way. My iPad is perfect for watching TV and surfing the web or keeping an eye on my emails, taking it to the kitchen to work on recipes, read books, watch videos and I love the apps that are relavent to what I want to do. The iPad however cannot do what I can do with my laptop when it comes to searching the MLS in a more intense way, extensive typing, working on files and various other things. I love that my iPad and my iPhone work together and if a Mac laptop would do the same down the line I might seriously consider a Mac. I think if you are still unsure as to how the devices are different I would hold off purchasing and still investigate further.

Here is a brief article that compares the two.

iPad Vs Laptop Pros And Cons – A Brief Intro About iPad Vs Laptop Pros And Cons 2011-2012

[Corky]

Thank you, Whimsy and thanks for the link. I will check it out!

One thing I know is different is Word Perfect and Excel...I am used to those and I am not sure of what Mac offers for that. I will talk to the people again when I go back down there later.

[Whimsy]

I forgot to add, I have not been able to get my iPad to work with the printers at work or at home. Seems they are older and the app for adding them doesn't work with them. Maybe a neighbor's kid could sync me up though! LOL!

[Corky]

Thanks! I am currently typing on my old Dell laptop, it is my newer Dell laptop that has died. This one is hooked up to my cable router and wifi router and printer. When I get my newer one fixed, if I can, I am going to trade it out for this one. What I am wanting to get is a Mac laptop or Ipad for the den area of our house, but, I really want to be able to keep track of bills, income, budgets, taxes, etc on it and have that be my main computer...I am about tired of compters, et all. LOL

[Charles]

As whimsy says, it depends on what you want to do. I was in a similar dilemma last summer. I researched, looked all over. I ended up buying a MacBook Air. Small, lightweight, and portable. I have the iWork programs (pages, numbers), but I ended up putting on Office 2011. I purchase the cd drive when i bought the air

My decision was based on what I wanted to do with it. Initially I was looking for an iPad so that I could download my pics from Greenland and Iceland without going out and purchasing lots of memory cards for the camera. But I also wanted to keep a journal. I found typing on the iPad a pain. Yes I know other people have no problems with typing on a glass screen. But I need the feel of the keys.

The Air was an extremely good purchase. I successfully downloaded all of my pictures every night, made a journal entry each day--sometimes several times. Accessed the ships wi-fi network from the cabin, and wrote to Mary Ann to arrange a change in the flight home. And on the long flight home, I edited my journal and played games. I now use the Air for work as well--which has been another good reason for the purchase.

The iPad's battery life is about 10 hours. That's great for reading a book, etc. I'm getting about 4 hours on my Air with wi-fi turned on. That is similar to a laptop of either OS. That's my only negative about the Air.

Charles

[Corky]

Thank you so much, Charles!! This is info. that I need. The reason I thought about a Mac Laptop vs the Ipad is everything that you've mentioned. Plus, I have a Kindle Fire, and love it, so I'm not sure I need an Ipad. I will look at the Air when I go downtown today.

[nieciez]

I would would go with the Laptop myself.

[Corky]

Nieciez - I think I am headed in that direction. After lunch I will go downtown and talk to the Apple people and look at their laptops. Especially the Macbook Air one that Charles has and spoke of.

[nieciez]

I should have added my reasons were the same as Charles...just don't like typing on glass.