Lightening my load. Ipad, Mac Air, or the like

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 2:27 pm

I know this is off topic, but I continue to strive to lighten the weight of all the gear I travel with since I carry everything on. This MC is fatiguing as you all know so less weight in my luggage and on my shoulder is best.

I carry about 20 lbs of camera gear in addition to my roller luggage, etc. I have a new camera bag that holds my camera, lenses, and notebook, but it is very heavy.

My main computer is a Macbook Pro (13") which I love having ditched Windows based machines (and never looking back) a year ago. But as small as it is, it is a little heavy when I add it to my camera bag.

So I am looking at a Macbook Air or iPad. I know people who love their iPads but I worry about losing laptop functionality. It seems like an overgrown iPod to me. The Macbook Air 13" seems like the perfect solution.

Thoughts anyone?

Rich

natythingycolbery · Post by **natythingycolbery** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 2:40 pm

don';t get an ipad, the ipad2 is out later this year.

Other than that i have no thoughts!

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 2:47 pm

Hi Naty,

True to form with Apple... the minute I buy a product, they announce an upgrade.

Thx

Rich

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 2:59 pm

Rich I am looking into the Ipad as well, but am going to wait for version 2. They are supposed to announce it within about 4 months. Have you considered something lighter that the D-300. I love it too, but I am looking into another lens compatible Nikon body. The D-90 is supposed to be a full pound lighter, that coupled with their latest macro capable zoom lenses would really simplify your kit.

--Joe

natythingycolbery · Post by **natythingycolbery** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 5:44 pm

Hey Rich,

I just spoke to my father. He does something in the UK called DSA (Disabled Student Allowence) assessments, aka assess the specialist computer needs of students with disabling conditions. Anyway, I showed him what you said and he suggested a netbook as being lighter, but it depends on what you need it for really.

So my Pa just asks what do you use your computer for?

teagirl · Post by **teagirl** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 6:45 pm

Rich, I have a MacBook and last year I bought an iPad, and absolutely love it. My MacBook was't that heavy but I wanted something lighter I could put in my purse.

I use it for word documents; excel spreadsheets; email; web browsing (I am typing on it now); accessing financial and banking stuff; reading books; and just about everything I use the Mac for. I have apps for stargazing; my journal; find starbucks coffee shops; watching baseball; streaming radio; calculator; iPod; bible; craigslist and eBay; handwritten (stylus) notes and much more.

The three things I have problems with are the lack of java and flash support; printing is convoluted; the typeahead keyboard that thinks it knows better than I what I want to type.

Good advice to wait for the next version but I really do recommend the iPad. I still use my MacBook a lot, when I want a bigger screen, or there's no app for the laptop application, or I want true multitasking or a lot of windows open, or if there's a lot of typing to be done, or form filling.

It's the iPod I use much less now as the iPad has its own iPod app.

There are idiosyncracies, the keyboard is one, browsing webpages is another, as is bringing up a new web page tab. Copy and paste takes some getting used to.

Overall, i've been very happy with it.
Maxine

Celie · Post by **Celie** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 7:33 pm

My school just issued ipads to the faculty. It is wonderful for the things I use when I travel. I like it a lot better than my netbook. I would not exchange my laptop for one. I still like the laptop a lot better when I am working at home. But, if you need something to travel with, it is great. And, if you need to work a little more seriously, you can get a keyboard. With that, it works much like the laptop.

Good luck!

Celie

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:08 am

Thanks for the advice everyone. Will wait a little longer to see what technology brings in 2011.

Joe, my D300 is a little heavy but it is weather sealed where the D90 is not. The D90 would work, but I have seen they don't last very long in my line of work. I have been using a Canon G11 (non-DSLR) for some "light work". And it does reduce the weight because my lenses stay at home. However, I shoot better with the 300. I need ample flash for a lot of what I do and these little cameras, even with external flashes, just don't seem to cut it (they don't meter very accurately IMO). But good thinking because I have already gone that route. I try to assess the kind of work I am getting into before I hit the road, and that dictates the gear I take. But in the end, I still get the best images with my D300.

Good advice everyone. But no comments about the Mac Air???

