One reason I bought an iPad is because of battery life. Until last week, I didn't have a notebook PC that could get me from coast to coast on a single battery charge. On most cross-country flights, I would start the flight using my 2012 MacBook Air or my Lenovo Yoga and -- when the laptop's battery died -- I'd switch to the iPad.
It's not just about air travel. I have a friend who bought an iPad mini so she should could take notes at conferences without having to worry about finding a power outlet for her laptop.
New MacBooks keep going and going
But those days are over. As I pointed out in my review of the new 2013 MacBook Air, the new 13-inch model can easily get though a typical workday without having to be plugged in. Apple says that it can get up to 12 hours on a charge and some reviewers have confirmed that claim. PCMag.com's 13-inch Air review unit " lasted an astonishing 15-and-a-half hours on a battery test." The 11-inch, according to Apple, can run 9 hours on a charge, but CNET got more than 10 hours in its test.
All three current versions of the iPad (mini, iPad 2 and iPad) are rated for 10 hours according to Apple which means -- by Apple's own calculations -- the 13-inch Air gets 20% more battery life while the 11-inch lasts 90% as long (with all portable computing devices, actual battery life will vary depending on what radios are turned on and what software you're running). CNET got 12.1 hours on its test of the iPad mini and 13.1 hours with the 4th gen iPad. BGR calculated 13.5 hour on the iPad with Retina display.
Not just battery life
Of course there are other issues besides battery life. For one thing the iPad is cheaper and there is something to be said for its touch-screen and its slate-like form factor. On the other hand, the MacBook has a real keyboard (you don't have to type on glass) and runs all that great Mac software, including Microsoft Office, Photoshop and websites that use Flash. But Macs don't run iOS apps and it could be argued that the most exciting new software is now coming out for Androids and iOS devices, not Macs and Windows PCs.
While Apple and some of its iPad fans have pointed out that iPads can be used for productivity, I still contend that the iPad is great for consuming content but -- in most cases -- a laptop is better for those of us who produce it.
Size and weight
Size and weight are of course an issue but -- with the exception of the .68 pound iPad mini -- the difference isn't all that dramatic. A full-sized iPad weighs just under a pound and a half compared to 2.38 pounds for the 11-inch MacBook Air and just under 3 pounds for the 13-inch. That means that in exchange for less than a pound, you can carry a fully powered PC with an excellent keyboard rather than a tablet. Even the 13-inch Air is only about a pound and a half heavier than an iPad. I carry a notebook around almost everywhere I go and find the 13-inch Air to be a tolerable weight.
Price
iPads are cheaper than Macs but -- you could argue -- that Macs are can be cheaper or just a little more expensive when you consider the amount of flash storage per dollar. The closest thing to an "Apple to Apple" comparison would be the $799 Wi-Fi only iPad wtih Retina display for $799 compared to the 128 GB MacBook Air for $999. But if you buy a lower end iPad you'll pay for more per gigabyte of memory than with any MacBook Air model. Having said that, storage isn't everything but if it does matter you'll get more storage for your money by buying a MacBook Air with 256 or 512 GB.
Not just Apples to Apples: Windows and Android too
Apple haters will probably condemn me for using these two Apple products for my comparison. But I'm far from an Apple fan-boy. I'm an avid user of a Nexus 7 Android tablet for reading and watching video and I love my Lenovo Yoga Windows 8 convertible notebook and spend far more time using my home-built Windows 7 PC than I do my MacBook Air. However, for now at least, the Air is the best choice for people who want long battery life in a thin and light-weight laptop. That may change as other PC makers start adopting Intel's new power-saving Haswell processors.
Depends on use and budget
What's best for you depends on how you plan to use your device. If it's mostly for browsing the web, reading and watching video, than an iPad or an Android or Windows tablet is way to go. It's at least as good for those functions and cheaper. If do a lot of typing, video production or need software that is only available on Macs or PCs, then you should opt for a laptop whether that's a MacBook or a Windows ultrabook. But -- if like many road warriers -- battery life is important to you then you still have a choice of Apples -- the iPad and the new MacBook Air are each good for a day's use between charges.
