It takes a special kind of person to travel frequently for work. Between dealing with stressful airports, attending long meetings in different cities and being away from friends and families for up to weeks or months at a time, business travel can be a stressful experience. As a result, these road warriors have no patience for technology that does not accommodate their demands, which is why so many businesspeople rely on Apple's state-of-the-art mobile technology.
However, determining which Apple product is best is not an easy decision. Apple's iPad offers many great features, but so does the MacBook. To help these intrepid travelers decide, Forbes contributor Larry Magid broke down the top considerations and differences between the two devices:
- Battery Life: This is one of the most critical factors, as these road warriors need to make sure their chosen device can run for hours on end regardless of whether an outlet is readily available. Luckily, both devices have been proven to last for an entire work day on one charge. CNET found that the 11-inch MacBook Air and the iPad 4 were able to last more than 10 hours on one charge.
- Size and Portability: Business travelers do not want to be weighed down when flying, and this is where the iPad really shines. Tablets are much lighter and smaller than laptops, meaning they can easily fit into any bag. In addition, Magid noted that it's far easier to bring in and use a tablet in a conference setting than a laptop.
- Usage and Availability: No matter how many perks a device may have, it is just dead weight if businesspeople are unable to accomplish mission-critical tasks on it. According to Magid, MacBooks currently have a slight advantage in this category. Not only does the laptop support software like Microsoft Office, but its built-in keyboard makes it easier to type and enter in data on the go. However, as iOS and other mobile operating systems become more prevalent, some of these distinctions may soon dissipate.
- Cost: As with everything else, the final decisions often come down to money. A new MacBook is typically more expensive than a new iPad, but Magid noted that extra costs relating to file storage and other add-ons can sometimes make an iPad more expensive.
At the end of the day, Magid wrote that there is no clear cut ideal Apple mobile device for business travelers. MacBooks are great for those road warriors who need to compile reports and do lots of typing from anywhere, while iPads are ideal for businesspeople who primarily use their mobile device for simpler tasks like watching video and checking emails. Regardless of which device is chosen, business travelers should be sure to use iResQ's MacBook repair or iPad repair services in case their mobile device breaks before a major conference or meeting.