A common question I get from people seeking my “tech recommendation” if they need an iPad – as if it were a difficult choice to make between a touch device or laptop. That is to say if they have an iPhone/iPod touch, the iPad seems redundant. If they have a laptop, the iPad will also seem redundant. It looks like they feel that if they get an iPad, they’d have to let go of one or the other.

But everyone who has talked to me about the iPad knows that I don’t believe this to be the case – far from it. They know I’m a fan of the iPad, and that I would even recommend it over a laptop – which is partly true.

The truth is that whenever a person asks “what would be a better buy: an iPad or a laptop,” my first question would always be if they already have a primary machine (desktop or laptop). If they do [have a primary machine], unless they’ve got special needs, I’d easily recommend an iPad over a laptop any day.

Why is that you ask? Read on.

In spite of having a Desktop, iPhone, iPod touch, and a laptop (Macbook Air). I can honestly say without batting an eyelash that I will choose to bring the iPad with me 100% of the time when on the go. Whether or not I have the Air with me. And I also don’t find it redundant at all when comparing it to the touch devices (iPhone/iPod touch) ¹ Which is a different debate altogether That’s because to me, the iPad is the perfect secondary machine assuming you already have a primary one.

So let’s go back to that critical question I ask people: “Do you already have a primary machine?”

If a person doesn’t have a “primary/main” computer, then it’s not even a choice at that point, get a desktop/laptop first before considering an iPad -PERIOD. The iPad, just like an iPhone/iPod touch is still somewhat “slaved” to a computer – that is to say if you want to back it up, restore it, etc. you’ll need a real computer to do that.

More importantly, we all need a “production machine” first and foremost – a machine that can do absolutely everything we need it to.

In simple terms: Production = getting things done. Production machine = computer that can get things done. Capish?

Production vs Consumption

So now we discuss the nuance that is what differentiates the iPad from your regular computer.

As stated before, a computer (laptop/desktop) is a production device. The iPad on the other hand, I would like to call a consumption device.

I have a desktop as my primary computer. It’s got the screen real-estate I need, it’s got the power that can’t possibly be matched by the portables I have. And as a bonus, my Aeron makes the long required hours on it bearable. When I make songs, I use that; when I program, I use that; when I make movies… well, you get the picture. Basically when I need to create/produce output, then I use the desktop as it’s the machine built to handle that kind of load.

And while there are people that feel the need to be able to have such power at their fingertips all the time (that’s why they have high end laptop markets) I found out that I wasn’t one of them. ² After owning 3 previous “pro” lines of portables before finally “downgrading” to the air I found out that I don’t need to be composing/recording songs outside of my house. I don’t need to be programming when in an airport or some room whatever. Certainly I don’t need that much power when I just want to kill time while on the go.

I’m sure there will be exceptions (emergencies, etc) those exceptions happen very rarely ³ Especially if you know how to manage your time and get things done So in my experience, 99% of the time, I’ve had no problems just waiting till I returned home to do all the “heavy stuff.”

In short; 5% of the time I will be a “producer” ⁴ With the exception of work of course … but 95% of the time, I’m just a regular “consumer.”

And there’s the rub: while your desktop/laptop can [obviously] be both a production/consumption device, ⁵ I did mention it should be able to do everything you need it to do the latter gives a more natural experience for “consuming” stuff in the digital domain – much better than a laptop, and much better than an iPhone/iPod touch.

I guess if I were to make an analogy, it’s like how some people prefer reading real, physical books instead of consuming them from a computer (audio, or otherwise). While an iPad is far from “feeling” like a real book, it certainly is better than a laptop in that domain… and it has the benefit of being able to do more than a single book can do – which apparently, is a compelling enough reason to prefer it over a real book, practically speaking.

But of course, the big plus it’s it’s “usability/portability.” That means its dimensions, ergonomics, and last but not least, its weight.

Laptop vs. iPad

Assuming we all have desktops as primary machines, here are some scenarios I’d like you to consider when you’re choosing a laptop or iPad as a secondary machine.

As a book

Is this even worth discussing? Does anyone really prefer reading a book on a laptop screen when you can read it just like a book on the iPad?

As a sleeping aid (mundane things you do before you go to bed).

Imagine trying to work a laptop while lying down. Your “positioning” will be at the mercy of the laptop, not the other way around. With the iPad, it’s just like holding a book, and you can stow it away like a book. Hell, I sometimes stow it under my pillow right before I sleep – and it never bothered me.

Out in public

Since a laptop is meant to be set down on a surface – you’ll almost always have to look for a surface (a table, a chair, or your lap) to use it comfortably.

It’s also cumbersome in general because of its size – just imagine when you have to “move” from one place to another.

With an iPad, again, its no different from lugging a book around. Leave/stow it anywhere, hold it any which way you please and it’ll be ready to be used. It’s much easier to pull in and out of your bag… or even to just hold it in your hand or tuck it between your shoulders when moving.

Standing up

Say you’re waiting in line in an airport, there are no tables and no seats… but there is an internet connection 🙂 Do you want to look like an idiot and bust out your laptop, hold it in one hand, and do your thing? I thought not.

Actually the airport is the best example of how practical an iPad is, because of the sheer amount of times you’ll have to stow and pull out your shit. A laptop is and will always be a pain in the ass in that department – whereas using an iPad in that situation will be a very fluid experience.

In the car

While I wouldn’t recommend using any device while driving, being able to pull out an iPad in a traffic jam can be pretty healthy 🙂 And considering how cramped a car can get, I doubt using a laptop in there is anywhere near enjoyable.

Same goes if you’re just a passenger… it’s just much much MUCH easier to but out and use an iPad instead of a laptop in those cramped quarters.

In the bathroom

This is the best “shitting device” one could possible use – bar none Forget the newspaper or comic books. You can surf, IM, read a book, play a game on the toilet all you want while essentially holding something no different from a magazine. Also you don’t risk burning your junk with a laptop.

Conclusion

I’m sure there are more scenarios if I thought hard enough, but the overall message is this: Portability-wise, the iPad is just that damn practical to lug around over your standard laptop.

Unless your work can’t wait till you get your ass in the office (or home), the times you’ll be needing to use laptop over an iPad will be very rare. As I will rephrase something I said in an earlier post: if you only find yourself laptop for it’s “full power” 5-10% of the time (which you probably will), then that means 90-95% of the time, you’re needlessly carrying extra weight.

Right now, I’m in my bed in front of my desktop – using the Air to type out this post… why? because typing a lot of text here is easier 🙂 But when I leave for practice later, I’ll be closing this thing and be bringing my iPad – because I don’t intend to “blog” during practice, I don’t intend to make/record songs, edit photos, etc. during practice. I plan to practice and have conversations – and if I get bored, I don’t need to “produce” anything to kill time.

What I could probably do is read emails, read books/comics, do some social networking, RSS reading, web surfing, IM, or even play a game… and the iPad is already perfectly capable of doing all those things. Without the impracticality [and weight penalty] of a full blown laptop.