Looking for opinions about which of these would be better for travel. Will be used primarily for email and word processing (using Word). I have a really old ipad which does not do word processing that I can figure out, but the IT person at my office says that the new ipads run all of the Office products (Word/Excel/PowerPoint).
I had planned to get a MacBook Air because I thought it was the lightest, but the Apple website indicates that the MacBook is actually a pound lighter. Then the IT guy tossed in the ipad option so now I really don’t know.
Any thoughts?
I think the iPad option depends on how sophisticated your word processing needs are. I have an iPad with an external keyboard and it’s ok for basic writing (I have Office 365 with Word). But doing actual editing and formatting is cumbersome and slow. It might be easier with a mouse, but I’ve never tried that with the iPad. The main advantage of the iPad is that it’s a lot more portable than a laptop - not just the ease of carrying it around, but the footprint is smaller and it’s easier to whip out and use, and it’s less obtrusive at places like cafes and restaurants. And with a cellular connection you don’t need to worry about whether or not there’s wifi available.
The Air was the lightest macbook, but I believe Apple just released a new macbook this month that’s lighter.
I have an iPad and magnetic keyboard cover that I use for travel, but it’s not nearly as good as my MacBook. However, the magnetic keyboard (think it is by Logitech) is a big improvement over the iPad’s if I am composing anything other than a brief email, although it adds weight. YMMV.
I am on my second MacBook Air 13" and I love it. I specifically bought it for travel and weight was #1 priority with battery life a close second, and fitting into my carry-on front-zip pocket, third. It has 12 hour run on one charge which can get me coast to coast no matter how long the travel day. The bigger screen is great for work and for watching Netflix… It’s perfect for watching video on planes and the size is perfect for the tray table.
Weight was a big issue since I have a bad shoulder on my carrying side. I’ve resorted to storing the mac in the front zip pocket of my carry-on wheelie, so I’m not bearing any weight a all. But, at just under 3 pounds, it’s pretty lightweight for a laptop. The 13" size is like a big small. Plus, it has a thin profile.
I work on the Cloud, so as long as I have an internet connection, I’m connected to the server and using Office. If you’re primarily using Word, you’ll be better off with an actual keyboard, don’t you think? I had the first model of the iPad and spent an additional $100 for a keyboard. Then I had to lug the keyboard with me when traveling. Pain in the neck! I love the 13". For $999, you can’t beat it. You wouldn’t need more than the basic $999 model for your uses.
Is there an Apple store near you? If so, go there and try out the various models.
FWIW, this is the first time I replaced an old device with the exact same model.
I just recently bought 3 Macs, 2 Macbooks and one Mac Air. My kids got the Mac Book and I got the Air. I think Mac Air is actually a better machine and cheaper, but Mac Book is lighter and smaller. I got a 13 in and I really like it.
Also, don’t get any kind of service plan. Check with your homeowners insurance and make sure you have electronic device coverage. My company owns mine. I spilled a cup of tea into the back of my first MacBook Air and mentioned to the Apple Store employee that I probably should have bought the 3-year plan since I"d only owned it for 2 1/2 years. He said the plan doesn’t cover spills. Minutes later, when purchasing the replacement, I said that maybe I’d get the plan this time just in case I dropped it. He said that drops wouldn’t be covered, either! That was in January. Months later, someone mentioned that our business owners policy probably covered the replacement. Sure enough they did. There is a $500 deductible, but insurance paid the rest.
It’s probably pretty inexpensive to get homeowners coverage. It covers phones, tablets, laptops, and probably desktops. If you’re buying Macs, it’s worth it, but probably not for lower cost electronics.
Thanks for the input. I think the ipad is definitely out, because there will be times when I need to do a substantial amount of writing/editing in Word, and I think the regular keyboard will be a big help. I think the IT guy is just into how versatile the ipad is, but I really don’t need versatile, I need to be able to work.
Regarding the MacBook compared to the Air - I am very confused about the different USB ports; according to the Apple website, the MacBook has a “USB-C port” while the MacBook Air has “two USB 3 ports” and a “Thunderbolt 2 port.” No idea what these are (I know what a USB port is, but that’s all). Unfortunately the nearest Apple store is about an hour away. I might try to call either the store or some 800 number to see if I can get some input from Apple.
Also, as for the service plan, my employer insists on getting the AppleCare plan. Sort of annoying because even though I am not paying for it directly, it does come out of my operating budget.
A Surface Pro 4 would be better than any of the above.
“USB 3” is probably USB 3.0, which is simply what you think of as traditional USB.
USB-C is a brand new USB format with a different plug. To use traditional (old style) USB devices you need an adapter.
Thunderbolt is a combination data+video port. Similar to USB but it also carries video so you can use it to connect a monitor. You can use USB devices with an adapter.
“A Surface Pro 4 would be better than any of the above.”
If keeping the weight to a minimum while preserving maximum functionality is an important factor, then Surface is a very good choice (says this Surface user who has recently shopped for macs for kiddos). But it does not run Mac OS. 