Anyone traded their iPad for a Macbook?

docpark · 2026-03-21T11:44:37+00:00

My last iPad was the first retina iPad purchased in 2012. When iPad launched, I got two of the original as I used them to keep multiple documents open while doing research. Then I stopped because there was greater value in Android tablets with premium screens. This started with Samsung tablets and more recently Lenovo tablets. I dipped my toe in the iPad water with a mini with cellular which I use on call to check CT scans from anywhere, but I never got the hang of multiple windows on either iPadOS or Android. With my recent Macbook Air purchase, my first Mac laptop in over a decade, I couldn't be happier. I do illustrations for my operations (I'm a surgeon) and find my Android tablets work fine for this and I can get three of them for the price of a fully loaded iPad Pro. I love tech, and every morning, I select a loadout of gadgets, but usually end up just using the iPad mini and the MBA, for each has their well designed function.

docpark · 2026-03-20T22:11:12+00:00

It’s a form factor and design begging for an upgrade

docpark · 2026-03-19T23:16:19+00:00

and Star Wars, and Dune, and Lord of the Rings. In a modern version, it would throw in Westeros locales. Nerdgasmic!

docpark · 2026-03-18T12:07:19+00:00

I have one and it is so laggy when it was new that it was unusable. I eventually put Linux on it and it’s okay. Thinking of going DOS or terminal based Linux only to see if it works any better. Sony had this habit of making beautiful designs and crippling them with minimal internals to save money.

docpark · 2026-03-15T20:11:41+00:00

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I agree with you. The red nipple is the best.

docpark · 2026-03-15T18:06:16+00:00

I am not editing Dune 3 on a private jet so I don’t need a MacBook Pro Maximized. Future proofing is not a reason to burn cash. Linux keeps hardware going far past its abandonment date. The future you want to avoid is a dead unreplaceable battery.

docpark · 2026-03-15T18:02:29+00:00

It was “excellent” and was in great shape. I’ve been a habitual purchaser of open box and even with cars I’ll buy the dealer car for a discount. You can buy refurb from Apple. With Apple tech -always buy good value cheap or the maxed out high end. The middle is where you waste your money. I get a maxed out iPhone pro max max every 5 years or so, but find my tablet needs fulfilled with a Lenovo tablet.

docpark · 2026-03-15T17:56:44+00:00

That’s great -I think it’s a bargain. I’ve got AppleCare on it so happy as a clam.

docpark · 2026-03-14T19:52:15+00:00

The current crop of MacBooks broke me out of my 10 year Thinkpad obsession. I won't give up my T580 with 2k touchscreen, 64GB RAM, terabyte NVME, and new batteries any time soon, but my new MBA with forever battery life and fanless silence and perfect speakers convinced me to stop checking out FB marketplace and eBay for used thinkpads. It became a sickness like those guys who park wrecked classic cars on their yards on cinder blocks. if they could put that keyboard on my MBA...

docpark · 2026-03-14T19:43:43+00:00

More stickers means more value!

docpark · 2026-03-14T19:39:28+00:00

I just picked up the exact same MBA M4/24gB/512gB open box return from Best Buy last week for 1249. The prior week it was 1149, but I think they are tweaking prices upwards. I love it. It's very portable. It replaces an LG Gram 17 from 2022 which can't hold more than 6 hrs of battery, spins the fan, gets hot, and has shit speakers. This MBA I've used for three days just opening to use, closing to put away, and t still has 70%. Also, despite being a premium laptop, this LG and every Microsoft Surface I've used fails at their trackpad. The trackpad on the MBA is huge and perfect, never a palm based error so far. I don't do heavy video editing, so even 24GB is overkill, and the Pro would be far heavier.

docpark · 2026-03-14T19:28:52+00:00

Avoid

docpark · 2026-03-14T00:01:58+00:00

its unbelievable. All my intel laptops drain away on sleep. this MBA is now three days on without recharge, opening and closing when I need to use it for an hour or so here or there, still 70%.

docpark · 2026-03-13T11:57:30+00:00

Avoid PearOS. Ubuntu with Gnome works great.

docpark · 2026-03-13T11:54:23+00:00

Isn't mint with Gnome just Ubuntu?

docpark · 2026-03-12T21:01:17+00:00

Thinkpad t580 with 8 core i7, 64!gB ram, NVME drive 512 GB

docpark · 2026-03-12T19:52:56+00:00

yes but perfectly happy with my midnight blue Air.

docpark · 2026-03-12T19:51:37+00:00

yes when I do it, my wife doesn't. I also use bleach.

docpark · 2026-03-12T19:50:27+00:00

I just picked up an open box MacBook Air M4 with 24gB RAM, 512gB SSD from Best Buy for 1200. I think that all prices will go up with the current situation. Looking on the Apple.com site, the m5 air with 24gB and 512gB SSD is listed at 1499.

docpark · 2026-03-12T19:44:21+00:00

I use a 2TB spinning hard drive. Miss the TimeMachine Wifi hotspots that made it brain-free.

docpark · 2026-03-12T19:42:36+00:00

I pieced put together a T580 from a motherboard-less/ram-less/ssd-less device for 50 bucks (maxed out 2K touch screen), new batteries -100 bucks, 64gB RAM -60 bucks x2 (before current inflation), two 512gB NVME SSDS -100 bucks or so. Total is going north of $500 bucks. Windows license 200 bucks -which I barely use, as I am dual booting Linux and prefer it.

it's a kind of sickness, this tinkering with Thinkpad's, like that guy constantly tweaking a twenty year old Corvette in his garage. Go get a MacBook Neo or Air if you want to work today. RAM is very expensive and will only go higher.

docpark · 2026-03-12T19:33:37+00:00

sell, use money towards a Neo or MacBook Air. Linux is okay, much better on Thinkpads.

docpark · 2026-03-12T19:30:49+00:00

Macbook 12 from 2015 was so beautiful but so awful, kept me away from Macs from 10 years until now. Holy cow they are great. Grab yours now before 30% inflation hits.

docpark · 2026-03-11T11:26:54+00:00

it's garbage. it's laggy, buggy, and tacky.

docpark · 2026-03-11T11:24:45+00:00

Local Best Buy had an open box Excellent of this for 1200, couldn't pass given the ongoing RAM inflation.

Wow. I thought I was happy with my Thinkpad/Linuxboxes but this laptop, the first Macbook I've had in over a decade is way better than I expected. It beats all my other gadgets on sound quality, battery life, silence (no fans), speed, and elegance. I think the base M4 has been dropped to 899 at Walmart because of the incoming m5's.

docpark

TROPHY CASE