I tried an older macbook for a while, and it was kinda frustrating on two fronts:
- reading is subpar
Having the ipad in portrait helped a lot for reading A4 size documents, where I'd be much more scrolling on the macbook.
The the form factor plays a lot when you're checking documents at an airport counter, reviewing your hotel reservation in a taxi, or looking at a map with others.
- I had to baby it a lot more
iPads and tablets in general can fit in cases and be lugged around without damage. The screen is also tough enough, where a macbook will be out of order if anything goes between the keyboard and the screen when you close it. That's fine at home, but that means it doesn't get out in any situation where it could be risky. In contrast I bring my tablet in the bathtub in a waterproof sleeve.
None of those are absolute deal breakers, I mean we used laptops anywhere we could for decades before tablet areived. But I definitely couldn't go back (disclaimer, I ended up with a Surface Pro. It's nice but as Panos is out of Microsoft now, I have no idea of the future of the lineup...)
That’s all fair. For now I have an out of support mini Chromebook I can throw in my luggage in addition to a tablet. Bad I know. Maybe I should get a new one—it’s cheap—and nurse my old tablet. I just try to avoid hauling too many electronics.
- reading is subpar
Having the ipad in portrait helped a lot for reading A4 size documents, where I'd be much more scrolling on the macbook.
The the form factor plays a lot when you're checking documents at an airport counter, reviewing your hotel reservation in a taxi, or looking at a map with others.
- I had to baby it a lot more
iPads and tablets in general can fit in cases and be lugged around without damage. The screen is also tough enough, where a macbook will be out of order if anything goes between the keyboard and the screen when you close it. That's fine at home, but that means it doesn't get out in any situation where it could be risky. In contrast I bring my tablet in the bathtub in a waterproof sleeve.
None of those are absolute deal breakers, I mean we used laptops anywhere we could for decades before tablet areived. But I definitely couldn't go back (disclaimer, I ended up with a Surface Pro. It's nice but as Panos is out of Microsoft now, I have no idea of the future of the lineup...)