iPad mini or MB Air? (laptops, keyboard, Office, work)

[houston-nomad]

I'm trying to decide what device to purchase. I have an old MacBook I use for work, but it's heavy. I do a lot of traveling and want something lighter. I'm leaning towards an iPad mini with a keyboard, but wondering if I just put more money into it and get a MacBook Air 11".

Main uses would be:
Loading/managing photos
Internet
Light work (typing documents, editing documents)
Facetime

Advantages I see to the iPad would be a place to keep & listen to music, since my iPod has died, and for reading books and PDFs.

Advantages I see to the MBA would be getting more serious work done, being able to use MSWord, & Powerpoint.

Any thoughts?

[EscapeCalifornia]

Why can't you can't put music on a MB Air?

I can't imagine trying to do any actual work on an ipad, especially a mini.

[archineer]

Go for the MB Air, given your needs it seems more appropriate. I keep my 'portable' music on my phone, I couldn't imagine using a tablet as an ipod frankly.

[RayinAK]

Buy the MacBook Air. A photographer and friend of mine has one loaded with photos he shows to his clients. I have a MacBook Pro, but it's a lot heavier than the Air. If I had to decided between the Air and the one I have for photo display (show and tell), I would go for the Air. It has plenty of room for your high resolution photos and music.

[Pruzhany]

MacBook Air is the way to go. Ipad is a great item, but it does not replace a notebook. Getting Smart Office for the Ipad is no real replacement for a real Office package. Also printing is a pain from an ipad w/o the correct printer.

[Peregrine]

It's unanimous. Get the Air. iPads are great and can hold a lot of pictures, but it is much easier to deal with, and manipulate, pictures on an actual computer.

[houston-nomad]

Thanks for the advice everyone! Now, who wants to send me $1000 so I can follow this excellent advice? I was kind of hoping you'd all suggest the cheaper solution!

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by houston-nomad

Thanks for the advice everyone! Now, who wants to send me $1000 so I can follow this excellent advice? I was kind of hoping you'd all suggest the cheaper solution!

There's plenty of laptops that will do what you want for less than $1000 but they won't have that logo you're after.

[houston-nomad]

I have a laptop, but I want something that weights less than 3 lbs.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by houston-nomad

I have a laptop, but I want something that weights less than 3 lbs.

I have a $500 laptop that weighs less than 3lb.