I have a Mac Pro as my main machine at home but I travel occasionally with a MacBook Air. I pull out the Air once every couple weeks and realize I have a whole other computer I have to manage, with multiple Software Updates to download and install, programs to keep in sync with my desktop, and applications I need to download and install to match my desktop work environment. It’s a hassle that adds time to packing and preparing for trips and often I wish the Air worked more like an iPhone where everything was in sync all the time and I could just pluck it off and shelf, and head to the airport.
I wish I remembered where I came across the link to this great response to three common critiques of the iPad.
I know a bunch of people with two computers, one intended to be high powered, and one intended to be mobile. Almost all of them end up using one of the two for the exact reason listed above.
I’ve held onto two old Macs thinking I’d find a great use for them. One’s become a digital photo frame, and the other’s a bookend.
I think a lot of people will end up in a computing scenario where they have a desktop (or bulky laptop) and an iPad. Already a bunch of folks use their iPhone as a computing replacement when they can get away with it.
The thing I’m psyched about is that I’ve invested a ton of time over the years learning the advanced features of the iWork productivity suite, and it looks like that’ll be the main way to get (non-email) work done on the iPad for the time being. Should give me a little advantage until everyone else catches up :-)
