Discounted iPad 3 or used 11" Macbook Air as secondary device

[pinkoos]

Just curious...main use would be content consumption, though some document manipulation, email typing, etc. would definitely fit into the fold.

This would be a secondary device for use around the house and out and about.

What would your reasoning be one way or the other?

[cbelt3]

ipad. Portability, persistence, size, simplicity. Coolness.

Of course, if you *will* be creating content beyond a few pithy emails, MBA. iPads are for consumers of information.

[Fred_Also]

I have an iPad 3 & a MBA 13". Love them both but have different uses. The iPad is for out and about, church, town with my wife (where I set in the car when she shops), etc.

The MBA sits on the coffee table and i use it for web browsing, control of mini connected to TV, jobs that require more typing than I want to do on my iPad.

Fred

[silvarios]

Tough one. Part of me wants to say iPad, but I still like a good computer that can step in if the main system goes down.

I'm going to say iPad anyway. I've migrated to tablets and phones as my main devices as the pros generally out weigh the cons. My Mac mini operates as a heavy hitter (server, video conversions, etc) and the lesser devices have stepped into the do everything else role.

If I can make such limited devices my more or less main devices, an iPad would likely suffice as a secondary device.

[Speedy]

iPad is my go to device for everyday surfing while I watch TV. 98% of my posts to this forum are from my iPad. I handle most of my email from it. But for anything requiring a fair amount of typing I go elsewhere.

[decay]

iPad should have longer battery life, if that's a concern.

[pinkoos]

Any opinions one way or another b/c of the iPad's retina display and the Air's lack of?

The retina display is mesmerizing.

[Speedy]

pinkoos wrote:
Any opinions one way or another b/c of the iPad's retina display and the Air's lack of?

The retina display is mesmerizing.

Yes, without the Retina I wouldn't be using my iPad very much.

[silvarios]

pinkoos wrote:
Any opinions one way or another b/c of the iPad's retina display and the Air's lack of?

The retina display is mesmerizing.

The notebook is generally quite a bit further from my eyes than a tablet. I like pixel density*, but the benefits of having a true computer operating system and keyboard can be large enough to offset the retina iPad advantages. Depends on use case.

*Anyone who has read my complaints about the iPad mini knows this already

[graylocks]

Fred_Also wrote:
I have an iPad 3 & a MBA 13". Love them both but have different uses. The iPad is for out and about, church, town with my wife (where I set in the car when she shops), etc.

The MBA sits on the coffee table and i use it for web browsing, control of mini connected to TV, jobs that require more typing than I want to do on my iPad.

Fred

i have Fred's set up and use the devices in similar ways. For the OP's described situation i'd definitely say iPad.