Rich

Post by **tex** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:43 pm

Rich wrote:Good advice everyone. But no comments about the Mac Air???

It's thin and light, and expensive.

Seriously, I don't own one, but I know someone who bought one a little over a year ago, for light use, (mostly at home), and she had to have the display screen replaced recently, (fortunately, it was still in warranty, because that sucker was expensive), because of a broken hinge. She also had to send it back for service once, a few months earlier, to get it "unbricked". Those may be isolated issues, of course, but it suggests that the device might not hold up to "tougher" industrial use.

Tex

harma · Post by **harma** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:45 pm

I loved my macbook (a normal one not a mac air), but when I broke it a couple of years ago in a very stupid way (I was still using internet with a cable than and was standing with one foot on the cable wire while lifting up my mac book and broke the internet connection in my mac) I bought a simple cheaper laptop, what I still regret. I have never liked this note book and I never will, it is too big, battery is empty after 30 minute and has a stupid windows programm on it, asking me all kind of stupid questions. No camera and recently discovered while using skype no microphone

However for my journey to Jordan I bought a small handy netbook, that one I love. If it was an apple it should have been perfect, but it is a windows. It fits in my handbag, keyboard is big enough for normal typing (I type with 10 fingers and look at the screen not my fingers), 7 hours battery, has a microphone and a camera and screen is big enough.

This handy netbook is also 150 euros cheaper than my big stupid laptop!!!

I don't know what the size is mac air, but those handbag sizes netbook are so perfect when you are travelling (or live abroad for a while)

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 6:21 pm

My netbook is just right for everything I want to do with it, although I do appreciate the larger screen size of my desktop/laptop when I am on them. If you are looking for a good website with reviews and other stuff to make sure that you get the item that will work the best for you at the best price, I recommend http://www.cheapism.com. Yes, I have the Scots frugality trait in spades.

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 8:37 pm

Harma,

The Mac Air is a little smaller than the Macbook, but is much thinner and only about 2 lbs. Like you, I am hooked on Mac OS... pretty sure I can't go back to Windows. It's an enlightening experience using a Mac, isn't it? So stable, so simple, so reliable, so intuitive. Simply, well engineered. When I used my Windows desktop at work, I quickly realize how "clunky" it feels compared to the Mac interface.

Regards,

Rich

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:51 pm

Hey all-
Haven’t been around much so wish everyone the best for the new year.

I am also a Mac advocate but know how to tame myself in that my dad in the past , my two brothers and their families and my sister and her family think I am an idiot for doing so. My hard disk quit working on my E-Mac and I found a wonderful place that sells used Macs a few blocks away and is a certified Mac repair shop. Bought a Mac running the latest operating system, fully loaded with memory and a two month warranty for $150.00 dollars. This will work but back up becomes imperative if I want to save data since anything can go wrong at any time.

Not a bad idea for anyone.

Needles to say i am not a power user . In fact I can go for days without turning it on. My day to day technology is probably from the 1800’s. So my imperatives are not anywhere near what people need to travel and when I do travel it is nice to leave the computer and land line phone behind for a while. I have no cell.

Don’t know anything about lap tops.

I commute 50 feet to my shop every day and 50 feet back home at night . Although some days it takes two hours. Hahahaha! It makes me laugh when customers ask to use the phone in my shop and are flustered by my dial phone that has been my shop phone for thirty seven years.

I bought new bearings to replace the two on my two horse power, 220 volt air compressor motor today so I am not always low tech. I don’t understand why they wore out. I only bought it in 1974.

Hhahhahahah!

Feel great and am doing well. Or should a say I am feeling fantastic and doing great!

Love to all

Matthew

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 6:07 am

Morning Matthew,

We have a lot in common other than you owning Mac. My boss wanted to buy me a laptop or notebook after we thought my home computer went belly up - but I was able to restore it.

I have no cell phone, laptop, notebook, netbook, I-pod, etc. I also do not Tweet, no internet social sites and just rid the house of a rotary phone when we moved 5 years ago.

Keep it basic as far as I am concerned. However, I could not live without my K-cup Keurig coffee pot. Actually have one for travelling.

Glad to see you around.

Love, Maggie